Cool Media Journalism Workshop: Event Summary

 

Some time ago, whenever I blog about an event that spans more than a day, I make sure to write a lengthy entry for each day to pay respect to the activities I've gone through and the lessons learned. This time, since I just got back home and I'm feeling too lazy to waste words that can never really express how much gratitude I feel for the event, I'm going to write a short summary up. Let's make this sweet.

Day One focused on the event's opening program and the first of two workshops (this was on News and Editorial). It was a pretty okay day. Sir Bobby, the speaker, was very involving with the participants. After I got back from Collegian's editing in Roque's Place, my team impressed him in an editorial exercise. Needless to say, I wrote all that. I'll post how it went in another entry.

The event was held in La Carmela de Boracay. Roque's Place, where the Aklan Collegian held their editing, was a few roofs away.

That night, we held the White Party, where everyone was made to wear white. Khalleen and I were supposed to dance but we couldn't because of her "monthly visit". Eddie Boy Tabios was the Master of Ceremonies and he really pulled it off. Other highlights were Aldin Yasol dancing half naked and their comedic vocal duet, the latter just like their first earlier the day.

Day Two then focused on the second workshop (Interviewing) and departure. We left at around 2 and arrived in Aklan, I was with the Preparatory Committee (Khalleen, Cheng, Byron, Charade, Jonah and May) again, at around 4.

The venue was really accommodating and the company was pretty great. The Preparatory Committee was divided into two rooms, girls and boys, so I was always with Byron and Cheng. When Day One arrived, Eugene was added to our room. 

The two day event was pretty great. 

On the last day, before we left, Khalleen and I roamed the beachfront for some gifts to our loved ones. I bought slipper cellphone chains for my female relatives and friends, a sand art bottle for my grandpa and two pink bracelets and a pink necklace (photos to be uploaded on my Facebook account on a separate time along with some of the even photos) for myself. Khalleen bought stuff for herself too and a souvenir for her parents. 

Before we left, Khalleen and I, and Cheng, had a milkshake toast (mine was strawberry and the other two had vanilla).

It was an awesome event that was surprisingly spectacular.

Also, I finally decided to change the name of this blog to Lit Wit (because we aren't nitwits, we are Lit Wits): a blog for the literary witty. Plus, a new layout to go with updates (I have a weird affinity with butterflies, since they represent the psyche, and the color pink, because this breaks the stereotype of the color being female exclusive). I've been thinking of the change for a long time now. Lit Wit was supposed to be the name of the Literati (ACC English Society) blog but there's no progress there so I've decided to cancel the whole thing and go on with my own thing. It's as simple as that.

† Jofer

Cool Media: Preparation Day

I am writing this as I feel empty and lonely, not because of the event or the company (trust me, both are pretty much okay and I can frankly say my level of indifference is at its high) but because I somehow ended up wrestling with the notion of certain possibilities and a multitude of bitter defeats.

Moving on, Khalleen slept over the night before we were scheduled to leave. The Preparatory Committee - composed of Eliza, May, Krishna, Byron, Khalleen, Jr and Charade - along with one of our speakers, Bobby something, our event adviser Sir June and that other guy I know nothing about, were scheduled to leave a day before the seminar proper. I asked to come with them because I couldn't bear to wake up early the next day (we were to leave at six in the morning).

We met in school at around one pm, left after we were all ready and arrived at the Caticlan Jetty Port at around three pm. We went up our respective rooms with Cheng, that one guy, Byron and I to sleep in one room. The girls were in another and I'm not sure what rooms Sir June and the speaker had. We had our dinner meeting... Well, Sir June and the Prep Com did with the venue director. I was eating dinner - Strawberry Milk Shake and Fries - with Khalleen and Jr. I'm not going to elaborate on anything more because it's utterly boring and I wasn't really paying attention. Or perhaps, it could just be my current mood. I'm not sure but I don't really feel like typing right now but I also feel like I should pay respect to this blog, and my writing, to continue motivating myself in a positive light while I'm still under this dreary spell of hopelessness and stuff.

I don't expect my mood to change tomorrow. By the way, I forgot: we're staying at La Carmela something-something.

Depression is sure worse than writer's block.

† Jofer

Tomorrow I'm Leaving for Boracay

Yes. Pretty self-explanatory, isn't it?

At least, Sir June, our Aklan Collegian adviser, told me there will be wi-fi. That means I can log in during the seminar proper. Not a bad idea... Not ethical but certainly not bad.

Anyways, here's an impromptu entry in a seatwork journal we were forced to write on a Creative Writing class (I want my money back):
 

Woke up at around 4am so that means I only had 2 hours of sleep. I still have nothing to show for overtime. I hate distractions.

As always I brewed coffee for breakfast, took a really cold shower to get my head working before I ran to class. Friday mornings are academically religious, though I'm not. Sir Daniel needed help with his stuff so I assumed responsibility...again.

Dropped by the cafeteria for some coffee and drove back home for some much needed rest. Someone still has her plushie on my balcony. I really need to get that out of here but for now sleep. I still have tons to do.

† Jofer

Of Blogging as Education

Let's be clear, I'm not a neophyte when it comes to blogging. I've been blogging since the sixth grade, actually, and it has been a fun ride. Scratch that, it is a fun ride. Notice the intended correction of the tense with the previous statements. I doubt my run will end anytime soon.

I was mindlessly walking along the halls of the school earlier, got bored of my Stenography class so took the long way around and handled my graduation requests instead, when I happened to come across the internet center. Yeah, we've got an internet center inside the campus because we're all hip and tech-savvy like that. Anyway, as soon as I saw the clear window of the premise, I immediately saw the radiant sunshine that is my one and only love. [cue lovey dovey montage that never fails to make Ash barf]

As I stood mere inches from where she was sitting, I happened to glimpse the blog address of their English Major professor, Mam Tisay, who required that each of her students have a blog of their own. Talk about awesome, eh?

As a veteran of the blogosphere, one that prefers to tiptoe in the shadows than openly scream my lungs out, I felt a little proud and positive with the development regarding the promulgation of internet education, especially with such close proximity. A blog isn't just an online diary. It's also an intellectual discourse with a varied audience - yourself and the world wide web.

Blogging is communication, education, entertainment and expression rolled into one. Its versatility enables us to become well-versed with the medium that we need to immerse ourselves in.

In my case, I need to clear my head out of stocked rubbish every once in a while.

† Jofer

Inspired Once Again

Yeah. How long has it been since I updated this place? I've been really busy with school work.

First off, Khalleen and I are now officially together. We're a couple and that's really awesome... for me. I'm madly deeply in love with her and I think we'll last for decades. She might even be the one.

Though there are always critics. There is a handful of naysayers who think we aren't compatible, that we'll never last that long, mostly because we're complete opposites. Khalleen's really childish, I'm somewhat mature. Khalleen's talkative and loud, I'm meek and timid. But, hey, haven't I had my share of my polar opposites? Well... Let's not bring out examples since they aren't that pretty to hear but basically, Khalleen is someone special and I don't think I can hurt her or let her go that easily. *readies butcher knife*

Aside from that, she still has a lot of admirers, which can be annoying most of the times but I've grown to accept that I just have good taste. I mean, come on. If you've got the best, people will want that. Explains why we're both touchy with each other.

Secondly, yes, I've got a new layout. Why? Well, I've got a new muse? I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER LOVE! :p

On another note, I've also been helping the Student Council with all their projects and programs, especially where Khalleen has paperwork (she's the Secretary). Nothing new since I'm a sucker for paperwork. Gaiman, I love paper and ink and quills and writing tons of meaningless things. It's my passion.

I just sent my AILAP application yesterday as well. Hopefully, I get in. The competition will be tough, since only 8 fellows will be chosen from all over the Pilippines, so if I do get in, if my luck and talent permits me to gracefully ascend from mediocrity and into the palace of wisdom, I'll do something explosive that'll bring a whole town down.

Like what I've always said, if it's my last page, I'm going out with a bang!

† Jofer

Becoming More Involved

So I decided to be more involved with academic affairs. It's my last year at the Aklan Catholic College and it's only justified for me to allot more time and effort with the institution. I'm such a retarded freak.

I had my screening for the official school publication, the Aklan Collegian, but the results are still unavailable. I think I was the only 4th year applicant, which was weird and it proved why I'm such an indifferent lazy arse. There were more than 20 of us vying for one of three slots so it was really, REALLY, tight. I'm actually aiming for the executive editor position but I'll take anything. Annaliese said that when I put up, I should go for the cherry instead of settling for cold water... or I should just shut up.

Speaking of shutting up, I attended my first Literati meeting. The Literati is the official English Majors' Organization in ACC. Khaleen nominated me for the presidency and I actually won by default since it was unanimously decided to close the nominations after my name got in. Talk about laziness. There wasn't any competition but I'm not complaining. Khaleen then became the Treasurer/Accountant through the same method.

Speaking of Khaleen, I think something's wrong with my head. I'm acting like I'm in love with a lot of different women. It's weird. I mean, REALLY weird. My aesthetics control must be acting up again. I feel light headed with that girl in the VP Office, with my half-Japanese classmate in a theology class, with Khaleen (because she's that adorable. <3), with some English Majors (three? two? four? I can't count. XD), with an Political Science student and with a Mathematics Major. I've seen most of them before and there was no reaction with previous encounters. See what I mean by weird? Bah. It wouldn't really matter. I'll just have to start disciplining myself. It'll all pass. Hopefully, by the end of the year, my added responsibilities wouldn't have me lose so much hair.

I can't go bald.

† Jofer