11.25.2007

Getting Old

In just a few days, this year will come to an end- and another year will begin.
Lately, the New Year celebrations have scared me. For another year would mean-getting older.

I thought I'd never have problems about getting old, but lately I've been concerned about it.
Maybe because there are many things I can no longer do and things I have to do that comes with my age.

Here are a few of these things.

Things I can no longer do.
1. Playing Barbie dolls. (I'd look weird if I still played them till now.I had more than a dozen when I was young)
2. Writing Santa Claus. (Besides, I know the truth already.)
3. Talking to myself. (At least while I play, I grew up being the only girl at home. I only had my brother and guy cousins to play with so when they're busy playing on their own- I had myself to talk to.
4. Sleeping beside Mommy. (Aww.. I miss this)
5. Eating a lot without worrying about getting fat.
6. Asking my Mommy to buy me clothes, shoes, things I need without having to be ashamed about it. (although I still get to ask her to do this for me- only that now it takes a lot of guts)



Things I have to do.
1. Go to work.
2. Save for my future.(Good luck to me)
3. Pay my tax. Pay my bills. (As for the bills part- I haven't been doing this lately)
4. Keep my figure.(Still haven't started)
5. Know things. (I work in the media, I should always be aware)
6. Deal with different kinds of people. (This is hard and I have problems with this)
7. Keep my patience.
8. Care about a lot of other things, like my sisters, my family, and other people.
9. Be a role model to my siblings. (I know I haven't been one lately)
10. Obey laws.

I often wished I could go back to being 7 years old- those days when the only things I had to worry about were going to school, getting passing marks and nothing more. Food was served, I didn't have to worry about buying my own... basic necessities such as electricity, water, telephone and other things are not my concern.

I wished I could be young and have excuses for not liking people, snubbing them when I want to and still be understood for my impatience because I am young and I am not aware of what I am doing.

I wished I could be young and not be forced to understand people I don't really like. Or work with people who hurt my feelings. Or be hurt and not mind being talked about behind my back.

There's something about getting old that really pisses me off- maybe it's the sad fact that when people get old, you'd have to care about a lot of things- and eventually, care about other people. Even those I don't like. I mean sometimes we are forced to like people we don't like- because we need to co-exist.

I hate that. Sometimes when I try to be myself and maintain my indifferent character- they talk about me. I really don't care- but sometimes when I get hurt, I do.

I think there are a lot of things I still need to learn- well, I'm not yet that old.

I still have another year to get used to all this- and maybe, when another year begins- I'll be less scared about getting old.

11.18.2007

13 Things about the last 365 Days wi



Just turned 1 year old last Tuesday... (that historic Batasan Blast day-- our anniversary)
Yes, 13 is our lucky number=)

  1. Surprise bouquet of flowers. (kahit wala lang!)
  2. Dinners after work.
  3. Getting massages together.
  4. Constant text partner. (More than 100 texts a day)
  5. Learning to love dogs, Capuccino's so adorable.
  6. Watching movies. Watching the trailers of future movies./
  7. Overnight in Boracay.
  8. Long conversations about anything- everything!
  9. Casual petty fights. (spiced up the relationship)
  10. Mimicking each other.
  11. Having a fabulous relationship with each other's families.
  12. Me being jealous even when there's nothing to be jealous about. (I love it!)
  13. Loving each other- just unconditionally.

11.11.2007

About Death

My first encounter with death was 6 years ago.

One Saturday morning, our maid woke me up. She said something about my Lolo. I ran to his house and saw him being revived. Lola was in one corner, crying. Ninong Ading was telling her not to worry. But yes, how could she not worry?

Then there was that traumatic sound of ambulance siren. I vividly remember our neighbor’s maid looking over as my Lolo was being transferred to the ambulance.

An hour, two passed. Then there was that phone call at past ten am. Mommy said, “wala na lolo nyo.”

I went inside, told my sisters and I went directly to the bathroom. There I cried.

My Lolo was in many ways my father. In fact, I feel a void inside me knowing that he’s not here anymore to see me do the news. He was my inspiration since he loved to read newspapers—he loved to watch newscasts.

But that encounter of death was at the same time my first encounter of true love.

While we waited for Lolo’s remains and before we went to the church where he will be buried- I remember Lola saying, “wala na lolo nyo…”

I remember seeing her cry.

That was true love.

I asked myself- how can she now cope living alone? Suddenly after more than 50 years of being together—things just ended in one instant.

I though death was selfish. And it was rude.

Up to this day, I occasionally see Lola hide her tears. Whenever she starts reminiscing about the old days- when Lolo was still alive, I know she does so because she misses him dearly.

***
Last Monday, it was my turn to see another encounter with death.

Though not my own, I felt sad for Attorney Rene Saguisag having to lose Dulce, his wife in a tragic car accident.

And what’s more sad is that up to this day- he has no idea of what happened to his wife. He himself is recuperating from that accident. I can’t imagine the pain and what scene that would be—if and when he is told she is gone.

I wondered, what could they have been doing minutes before that dumptruck hit their van? Could they be fighting? Or were they talking about the dance they just had?

I believe the last minutes were happy moments.
For Dulce’s lips were painted with a smile.


FAT.


I weigh 120 lbs. flat.
That’s about 55 kilos for you.


I have a big tummy, really wide hips, big legs and chubby cheeks. That’s painful truth I am accepting as I write this blog.

My weight was never an issue to me until I saw my fat face on TV for my Reporter’s Notebook special.

How I hated it.

Yes, I’m fat. I’m way beyond the slim body I used to have when I was in High school ‘till 2nd year college. How I miss those days… =(

I used to wear extra small shirts. I even buy shirts from the Teens section back then. Now I could hardly fit into a Medium size shirt of some brands.

Before, jeans sized 28 are big enough for me. Now I refuse to buy jeans for my fear of a size beyond 30.

I’m fat and I admit it’s because I’ve been eating a lot. I’ve stopped going to the gym, and always had excuses for not exercising.

Yes I envy my sisters who are thin, my sister Eila who has been thin for the rest of her life.

I admit I get hurt whenever my brother would say that I’d grow big like Big Momma A—(not my mother)

And whenever I see fat women on the street- I always wish silently I’d never be that fat.

But I am fat. Period.

Reporter's Notebook

Kakaibang Putahe
Ulat Ni: Lia Mañalac
Nov.6, 2007

The following is the unedited script I wrote for my first-ever Reporter’s Notebook.


DITO SA TINATAWAG NA “THE MANSION” MADALAS MAY HANDAAN…

PARANG BLOCKBUSTER NA SINENG INAABANGAN ITO NG MGA KABATAAN.

SI EM ANG KADALASANG TAGALUTO-

ESPESYAL DAW ANG INGREDIENT NA INIHAHALO NIYA SA MGA PAGKAIN KAYA’T BINABALIK-BALIKAN ITO.

ANG MARIJUANA.

UPSOT: “EM”
Ginagawa namin yan. (CUT TO) mas potent siya, mas matagal amats kesa sa hinihithit… matagal amats hangga’t di mo tinatae- amats ka pa rin

(TRANSITION)

TAONG 1970’S NAUSO ANG MARIJUANA FOODS.

MGA KARANIWANG PAGKAING HINAHALUAN NG ILEGAL NA DROGA NA MARIJUANA-

PINAKASIKAT SA MGA ITO NOON ANG BROWNIES.

UPSOT: BRO. CLIFFORD SORITA, SOCIOLOGIST
Unang hataw pagbenta may stigma, turn off agad pag out in the open kaya dinedesynthesize ka… in small dosage pero addict ka na pala

ILEGAL SA PILIPINAS ANG PAGGAMIT NG ILEGAL NA DROGA.

PERO SA IBANG BANSA KUNG SAAN
LEGAL ANG PAGGAMIT NG MARIJUANA- LANTAD ANG MGA WEBSITES NA MAY MGA TINATAWAG NILANG MARIJUANA RECIPES.

MAY MILKSHAKE NA MAY MARIJUANA, KAPE NA MAY MARIJUANA…
AT ULAM NA MAY MARIJUANA.

UPSOT: “EM”
May napanuod kaming video o, pwede pala sa brownies. Subukan nga natin, expirement kumbaga. Nakagawa na kami ng spaghetti spaghetti sauce, hamburger patty, kahit anong pwedeng itago.

MADALI LANG DAW GAWIN ANG MARIJUANA FOOD-

SABI NI EM- KAHIT ANONG PAGKAIN, PWEDENG HALUAN NG MARIJUANA.

PINAKA-HIT RAW NGAYON SA MGA ITO AY ICE CREAM.

UPSOT: “EM”
Pag ice-cream kase hindi halata malamig, creamy. Lasang-lasa basta matamis mas masarap

(TRANSITION)

SI KG- DI NIYA TUNAY NA PANGALAN…

MADALAS NA UMORDER NG MARIJUANA FOOD.

UPSOT: “KG” (ABOUT WHY SIYA BUMIBILI, WHY PARTY FOODS WITH MARIJUANA)

NGAYONG GABI- SPAGHETTI’T ICE CREAM NA MAY MARIJUANA ANG INIHANDA NINA EM AT KG…

KAPANSIN-PANSING NAGKAHIYAAN PA ANG MGA KABATAAN SA PAGKAIN NOONG UNA…

PERO MAYA-PAYA PA DI NA RIN SILA NAKATIIS.

NAGSAYAWAN NG MAKUHA ANG HANAP NA “HIGH”.

UPSOT LIA:
IPINASURI NAMIN DITO SA LABORATORY SERVICE NG PDEA ANG PAGKAING MAY MARIJUANA.
AT SABI NILA SA BIGLANG TINGIN DI MADALING MATUKOY KUNG MAY ILEGAL NA DROGA NGA BA ITO O WALA.

MATAPOS ANG DALAWANG ORAS NA PAGSUSURI NG MGA CHEMIST…

LUMABAS NA POSITIBO NGA SA MARIJUANA ANG SPAGHETTI AT ICE CREAM NA INIHANDA NINA EM AT KG.

UPSOT: MRS. BELEN BANOG
FIRST TIME KO MAKAKITA NG SPAGHETTI AT ICE CREAM… KADALASAN CAKE.
NUNG TINIGNAN KO KSE PARANG HERBS LANG YUNG SA SPAGHETTI AND YUNG SA ICE CREAM PARANG CHOCOLATE LANG


ALAM NG PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ANG MODUS OPERANDING ITO NG MGA MARIJUANA USER…

UPSOT: LIA
SIR ALAM NYO PO BA NA HINAHALUAN NA NG MARIJUANA ANG PAGKAIN?

UPSOT: DIR. GEN. DIONISIO SANTIAGO
YES WE ARE AWARE. (CU) in liquid form nman minimix nila, minsan parang liver spread… ginagamit na parang tea.

BUKOD SA NAGAGAYA SA IBANG BANSA-

NAGTATAAS DIN DAW KASI ANG PRESYO NG SHABU KAYA’T HUMAHANAP NA NG MGA ALTERNATIBONG PARAAN ANG MGA ADIK PARA MAPANITILI ANG BISYO.

SOT: LIA
Di po ba mas mahirap na tugisin yung ganun dahil you wouldn’t know kung nasa pagkain na nila?

SOT: DIR. GEN. DIONISIO SANTIAGO, PDEA
Paghuli mahirap, unless you have specimen. When people do this act pinaplano na nila. Pagkain ng sandwhich normal yun e. smoking easily identifiable, para ndi obvious kaya ganyan ginagawa nila

BAGAY NAMANG KINUMPIRMA MISMO NG CHIEF CHEMIST NG PDEA.

UPSOT: MRS. BELEN BANOG
MAHIRAP UNLESS YOU TEST IT

SABI NINA EM AT KG- KAHIT IWAS HULI TALAGA ANG PAGKAIN NG MARIJUANA FOOD KAYSA LANTARANG PAGHITHIT NITO…

UPSOT: EM
DI PA NAHUHULI, PAG NIRAID NILA DI NILA ALAM MAGMUMUKHANG TANGA LANG MGA PULIS NA YAN

UPSOT: KG
NAHULI NA PERO NAAAREGLO NAMAN MGA PULIS E

PERO SABI MISMO NG MAY AKDA SA DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002 NA SI DATING SENADOR TITO SOTTO-

DETALYADO ANG BATAS.

AT SAKOP NITO ANG PAG-USBONG NGAYON NG MARIJUANA FOODS.

UPSOT: TITO SOTTO
CATCH ALL YUN E

SA ILALIM NG DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002-

LABAG SA BATAS ANG MAGBENTA, GUMAGAMIT AT MAGTULAK NG ILEGAL NA DROGA.

PATI ANG PAGPAPAGAMIT SA ISANG LUGAR PARA SA MGA POT SESSION- MANANAGOT.

UPSOT: TITO SOTTO
PREVENTIVE EDUCATION DAPAT

SABI NI KG- FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES ANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT SIYA MADALAS UMORDER NG MARIJUANA FOOD…

PERO AYON SA MGA EKSPERTO-
HINDI MABUTI KUNDI MASAMA PA ANG EPEKTO NG PAGGAMIT NG MARIJUANA…

UPSOT: MRS. BELEN BANOG
PAG CHRONIC USER KAHIT IN A MONTH’S TIME MASISIRA ANG ULO MO… PYSCHOTIC.

ANG MASAMA DI RIN NAMAN NABABAWASAN ANG EPEKTO NG ILEGAL NA DROGA KAHIT PA IHALO ITO SA PAGKAIN.

NAG-HAHALUCCINATE AT NAKAKAISIP NG KUNG ANU-ANONG BAGAY ANG ISANG TAONG NAKAKAIN NG PAGKAING MAY MARIJUANA…

TULAD NG MGA KWENTO NINA EM AT KG…

UPSOT: EM
May one time bday, sa cake. Lupit nga eh. Namanhid legs ko, binti pati arms pero nakapagdrive pa naman ako. Masisira tiyan mo later on, yung iba nakakaimagine ng impyerno.

SABI NI DEAN FELIX ASPRER, ISANG COUNSELOR SA MGA KABATAANG GUMAGAMIT NG ILEGAL NA DROGA-

STARTER DRUG KUNG TUTUUSIN ANG MARIJUANA. KAYA’T MAHALAGANG DITO PA LANG- MATIGIL NA ANG BISYO NG ISANG TAO.

UPSOT: DEAN FELIX ASPRER
DAPAT MAPIGIL NA KASE MASAMA NA PAG HINAHALO NA SA KUNG ANU ANO LALO NA SA ALCOHOL

UPSOT LIA:
HINDI KA BA NATATAKOT SA GINAGAWA MO?

UPSOT EM:
NATATAKOT E MASAYA EH. ALANGAN NAMAN ISIPIN KO MUNA YUN. ITITIGIL KO NAMAN E DI KO LANG ALAM KUNG KELAN

UPSOT: KG
IF MAY SIMILAR SOT

PANGARAP NG KASALUKUYANG ADMINISTRASYON ANG MAGKARON NG ISANG DRUG-FREE PHILIPPINES PAGDATING NG TAONG 2010…

KAYAT SERYOSONG BANTA ANG PAG-USBONG NG ALTERNATIBONG PARAAN SA PAGGAMIT NG ILEGAL NA DROGA TULAD NG PAGHALO NITO SA PAGKAIN.

HALOS TAON NA RIN ANG BINILANG NG LABAN NG PAMAHALAAN AT NG LIPUNAN SA PROBLEMANG ITO…

PERO SABI NGA NILA- HANGGA’T MAY BUMIBILI, MAY MAGBEBENTA-

KAYA’T ANG PROBLEMA, DI NATATAPOS AT TILA LUMALAKI PA.

AKO SI LIA MAÑALAC AT ITO ANG NAKATALA SA AKING REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK.


**Actually I wasn’t able to see my own episode. I was then on my way back home from Isabela. And honestly the episode wasn’t my best. I feel much could have been done.

But to those who took the time to watch it, thanks! =) We registered 9.7 in ratings that night! My segment producer Erma said that was quite high considering the time slot =) Thanks, thanks again!

11.03.2007

Oh! Erap

Today I covered Erap's visit in Tondo.

My first major assignment when I began to work as a reporter was to cover Erap's Trial at the Sandiganbayan.

I still vividly remember being there when the defense presented their first evidence. When I was transferred to another beat, I remember the defense evidence has reached more than three hundred.

I felt sad I wasn’t there when he testified for his own trial. At least it was Paolo who was there at that time.


The whole year I covered the Sandiganbayan- I never saw Erap inside the courtroom. I only saw him when he went out for a medical check-up prior to his operation in Hongkong.

When I transferred to GMA 7, I covered Erap at least twice-

Before his verdict- in his residence in Polk, and after his verdict- in his Tanay resthouse.

How I wished so hard I would be assigned to cover the day of his verdict- but I guess I was unlucky. I was assigned that fateful day of September 12 to some other place- the business beat.

At least I told myself- I was able to cover the last day everyone involved in the trial would appear before the Special Division court- the day he presented his motion for reconsideration on the guilty verdict.

Today I covered Erap’s visit in Tondo.

And how tiring that was. Everyone was so excited to see the former president. I can’t explain what magic he has to charm all these people.

He still has, as he said in my interview- the people's support. They’re indeed still with him.

I’m not one to comment about Erap- I leave that to Paolo.

Whatever Erap did to deserve what he went through the last six years- sure God has his reasons.

Whatever Erap did to deserve his freedom now- sure God still has his reasons.

One day, I’ll have the video of his speech this morning to show my children. In the midst of chaos as everybody else in Tondo wanted to catch a glimpse of the former president-

I saw myself there- at one point taking his photos as well.

Was I also caught by his charm? I don’t know. I can’t say.