And now, an article narrating of an honest deed of a Filipina struggling in HK came out, and then one concerned solon came rushing to the Congress podium and enjoined his colleages to raise up P100,000 to aid her case against her former employer.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but come to think of it, if these things did not come out of the media – were not published or even, would there be any difference? If the main characters of the scandal are not celebrities, will it make to the Senate’s agenda? Will there be moves to push legislations and policies up front on issues that are actually just so commonplace had it not “made” to the headlines?

I could just imagine there are tons and tons of stories of heroism (and scandals) that are flooding out there, here and abroad, which just faded into everyday oblivion – unless there is that “somebody” who took notice.

Who is most likely that “somebody”? A communicator, a blogger, a journalist, reporter, advocate – those who blurt out information out in the open. I think for a plethora of social problems of a developing world as the Philippines to rise up to the “pressing concerns” list/agenda of policy-makers, people of authority, this is a trend I see: (a) a specific incident of societal problem, and (b) stirring up the interest (and conscience) of these people.

A message was communicated to induce an action. Therefore, the challenge now for a communicator as myself: how to move and shake the people up there in their posts of power with what we see here in the grassroots, using the evolving communication as we know it.

Power of the pen (or the computer and the internet), come out!

• felt weird ironing a school uniform – after 10 years
• thought weird that a friend in my former organization might actually be abducted for her mysterious absence, and even her Friendster account was seemingly hacked and I’m just the only “friend” left in her account, and her friends would send me a message asking for her while I was literally thousands of miles away from the Philippines. I mean, where has she been to?
• found a weird movie, actually an indie film shown last December 08 entitled, “UPCAT”, bringing me to a nice trip down memory lane when I took the test in  about 11 years ago – duh, seems I’m way old! And now I’m pushing our youngest sister to be a passer
• blurted out “weird” when my sister found out that a Euro’s worth today is Php67, the highest I’ve encountered since I get to use the currency

gazing at mirusha falls

As a twenty-something who is in another in-between job phase of life, I got a long to-do list. What I’ve been doing lately is not just to edit my curriculum vitae, roam over the internet for vacancies and check my inbox at least thrice a day for any response, just like any other citizen in the world devoid of job that coincided with the global financial crisis.

But after more than a month of “taking my time” to breathe and smell the roses, what have I done? Probably the feeling of idleness begins to creep in, a characteristic classified by the StrengthsFinder as an Achiever. Where did my “fruitful” time management all gone? I must agree that to have a simple life, I need to let go of the clutter – and PRIORITIZE!

In sorting through post after post that perked my interest, I encountered one that said: enclose sample work. Suddenly my mind went blank.
Yesterday in filling out an application form, I stumbled upon the field “Profession”, and felt awkward after typing “writer”. My mind went blank again, but I submitted it anyway.

And after an nth time of procrastinating the “goal” of updating a blog on a daily basis, this next passage was the final straw:

“For writers and other creative souls, blogging is practice… Blogging offers a free platform for writers and other creatives to test out their ideas, hone their writing style, explore various subject matters, and begin developing a relationship with an audience… Writing is very serious work, and anyone who wants to become a writer—whether full-time or part-time—must treat it with utmost respect.” – “Why we must all blog” by Nina Terol

True – just like what was told to us in a Creative Writing course back in college.

If I call myself a writer, I should feel confident about it, not just being contented with my previous work experience and organizations I’ve joined in the last six years. Having passion comes first, but being good – or even excellent – about it should come next.

Filipino freelance writer and author Elizabeth P. Ong could not have put it any simpler and more obvious: The answer to the question “Can you write” is this: “If you have ever been told you can.”

Knowing the answer to this question, I should act now and should act fast! ^_^