For a very short but highly enjoyable while, I got to live a life that I never thought I would experience first hand. Nothing spectacular though. But very briefly, I joined the press people as representative of MetroPost. I got to know how it was living the reporter’s life!I would have been even more thrilled had my editors Alex and Irma Pal provided me with a camera crew … you know … to complete the experience. Seriously though, thanks a lot guys. It was truly enjoyable (never mind the scorching heat), particularly that sumptuous brunch from Mamia courtesy of the City Tourism Office at the Absin residence during the Kabulakan Festival press conference.
These past few days saw me encountering a lot of firsts not only for myself … there’s my editor Irma joining competitive tennis for the first time ever (Alex sounded amazed, proud and disbelieving all rolled into one as he told me this), to one of Irma’s friends joining her, again, for the first time, in her early morning biking sorties and pedaling all the way to Valencia with her! This is no ordinary feat, mind you. For a first-timer, this is an accomplishment one can be truly proud of.
Incidentally, Irma has been urging me to join them. Yeah, I told her I was very interested, as I desperately need to shed 40 lbs! But to be able to do that right away, I will have to borrow Abby’s bike … and from the size of it, I reckon I’ll be hitting my chin with my knee each time I’d pedal. And judging from my physical fitness and stamina (or lack of it) – I know I’d reach no further than Bagacay! And that’s positive thinking already!
Indeed, a lot of firsts … from sweet Carla’s first communion, to watching Abby spar with grit in Master Kim’s taekwondo class with cousins Cody, Raffy and Gabby. And oh yeah! How can I forget … running out of gas in the middle of Legazpi Street! Now that’s a winner! It took true genius on my part to achieve that!
And of course, there was my brief stint as reporter! That was truly a gem! I entered the exhibit area of the Kasalang Filipino 2007 Bridal Fair at Bethel Guest House having absolutely no idea what to do.
Thank goodness there was gracious Mrs. Macrina Fuentes who kindly introduced me around and Ms. Glynda Descuatan who patiently answered my queries. And of course, there was Irma who advised me to simply gather my impressions of the event.
Ummm … so what was this housewife’s take on that bridal fair? Firstly, it made me wish I was back ten years ago, planning my own wedding, and with all those choices available before me (assuming my husband could afford the costs, though).
It was a proud day for all us, as we saw the artistry of our own fellow Dumagueteños laid before us in full splendor, from that profusion of elegantly arranged flowers courtesy of Expressions to the ethnic artistry of that native wedding cake created by Boom Roxas for the occasion.
It was practically a one-stop shop for anyone who’s planning a wedding, from photography and video coverage, to invitations, souvenirs, catering, wedding gowns, make-up, honeymoon packages, floral arrangements, and even a housing package!
The Kasalang Filipino offered the dream wedding every girl sighs over. But the nitty-gritty reality is this: not everyone could afford the wedding promised in that fair. You either have to place in the upper half and even higher in the socio-economic scale to afford all that or you have to be one lucky lass who has snatched up some foreigner with a thick wad of dollars in his pockets just begging to be splurged away on some high-end wedding.
My second day as reporter found me fanning my heart out under the blistering sun in the landmark Absin garden as we, the press (take note of the “we”) waited for the golden boys Fred Payawan, Gerald Anderson, John Wayne Sace, and Joaqui Mendoza to make their appearance. It wasn’t wasted time though. I got the chance to make very interesting chika with Ms. Lani of DYWC. We discovered I bested her over something she thought was already her extreme… ummm, mysterious!
The presscon went the usual way one sees on TV with all the same questions thrown into the cuties. Except for the absence of Ate Ludz, I could have sworn I was watching Eye to Eye circa mid-80’s. Am I that old already? Apparently yes …
I was never struck by that star-worship bug even as a teenager blossoming in Manila. It was an era when That’s Entertainment ruled supreme. I didn’t care a whit then, nor do I do now. Imagine my disbelief when I witnessed, for the first time and in person, teenagers screaming their heads off like crazed banshees as each float bearing the stars approached during the parade. It was simply ludicrous! Oh yes, they’re adorable. In fact, I had a favorite ... cutie-cutie cute-cute Gerald Anderson (by the way, that's also how I call the latest stray pup I adopted) … but top the fire truck siren in the wailing department at the sight of those mestizo lads? Please! But then again, they’re young … and I’m not so young anymore … that should explain it.
I have a picture of Abby covering her ears. It was accompanied by bewilderment as she asked what the big deal was? Why scream daw at the sight of those boys? I hope she’d still be singing the same tune, say, five years from now?
But to be sure, I instructed everybody in the house not to talk to her about artistas and everything that has to do with them. Not that I have anything against these people, but I shiver with horror at the thought of a teenaged Abby turning into one of those mindless starstruck shrieking creatures whose sole aim in life at that point is to catch a glimpse of those pretty boys’ faces, or worse … catch some sort of used towel(?) thrown for the fans to scramble over, a la Elvis Presley (ewwwww!).
1 comment:
Hi Olga,
Good to see that you're getting back into writing.Looking forward to reading more.
Have you tried the biscuits yet? You can find them at Super Lee's.
Robert.
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