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

Not Sleeping Well

So, apparently, I'm addicted to NBA Live 2009 again. Damn the BLOCK stat, which I am now obsessed with and using as means to annoy the game's AI. I wrote up my own version of the Detroit Pistons, retaining only my favorite five (B. Wallace, R. Wallace, Billups, Hamilton and Prince), with the creme ala creme of NBA Blocking as per the stat trackers of ESPN. Obviously, I am a hardcore B. Wallace and Pistons fan. Celtics and Spurs fight for my second fave team.

We had REPLIKA's Tri-Discipline Workshop earlier, not going to comment on that, and I'll be returning to school tomorrow for a dance practice - don't ask - and staff meeting with the Aklan Collegian so (yeah) I haven't been sleeping that well the past few days. It's not like I do get regular sleep anyway because it's effing boring.

Oh, and a comic artist friend of mine asked me if I wanted to be his writer on a collaborations project and I said yes. The problem's our plot but we'll get to that in a few days. By that, I mean after I get over the stress of the Boracay Final Editing I'll have with the Collegian. Geesh. Since when do Final Editings become stressful? Must be the dancing part. 

† Jofer

Wing It

I just finished my two articles (Politics vs Economics and Catholic Education) for this semester's issue of Aklan Collegian. As the Feature Editor, I still need to edit the rest of my colleagues' feature articles (only a few have been sent to me as of press time) and write nonfiction or some poems to boost my literary ego.

Tomorrow, REPLIKA (the recently approved students art guild of which I am the President) will be holding its Tri-Discipline Workshop (on art, literature and theatre) and I'm supposed to deliver the opening remarks. Since I probably won't have any time to prepare my speech, I think I might just wing it. Introduce people to the organization, to the workshop, thank everyone and welcome them to the workshop proper... Sounds doable.

*crosses fingers*

† Jofer

The COLLEGIAN Office

The Aklan Collegian (COPRE 2009's Best Feature Page and the official campus publication of the Aklan Catholic College, the college where I am currently getting my undergraduate English Language degree) office has been my in-campus hideout, most especially during lunch hours and when no one is around but the air-conditioner and the creepy fluorescent light. I describe the single light source of the office as creepy because it reminds me of those in underground mining tunnels, the one in the film 2012 comes to mind. Also, no, King, that Indian scientist isn't related to me.

Anyway, as the Feature Editor of the publication (our EIC, Darren Naelgas, has twice introduced me as his Associate to two different people), it brings me great pride and pleasure to see the COPRE '09 Best Feature Page banner, which we won during the 2009 COPRE at Iloilo City, posted on our door. Even though I contributed little to gain that prestigious award (Darren has intellectual property rights on the last, my first, issue's lay-out and design), I still feel a bit light on my toes whenever I am inside the office (or it could just be the varnish intoxicating my brain with illusions through my handsome, well-sculpted nose).

Obviously, I am writing this blog entry inside our office. My head is now spinning and I see a gnome reading a food magazine right next to me. I think she might be pregnant too.

PS,
Is it just me or does John Lloyd Cruz resemble a young Robert Downey Jr.?  Grab a copy of a Natasha January-February 2010 catalog, turn to page 147 and ogle his Ackley photo. See what I mean?

† 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