i just made a big decision today: i'm leaving malaya for bloomberg, to work there as full-time stringer. i have hesitations, fears and doubts. i told myself i wasn't ready. but the job is really meant for me. first, coco (manila bureau chief) acceded to my salary request. second, he told me i was priority for the job; if i decline it, it will be offered to someone else. the end of my career with them.
so i had to grab it. anyway, i can always go back to newspaper writing if i want to (although historically, i don't really go back to where i come from.) may the Lord help me.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Public enemy No.1
here's from my mailbox from "zion heavan"
(i don't care who this is, i have an axe to grind against this mammoth of a user.)
MASTER muzzler. Double talker.
We couldn't help but use these words to describe the Lopez family which runs Meralco for its refusal to grant media coverage of the company's stockholders' meeting on Tuesday, May 27--because we couldn't see any valid reason why they did it.
Because precisely they are the Lopezes, how could they refuse coverage of a great public event, we want to ask. Do they have anything to hide?
Or indeed, there must have been truth to what GSIS President Winston Garcia has been saying all along—-that they have been hiding so many things to the public.
So many things, and not exactly as noble as the Lopezes of great old times had wished and done for this company, among them the paper trail of the present management's magnum opus to put the burden of paying more than P400 million in their own electric consumption a year to the poor, unsuspecting millions of customers.
It's time to know the truth, time to winnow facts from fiction, but the Lopezes would prefer to deny the public of that right, reminiscent of the Spanish friars who had deprived the indios of a good education because the gift of wisdom would cause a great social storm.
By our reckoning, Garcia's series of expose on Meralco are so revolting, it only means that Lopezes had squeezed the public dry to keep them and their minions oiled.
If these are not all true, why are they afraid of a public scrutiny?
We couldn't understand why this Lopez family who emerged triumphant fighting long and hard the Marcos dictatorship would be so afraid of an hour or two of a boardroom battle.
The Lopezes¸ for the longest time the owners and managers of Meralco and the giant network ABS-CBN, should be the last family standing while promoting and protecting public interest.
We couldn't understand why this family who raised all the books on free speech through those dark years would now deprive the public they ought to serve of the same freedom to know the truth about Meralco's "system loss" charges, to "generation charges, transmission charges, metering charges, universal charges—-to name a few.
Along with the ABS-CBN employees, the Lopezes have raised hell many times--the last one was when the AFP and the police denied their reporters and cameramen free access to the Manila Peninsula siege--when their right to information was threatened.
Another sister company, ANC, always takes pride in its non-stop coverage of public hearings at the House and the Senate involving every possible scandal in the government.
In fact, the Lopezes claim that the campaign to lower electricity rates by demanding a change in management of Meralco is a result of the critical reporting by ABS-CBN, ANC, and their radio network, dzMM of what has been happening to the government.
Talk is cheap, if untrue.
Is this why Lopez management has flatly rejected a request from ABS-CBN's rival GMA 7television network to cover the stockholders' meeting live?
Indeed, it's a different story, if you are the one getting the prick of the syringe? Freedom of speech for thee, but not for you and me--the public as stockholders and consumers with as much stake in this public utility?
Didn't the people of the Lopez's TV and radio stations throw everything, including the kitchen sink, to this rival TV station which, they said, gave an inaccurate story about their own ratings? And they did so at a great inconvenience to the public they ought to serve?
Or perhaps, that is precisely the whole point of the refusal of a media coverage of the Meralco stockholders' meeting: It is not the interest of the public that is at stake here, it is the interest of the Lopezes. Nothing more, nothing less. Hindi tayo kapamilya, kaya hindi tayo kasama?
And who belongs to this family? Not those who have been robbed of hard earned money to pay high electricity rates to allow the Lopezes to live it up.
Not the Meralco employees/shareholders who were asked to sign or resign if they wouldn't allow the Lopezes to get all the proxy votes for the May 27 stockholders' meeting? What a way to stay in power!
How do the Lopezes indeed define public interest then? Doesn't this one of Meralco's most of its controversial stockholders meetings fall under public interest? And hence requires vigorous reporting?
Media coverage, the Lopezes used to say, is the best protection against oppressors, if that is how they prefer to call their critics, but how come the Lopezes are not using a great public tool that protected them during the Marcos years, that protected the great mass of people against military power called Edsa Revolution that paved the way for them to reclaim the country's biggest electricity distribution firm?
Times have changed--and how! It only exposed the Lopezes own folly that the things they did then and now was for their own good, never for the public, even if the Lopezes have managed to confuse the two different interests at their convenience. Again, master muzzler, double talker.
(i don't care who this is, i have an axe to grind against this mammoth of a user.)
MASTER muzzler. Double talker.
We couldn't help but use these words to describe the Lopez family which runs Meralco for its refusal to grant media coverage of the company's stockholders' meeting on Tuesday, May 27--because we couldn't see any valid reason why they did it.
Because precisely they are the Lopezes, how could they refuse coverage of a great public event, we want to ask. Do they have anything to hide?
Or indeed, there must have been truth to what GSIS President Winston Garcia has been saying all along—-that they have been hiding so many things to the public.
So many things, and not exactly as noble as the Lopezes of great old times had wished and done for this company, among them the paper trail of the present management's magnum opus to put the burden of paying more than P400 million in their own electric consumption a year to the poor, unsuspecting millions of customers.
It's time to know the truth, time to winnow facts from fiction, but the Lopezes would prefer to deny the public of that right, reminiscent of the Spanish friars who had deprived the indios of a good education because the gift of wisdom would cause a great social storm.
By our reckoning, Garcia's series of expose on Meralco are so revolting, it only means that Lopezes had squeezed the public dry to keep them and their minions oiled.
If these are not all true, why are they afraid of a public scrutiny?
We couldn't understand why this Lopez family who emerged triumphant fighting long and hard the Marcos dictatorship would be so afraid of an hour or two of a boardroom battle.
The Lopezes¸ for the longest time the owners and managers of Meralco and the giant network ABS-CBN, should be the last family standing while promoting and protecting public interest.
We couldn't understand why this family who raised all the books on free speech through those dark years would now deprive the public they ought to serve of the same freedom to know the truth about Meralco's "system loss" charges, to "generation charges, transmission charges, metering charges, universal charges—-to name a few.
Along with the ABS-CBN employees, the Lopezes have raised hell many times--the last one was when the AFP and the police denied their reporters and cameramen free access to the Manila Peninsula siege--when their right to information was threatened.
Another sister company, ANC, always takes pride in its non-stop coverage of public hearings at the House and the Senate involving every possible scandal in the government.
In fact, the Lopezes claim that the campaign to lower electricity rates by demanding a change in management of Meralco is a result of the critical reporting by ABS-CBN, ANC, and their radio network, dzMM of what has been happening to the government.
Talk is cheap, if untrue.
Is this why Lopez management has flatly rejected a request from ABS-CBN's rival GMA 7television network to cover the stockholders' meeting live?
Indeed, it's a different story, if you are the one getting the prick of the syringe? Freedom of speech for thee, but not for you and me--the public as stockholders and consumers with as much stake in this public utility?
Didn't the people of the Lopez's TV and radio stations throw everything, including the kitchen sink, to this rival TV station which, they said, gave an inaccurate story about their own ratings? And they did so at a great inconvenience to the public they ought to serve?
Or perhaps, that is precisely the whole point of the refusal of a media coverage of the Meralco stockholders' meeting: It is not the interest of the public that is at stake here, it is the interest of the Lopezes. Nothing more, nothing less. Hindi tayo kapamilya, kaya hindi tayo kasama?
And who belongs to this family? Not those who have been robbed of hard earned money to pay high electricity rates to allow the Lopezes to live it up.
Not the Meralco employees/shareholders who were asked to sign or resign if they wouldn't allow the Lopezes to get all the proxy votes for the May 27 stockholders' meeting? What a way to stay in power!
How do the Lopezes indeed define public interest then? Doesn't this one of Meralco's most of its controversial stockholders meetings fall under public interest? And hence requires vigorous reporting?
Media coverage, the Lopezes used to say, is the best protection against oppressors, if that is how they prefer to call their critics, but how come the Lopezes are not using a great public tool that protected them during the Marcos years, that protected the great mass of people against military power called Edsa Revolution that paved the way for them to reclaim the country's biggest electricity distribution firm?
Times have changed--and how! It only exposed the Lopezes own folly that the things they did then and now was for their own good, never for the public, even if the Lopezes have managed to confuse the two different interests at their convenience. Again, master muzzler, double talker.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
disaster zone
at around 7pm on May 17, my niece from pangasinan texted me how bad the winds were. winds spawned by typhoon “cosme,” which slammed into the northwestern part of the province going northeast.
i called her up and i could hear from the other end of the line the howling winds that were sending everyone in the house in fear. when i wasn't on the phone, i was texting them to give a semblance of my presence and assure them everything would be okay.
but i was dead worried. i was in baguio country club, high and dry. the pine trees were in panic from the similarly driving wind and rain, but i was perfectly all right.
i separated from the rest of the reporters when we reached the lowlands in rosario, la union the next morning. fallen trees were all around. the gas station where we had a stopover going up to baguio two days ago was in shambles, and so the cozy diner that now seemed bombed out.
going into my hometown, there was the same litter of dead trees, old and new. the landscape has been stripped clean. things were not different in our neighborhood. oh, the trees that used to provide me shade while waiting for a jeepney were not there anymore. some houses had no roof on them. my cousins told me horror stories of not knowing what to do during those five hours the typhoon pounded them
and now before me was a faded land. i could see the bare sky. i had to wade in ankle-deep water. it was just a night of rain.
i was thankful everyone in the house was safe. my niece and i were praying together at the height of the typhoon. my mother told me it was prayer that gave her comfort during the seemingly endless ordeal.
we never get a signal no. 3 typhoon in May. we have seven months still up ahead and the strongest typhoons normally happen at the latter part of the year.
without the trees, it would be hot. God forbids another typhoon of similar strength battering this part of the province. electricity won't nornalize until probably after a couple of months.
if this is not the effect of global warming, i must be in a war zone.
i called her up and i could hear from the other end of the line the howling winds that were sending everyone in the house in fear. when i wasn't on the phone, i was texting them to give a semblance of my presence and assure them everything would be okay.
but i was dead worried. i was in baguio country club, high and dry. the pine trees were in panic from the similarly driving wind and rain, but i was perfectly all right.
i separated from the rest of the reporters when we reached the lowlands in rosario, la union the next morning. fallen trees were all around. the gas station where we had a stopover going up to baguio two days ago was in shambles, and so the cozy diner that now seemed bombed out.
going into my hometown, there was the same litter of dead trees, old and new. the landscape has been stripped clean. things were not different in our neighborhood. oh, the trees that used to provide me shade while waiting for a jeepney were not there anymore. some houses had no roof on them. my cousins told me horror stories of not knowing what to do during those five hours the typhoon pounded them
and now before me was a faded land. i could see the bare sky. i had to wade in ankle-deep water. it was just a night of rain.
i was thankful everyone in the house was safe. my niece and i were praying together at the height of the typhoon. my mother told me it was prayer that gave her comfort during the seemingly endless ordeal.
we never get a signal no. 3 typhoon in May. we have seven months still up ahead and the strongest typhoons normally happen at the latter part of the year.
without the trees, it would be hot. God forbids another typhoon of similar strength battering this part of the province. electricity won't nornalize until probably after a couple of months.
if this is not the effect of global warming, i must be in a war zone.
Friday, May 16, 2008
tropical fish
two typhoons are in the philippine area of responsibility as i write this, and i'm here attending a weekend seminar for central bank reporters in baguio city, more than 5,000 feet above sea level. when it's raining and when it's cold and foggy, it's not a good time to be up here. and it's still the month of may it should be summer but the weather has truly become unpredictable.
last weekend, i was under the hot sun in boracay. i wish today i was there. oh, how i wish to be embraced by the sun.
back in manila, the sun is up all day, the weather hot and humid. suddenly, i'm caught up in a sea of mist, it feels surreal.
last weekend, i was under the hot sun in boracay. i wish today i was there. oh, how i wish to be embraced by the sun.
back in manila, the sun is up all day, the weather hot and humid. suddenly, i'm caught up in a sea of mist, it feels surreal.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
dubai
i helped send off my younger brother this afternoon at the airport for dubai. it's his first time to go out of the country and he's out to find his luck in this new land of opportunity for filipinos today. on the way to the airport, it's really easy to make a decision to leave this country. i felt like i wanted to go out myself, pinned as i were in heavy midday traffic at roxas blvd turning left to naia.
on the flyover that brings you up to the airport terminal, i saw a big billboard listing the names of multinational companies that have set up shop in the country. the government was drumbeating their decision to locate here. i looked out the cab window and saw candy and other food wrappings strewn on the pavement. ah, relief for those leaving the country.
anyway, i caught up with my brother before entering the airport. he went in and was told off to move to the other terminal. he was to take a PAL flight to hongkong and transfer to a sri lankan plane to colombo thence to dubai. oh, my poor brother, what a circuitous flight! he's in a rush to meet up with his hotel employer in dubai who would arrange for his work visa (he's on a visit visa).
we rushed to bring him to the centennial airport and this monster of a taxi driver, who abounds in this country for reason i don't know, charged me 100 for a 50-peso fare. and he thought it was all right! hah.
going back to my brother. he really had a hard time looking for a job here. maybe for lack of education, motivation or simply opportunity.
i wish my brother the best there. may the Lord protect him and give him success.
His girlfriend was there at the airport for the send-off and she watched him all the way to the check-in counter.
another brother of mine is in kuwait right now. another one had worked in saudi and is now back home.
when i go out of the country, i do so for coverage and in part pleasure. but these my brothers go out for work. and still i get more here than what they get there.
when they say one in every five filipinos is working abroad, i can understand. if only any of the companies at the billboard could provide job for my brothers.
on the flyover that brings you up to the airport terminal, i saw a big billboard listing the names of multinational companies that have set up shop in the country. the government was drumbeating their decision to locate here. i looked out the cab window and saw candy and other food wrappings strewn on the pavement. ah, relief for those leaving the country.
anyway, i caught up with my brother before entering the airport. he went in and was told off to move to the other terminal. he was to take a PAL flight to hongkong and transfer to a sri lankan plane to colombo thence to dubai. oh, my poor brother, what a circuitous flight! he's in a rush to meet up with his hotel employer in dubai who would arrange for his work visa (he's on a visit visa).
we rushed to bring him to the centennial airport and this monster of a taxi driver, who abounds in this country for reason i don't know, charged me 100 for a 50-peso fare. and he thought it was all right! hah.
going back to my brother. he really had a hard time looking for a job here. maybe for lack of education, motivation or simply opportunity.
i wish my brother the best there. may the Lord protect him and give him success.
His girlfriend was there at the airport for the send-off and she watched him all the way to the check-in counter.
another brother of mine is in kuwait right now. another one had worked in saudi and is now back home.
when i go out of the country, i do so for coverage and in part pleasure. but these my brothers go out for work. and still i get more here than what they get there.
when they say one in every five filipinos is working abroad, i can understand. if only any of the companies at the billboard could provide job for my brothers.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
pain in the neck
a fellow reporter really pissed me off today. this woman, whose only talent it seems is to jeer at people, ribbed me for a news story she got and i didn't. in short, in her estimation she had a scoop.
she was so loud she called out "bobo" and "tanga" directing it at no one in particular although obviously she was aiming at me for besides her two companions, i was the only other person in the press room.
i held my anger and left the room in haste. but outside i was brewing with anger. one more word from her, i told myself, and she'll get it. she wants a fight i'll give it to her.
in her unhappiness, this woman wants everybody else miserable. she's made enemies of every reporter at the central bank. i've brushed off her many attempts to pick up a fight with me but this day i was in no mood for her tantrums and i was ready to send her home in tears.
good for her, she was soon gone and out of my sight. but until now, i'm still cooling myself. she has no respect for other people, she'll not get it from me.
i'm really not good at handling anger. i'm patient but once filled, i flare up and it's really bad!
tomorrow i guess will be different. i don't take anger to bed. which is good.
she was so loud she called out "bobo" and "tanga" directing it at no one in particular although obviously she was aiming at me for besides her two companions, i was the only other person in the press room.
i held my anger and left the room in haste. but outside i was brewing with anger. one more word from her, i told myself, and she'll get it. she wants a fight i'll give it to her.
in her unhappiness, this woman wants everybody else miserable. she's made enemies of every reporter at the central bank. i've brushed off her many attempts to pick up a fight with me but this day i was in no mood for her tantrums and i was ready to send her home in tears.
good for her, she was soon gone and out of my sight. but until now, i'm still cooling myself. she has no respect for other people, she'll not get it from me.
i'm really not good at handling anger. i'm patient but once filled, i flare up and it's really bad!
tomorrow i guess will be different. i don't take anger to bed. which is good.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Victory!
What sweet victory, our team, the banking and finance team, won the sportsfest beating teams from other beats (telecom, energy, agriculture, stock exchange). It was wow! We made a sweep, capturing not just the top place for the games but the minor awards like best in uniform and early bird. We turned in a never-before-done grand slam for the team. Each of us in the team received a trophy from the sponsor Coke.
What could have bound the team all the way to victory? There was an unprecedented show of unity, something we missed in the previous outings because some of our co-reporters were not cordial with us.
But them not being part of the campaign this time, there were no reservations, only determined effort to run all the way to the finish line. We deserve it. All our efforts were worth it.
What could have bound the team all the way to victory? There was an unprecedented show of unity, something we missed in the previous outings because some of our co-reporters were not cordial with us.
But them not being part of the campaign this time, there were no reservations, only determined effort to run all the way to the finish line. We deserve it. All our efforts were worth it.
Party people, clean up!
All right, you've enjoyed the powdery white sands of Boracay. But common party people, be responsible stewards. Pick up you dirt and sweep the filth off the beach.
I've walked the entire length of Boracay beach (7 kilometers and more) and I've noticed the great amount of thrash that litter the sands - from sun glo plastic pouches to broken bits of hard plastic (stepped on one and it almost pierced my feet). I saw dogs, too, roaming the beach area and you know what they can do. Naturally, Boracay being Boracay, bods of all sizes and shapes in their sun-tanned glory captivated my eyes...but hey, aren't they the same people dirtying the beach?
We crossed over to the east side of Boracay island, did some island hopping and snorkelling. But pity the waters, thrash were there, too. In five years time, if these were not cleaned and if visitors didn't discipline themselves, Boracay would be an island of waste. You just can imagine what damage this can do to the country's tourism sector, the island being our centerpiece tourism draw.
Development is unbridled in the island. There are so many people and anybody can just build a building or structure the way he likes.
There's a drainage system but I wonder where this ends up. At the beach?
I've walked the entire length of Boracay beach (7 kilometers and more) and I've noticed the great amount of thrash that litter the sands - from sun glo plastic pouches to broken bits of hard plastic (stepped on one and it almost pierced my feet). I saw dogs, too, roaming the beach area and you know what they can do. Naturally, Boracay being Boracay, bods of all sizes and shapes in their sun-tanned glory captivated my eyes...but hey, aren't they the same people dirtying the beach?
We crossed over to the east side of Boracay island, did some island hopping and snorkelling. But pity the waters, thrash were there, too. In five years time, if these were not cleaned and if visitors didn't discipline themselves, Boracay would be an island of waste. You just can imagine what damage this can do to the country's tourism sector, the island being our centerpiece tourism draw.
Development is unbridled in the island. There are so many people and anybody can just build a building or structure the way he likes.
There's a drainage system but I wonder where this ends up. At the beach?
Friday, May 09, 2008
Boracay Virgin
I'm here in Boracay for our two-day sports festival (economic reporters). It's my first time to be in this famous island. We're in a resort called Two Seasons. Quite comfy, but once inside, you could be anywhere else. There's no tell-tale signs you're in the island paradise because the room design is generic (and this is a luxury resort). I'm afraid to use the soap in the sink or take a bath too much because this is a beachfront property (without the view of the beach, though). I wonder what kind of damage this resort and all the others that dot the long beach do on the island's fragile ecosystem. Oh, the caprices of man that destroy Mother Earth!
Anyway, a few observations:
1. The turquoise waters are really something. They're much better than the ones in Bohol.
2. There are too many people. It seems all of Manila are in this island for their summer outing.
3. I saw a couple of ATMs near the public market. And I thought this island is isolated. I guess next year I should try Palawan.
4. We made a land trip from Kalibo (because we took a Cebu Pacific plane) to Caticlan, the jump-off point to the island. It was all of two hours! The roads are fine though.
5. In some parts in the island you'd feel like you're in Quiapo. So much noise and chaos. It seems development popped up without warning and the people didn't know any better.
Wait a minute, what am I doing in my room, I should go out to check the gorgeous beach!
Anyway, a few observations:
1. The turquoise waters are really something. They're much better than the ones in Bohol.
2. There are too many people. It seems all of Manila are in this island for their summer outing.
3. I saw a couple of ATMs near the public market. And I thought this island is isolated. I guess next year I should try Palawan.
4. We made a land trip from Kalibo (because we took a Cebu Pacific plane) to Caticlan, the jump-off point to the island. It was all of two hours! The roads are fine though.
5. In some parts in the island you'd feel like you're in Quiapo. So much noise and chaos. It seems development popped up without warning and the people didn't know any better.
Wait a minute, what am I doing in my room, I should go out to check the gorgeous beach!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
back again!
i'm signing in with my gmail account. whatever happened to my yahoomail sign-in account? i haven't been able to open this blog, for some reason the system wouldn't let me in with my password. oh, the lost thoughts, the lost memories, i can't remember them now. got to be starting again. my last entry was about my new baby, a laptop. now i've got a new one (a smaller unit, though). That was like a span of more than one-and-a-half years!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
my new baby
i'm ecstatic about finally getting a laptop of my own. i'd say it's the fruit of my efforts in recent months though i still have to pay it in full. it's actually a slightly used unit i got from a friend. but heck, i don't care. it's power-packed for a price of 25k.
the unit will have a long life with me, hopefully for the purpose of serving my requirements as media ministry head of our community. plus, it should serve me well in the press room and when i go home when i'm off from work but still have to do some writing.
the unit will have a long life with me, hopefully for the purpose of serving my requirements as media ministry head of our community. plus, it should serve me well in the press room and when i go home when i'm off from work but still have to do some writing.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
i am, therefore i exist
this is terrible, i haven't done a blog for nearly two months. it means i didn't have time left to write down my thoughts. i must have been crazy busy the past weeks.
i saw iris at the ejap party last night and she said she made a comment on my latest blog, and that was like oct. 22. i haven't logged in since then.
i was surprised to know she recommended me to coco. i thought i didn't have it but somebody else saw it.
my last blog was a scoop story and since then i have made a lot of other scoops, both from the bsp and dof.
but many times also, i was left eating the dust of other stringers - i was what you may call "natulog sa pansitan."
some other stories i shot quite late. it made me uneasy but kler told me that is normal in the job, sometimes you get the news first sometimes you play second fiddle but the principle is that you should be on top of the situation most of the time.
this is a tough job, but it helps that i enjoy doing it.
i saw iris at the ejap party last night and she said she made a comment on my latest blog, and that was like oct. 22. i haven't logged in since then.
i was surprised to know she recommended me to coco. i thought i didn't have it but somebody else saw it.
my last blog was a scoop story and since then i have made a lot of other scoops, both from the bsp and dof.
but many times also, i was left eating the dust of other stringers - i was what you may call "natulog sa pansitan."
some other stories i shot quite late. it made me uneasy but kler told me that is normal in the job, sometimes you get the news first sometimes you play second fiddle but the principle is that you should be on top of the situation most of the time.
this is a tough job, but it helps that i enjoy doing it.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Scoop!
i had a field day today, made a wave at the market for comments i picked up from central bank governor tetangco. it's about the possibility of a cut in the policy rates.
as usual, i didn't know the impact of what i did until it circulated in the market.
the guys at bloomberg did a terrific job, creating a headline-grabbing story out of the statements i fished out.
no other wire agency picked it up. i think the bloomberg manila staff was ecstatic because reuters, their main competitor, was left out in the game.
the wire reached singapore, where i guess the regional bureau centers are holding office, and only bloomberg carried those all-too important statements (because the market is looking for a definite sign for a policy action from the central bank).
i got a patting on the back from coco and company. tony jordan, the bureau chief, said what i did was "awesome."
to think that they had hesitations in getting me as stringer. just as i suspected, me a neophyte in the field would have to earn my stripes.
i'm surprised i did such a thing myself. i'm so happy, i made a good follow up to a scoop i made the other week.
but as i often say, i'm just as good as my last story.
as usual, i didn't know the impact of what i did until it circulated in the market.
the guys at bloomberg did a terrific job, creating a headline-grabbing story out of the statements i fished out.
no other wire agency picked it up. i think the bloomberg manila staff was ecstatic because reuters, their main competitor, was left out in the game.
the wire reached singapore, where i guess the regional bureau centers are holding office, and only bloomberg carried those all-too important statements (because the market is looking for a definite sign for a policy action from the central bank).
i got a patting on the back from coco and company. tony jordan, the bureau chief, said what i did was "awesome."
to think that they had hesitations in getting me as stringer. just as i suspected, me a neophyte in the field would have to earn my stripes.
i'm surprised i did such a thing myself. i'm so happy, i made a good follow up to a scoop i made the other week.
but as i often say, i'm just as good as my last story.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Ecc. 12:1-7
Why, oh, why does man live as if there's no tomorrow or an end to this life?:
Remember your Creator in the the days of your youth, before the evil days come
And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
Before the sun is darkened, and the light, and the moon, and the stars,
While the clouds return after the rain;
When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent,
And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind;
When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low;
When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed;
And one fears heights, and perils in the street;
When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grow sluggish and the caper berry is without effect,
Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets;
Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken,
And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well,
And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
Remember your Creator in the the days of your youth, before the evil days come
And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
Before the sun is darkened, and the light, and the moon, and the stars,
While the clouds return after the rain;
When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent,
And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind;
When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low;
When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed;
And one fears heights, and perils in the street;
When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grow sluggish and the caper berry is without effect,
Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets;
Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken,
And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well,
And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Feeling yellow
I watched with the millions for the outcome of the highly charged championship game between Ateneo and UST yesterday. I’m not an alumnus of either school and neither am I a basketball fan.
But championship games are such major spectacles that they could draw anyone from any indifference.
Plus, in the UAAP, before they turn into men of the pro league to play for money, the boys play for school and pride. This is the real game, much like the way Manny Pacquiao did boxing before he turned it into an enterprise.
There were about 10 of us in the room watching the live coverage of the match. Most were rooting for the Tigers, including myself.
I don’t know why. Maybe because I studied for a year in UST but didn’t finish the course. Maybe because I hear mass often from the Dominican Fathers.
But I also knew a bit of Ateneo. I studied Philosophy for a semester at the Loyola campus and the Jesuit Fathers left an impression on me, having been under their care for six months.
It if was a game between the Eagles and the Archers, I would go for the former, hands down. But this was a game between the Eagles and the Tigers and I would have donned a yellow shirt.
I joked the crowd before the TV set that the reason UST won was they had more prayer warriors than Ateneo. Why, besides the Dominican Fathers, there are countless congregations of nuns carrying the banner of St. Dominic.
By contrast, I don’t think St. Ignatius had a distaff side to count on.
But going back, I guess it’s St. Thomas who draws the line. The high school I attended was a Sto. Tomas and my hometown itself was founded by the Dominicans.
Closer to heart, I think I can identify more with the UST community than that of Ateneo. So that gives me the feeling that I belong even when I'm neither here nor there.
But championship games are such major spectacles that they could draw anyone from any indifference.
Plus, in the UAAP, before they turn into men of the pro league to play for money, the boys play for school and pride. This is the real game, much like the way Manny Pacquiao did boxing before he turned it into an enterprise.
There were about 10 of us in the room watching the live coverage of the match. Most were rooting for the Tigers, including myself.
I don’t know why. Maybe because I studied for a year in UST but didn’t finish the course. Maybe because I hear mass often from the Dominican Fathers.
But I also knew a bit of Ateneo. I studied Philosophy for a semester at the Loyola campus and the Jesuit Fathers left an impression on me, having been under their care for six months.
It if was a game between the Eagles and the Archers, I would go for the former, hands down. But this was a game between the Eagles and the Tigers and I would have donned a yellow shirt.
I joked the crowd before the TV set that the reason UST won was they had more prayer warriors than Ateneo. Why, besides the Dominican Fathers, there are countless congregations of nuns carrying the banner of St. Dominic.
By contrast, I don’t think St. Ignatius had a distaff side to count on.
But going back, I guess it’s St. Thomas who draws the line. The high school I attended was a Sto. Tomas and my hometown itself was founded by the Dominicans.
Closer to heart, I think I can identify more with the UST community than that of Ateneo. So that gives me the feeling that I belong even when I'm neither here nor there.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
market moving
there are stories that shake the markets and cause a ripple of reaction among market players - these are called market-moving stories.
since working in the banking and finance beat about two years ago, it's been a dire wish to be able to come up with a market-shaking story.
i remember i did one about a year ago, of the government selling euro bonds. it turned out to be a dud, but it moved bond prices nonetheless.
but yesterday, i think i did one and hit it right on the head. it was a slow day for us in the beat, no new news were coming. it happened that i thought of asking central bank governor tetangco of how soon he thinks the philippines may get a rating upgrade.
the good governor responded it may happen in 6 months. i shared the information with bloomberg.
i did the story for my newspaper today and had no idea of its impact until i surfed the net and saw that reuters picked up the story.
later, karen, a comrade in the beat who's with reuters, called me up to inquire if the story in the paper was mine. i said yes but that it didn't have a byline.
then she burst into a commendation for a good job done. a what? i was clueless and was not really interested to heap praises on myself.
the reuters story was updated and said that share prices closed higher because of the central bank chief's comments.
in my phone conversation with kler (of bloomberg)later, she said reuters tried to catch up with the story (i pretended i haven't seen it).
so, what that makes of me? i guess nothing, just the feeling that i have broken through a fervent wish. i'm happy, yes i am, that's why this blog note.
but i know that as with every other journalist, i'm as good as my last story.
the good governor has certainly done me a favor and this shall not go unnoticed.
since working in the banking and finance beat about two years ago, it's been a dire wish to be able to come up with a market-shaking story.
i remember i did one about a year ago, of the government selling euro bonds. it turned out to be a dud, but it moved bond prices nonetheless.
but yesterday, i think i did one and hit it right on the head. it was a slow day for us in the beat, no new news were coming. it happened that i thought of asking central bank governor tetangco of how soon he thinks the philippines may get a rating upgrade.
the good governor responded it may happen in 6 months. i shared the information with bloomberg.
i did the story for my newspaper today and had no idea of its impact until i surfed the net and saw that reuters picked up the story.
later, karen, a comrade in the beat who's with reuters, called me up to inquire if the story in the paper was mine. i said yes but that it didn't have a byline.
then she burst into a commendation for a good job done. a what? i was clueless and was not really interested to heap praises on myself.
the reuters story was updated and said that share prices closed higher because of the central bank chief's comments.
in my phone conversation with kler (of bloomberg)later, she said reuters tried to catch up with the story (i pretended i haven't seen it).
so, what that makes of me? i guess nothing, just the feeling that i have broken through a fervent wish. i'm happy, yes i am, that's why this blog note.
but i know that as with every other journalist, i'm as good as my last story.
the good governor has certainly done me a favor and this shall not go unnoticed.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
A brush with mortality
You’ll never know when you’re about to go. But you can tell if your time is up.
That was certainly my case during a big flood in espana. I was coming home from pasay when rushing waters greeted the tamaraw fx I was riding in.
The poor driver swerved his vehicle here and there until we were in a sidestreet that was only half-flooded than espana. Then we came to a deep corner. I had to get out of the vehicle and try my luck walking through the waterlogged street or I had to wait till the waters subside.
Before my eyes was a sea of dirty water that got me really scared. If there’s a hole somewhere I’d drown without anyone seeing me. Or if a live wire fell off from an electric post I’d be toasted like a cat.
I changed direction and emerged in espana. Behold, water was building up so high that only 18-wheeler trucks could get through. The water was something like that you see in a forest flowing from the mountains, except that this was all of filth.
I joined the other hapless commuters to wade in the dark waters. After a forceful 100 steps or so I was across espana. But then, water was everywhere. I turned left to an obscure street then turned right on to another street leading to where I live.
Now, I noticed that mayor atienza had installed new electric posts with their lights shining brightly to guide passersby. I was almost thankful for this deed when five feet to an electric post infront of me I felt shockwaves throughout my body. I felt like my hairs stood up. Good golly, the waters are alive!
In my panic, I jumped on to the base of the post and wrapped my hands around the metal post but that just shocked me more. I was holding on to the very source of the shock!
I jumped out and landed on an embankment near a pldt switch. It was a dark corner. Somebody from across the street yelled at me but I couldn’t hear him. I shouted back to say the post was electrocuting me. He just looked at me.
I stood there waiting for my salvation and still shaking, I realized I was at the throes of death. I looked down on the muddle and falling flat on that dirty water was not my idea of exiting from this world. But at least, I assured myself, somebody was there to explain how I went.
The thought of death did not ruffle me, maybe because I was in good spirits that night. But somehow, it occurred to me that I wasn’t going yet. There’s no such experience of my past flashing in my mind or a vision of a dead relative calling me out.
Then again, I thought it wasn’t a bad idea to leave now. Should I go should I not? In a moment a teenager wandered infront of me and felt the shocked I felt then jumped as well to where I was.
That gave me an idea, beyond five feet the electric post was harmless. I somersaulted to my left with my two feet splashed on the water then dashed to my safety. I was out of danger.
I reached home wet and still shaking but otherwise I was thankful I was alive. Mayor atienza’s electric posts almost did me in. For a moment, I thought that was it but my feelings belied that fear.
That was certainly my case during a big flood in espana. I was coming home from pasay when rushing waters greeted the tamaraw fx I was riding in.
The poor driver swerved his vehicle here and there until we were in a sidestreet that was only half-flooded than espana. Then we came to a deep corner. I had to get out of the vehicle and try my luck walking through the waterlogged street or I had to wait till the waters subside.
Before my eyes was a sea of dirty water that got me really scared. If there’s a hole somewhere I’d drown without anyone seeing me. Or if a live wire fell off from an electric post I’d be toasted like a cat.
I changed direction and emerged in espana. Behold, water was building up so high that only 18-wheeler trucks could get through. The water was something like that you see in a forest flowing from the mountains, except that this was all of filth.
I joined the other hapless commuters to wade in the dark waters. After a forceful 100 steps or so I was across espana. But then, water was everywhere. I turned left to an obscure street then turned right on to another street leading to where I live.
Now, I noticed that mayor atienza had installed new electric posts with their lights shining brightly to guide passersby. I was almost thankful for this deed when five feet to an electric post infront of me I felt shockwaves throughout my body. I felt like my hairs stood up. Good golly, the waters are alive!
In my panic, I jumped on to the base of the post and wrapped my hands around the metal post but that just shocked me more. I was holding on to the very source of the shock!
I jumped out and landed on an embankment near a pldt switch. It was a dark corner. Somebody from across the street yelled at me but I couldn’t hear him. I shouted back to say the post was electrocuting me. He just looked at me.
I stood there waiting for my salvation and still shaking, I realized I was at the throes of death. I looked down on the muddle and falling flat on that dirty water was not my idea of exiting from this world. But at least, I assured myself, somebody was there to explain how I went.
The thought of death did not ruffle me, maybe because I was in good spirits that night. But somehow, it occurred to me that I wasn’t going yet. There’s no such experience of my past flashing in my mind or a vision of a dead relative calling me out.
Then again, I thought it wasn’t a bad idea to leave now. Should I go should I not? In a moment a teenager wandered infront of me and felt the shocked I felt then jumped as well to where I was.
That gave me an idea, beyond five feet the electric post was harmless. I somersaulted to my left with my two feet splashed on the water then dashed to my safety. I was out of danger.
I reached home wet and still shaking but otherwise I was thankful I was alive. Mayor atienza’s electric posts almost did me in. For a moment, I thought that was it but my feelings belied that fear.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
lito and cris
lito and cris are a married couple. I met them because i interviewed them for a book project, which tells of the transformation of people from being children of the world to children of God.
Their story, though, was never a transformation but more of an inspiration for people who think they’re getting the raw end of the deal in this life.
Lito and cris are not your usual couple. Lito is blind from birth while cris is lame. Lito sees through the eyes of cris while she walks with his legs and feet.
If you have by chance seen an odd-looking couple swaying here and there to their direction, it must have been them.
Lito holds her wife by the waist as he walks while cris tells him which way to go.
Oh, what a weight he carries around! I told lito when we settled down for interview at a fastfood corner that it must be the reason he’s lean as reed. Lito could only laugh.
I bought them a meal with a cup of coke. I made sure they had big meals so I let go of the drinks. I told them “hati na lang kayo” to which lito said in the direction of his wife, “o, wag mo akong dayain,” knowing fully well that with both eyes closed, he wouldn’t know what would the partition be.
But of course, he said that in jest. Lito, who’s below 25 years while Cris is near 30, is playful. I thought he's just a kid.
This could pretty much mask his desperation as a man without eyes. But no, there wasn’t a need to hide something. While aware of his state, I didn’t see any trace of him being bitter. Probably because he hadn’t had an idea of the light. But then again you can see so much even with your eyes closed.
Cris is the thinking one. She would shift from spiritual to philosophical to plain realistic in the course of the interview. She has big aspirations for people like them. But at the end of the day, she knows she would go far only with the help of other people.
I sent them home after a couple of hours and while waiting in Edsa for a ride home to Calumpit, Cris was slumped on the pavement. The rest of the population swirled by while she was closest to earth. I said to myself, how humbling could this be!
Yet like lito, cris wasn’t sorry for this state.
Lito and cris show how it is truly to be a child of God.
Their story, though, was never a transformation but more of an inspiration for people who think they’re getting the raw end of the deal in this life.
Lito and cris are not your usual couple. Lito is blind from birth while cris is lame. Lito sees through the eyes of cris while she walks with his legs and feet.
If you have by chance seen an odd-looking couple swaying here and there to their direction, it must have been them.
Lito holds her wife by the waist as he walks while cris tells him which way to go.
Oh, what a weight he carries around! I told lito when we settled down for interview at a fastfood corner that it must be the reason he’s lean as reed. Lito could only laugh.
I bought them a meal with a cup of coke. I made sure they had big meals so I let go of the drinks. I told them “hati na lang kayo” to which lito said in the direction of his wife, “o, wag mo akong dayain,” knowing fully well that with both eyes closed, he wouldn’t know what would the partition be.
But of course, he said that in jest. Lito, who’s below 25 years while Cris is near 30, is playful. I thought he's just a kid.
This could pretty much mask his desperation as a man without eyes. But no, there wasn’t a need to hide something. While aware of his state, I didn’t see any trace of him being bitter. Probably because he hadn’t had an idea of the light. But then again you can see so much even with your eyes closed.
Cris is the thinking one. She would shift from spiritual to philosophical to plain realistic in the course of the interview. She has big aspirations for people like them. But at the end of the day, she knows she would go far only with the help of other people.
I sent them home after a couple of hours and while waiting in Edsa for a ride home to Calumpit, Cris was slumped on the pavement. The rest of the population swirled by while she was closest to earth. I said to myself, how humbling could this be!
Yet like lito, cris wasn’t sorry for this state.
Lito and cris show how it is truly to be a child of God.
when there's value in giving
i never realized there's a value to the coins one gives as alms to beggars until last night. i was stepping outside a mall in manila which i visited to shop for a couple of shirts when an elderly woman called me out and asked for alms. i reached into my pocket, found a peso and three 25-centavo coins, went to her direction and put the treasure on her palms.
hardly had i made a 90-degree turn than she asked me what did i give her. she made a remark to the effect that the coins were not even enough to buy her a cup of coffee. i was out of my wits.
she reached for my hand and returned the coins, accompanied by yet another remark that i was spoiling her hand with such a stingy donation. i was dumbfounded.
i grew up thinking that beggars can't be choosers but this woman, who was probably five years older than my mother, did not fit the description.
her words hurt me but honestly i didn't know how to react, i just let her slip out of my sight. turning to myself, i felt terribly sorry. when i recovered, i comforted myself saying i'm not rich to
give everything away.
what hurt me really was the fact that the few coins were precious to me. i came to that mall because it was on sale and i could buy more items with only so much cash. i never meant to be stingy, i'ts all i had. i have a couple of one-hundred peso bills in my wallet, but there's another day to think of.
i was asking myself - would she react differently if i gave her a bigger bill? her attitude to my small donation was a giveaway.
hardly had i made a 90-degree turn than she asked me what did i give her. she made a remark to the effect that the coins were not even enough to buy her a cup of coffee. i was out of my wits.
she reached for my hand and returned the coins, accompanied by yet another remark that i was spoiling her hand with such a stingy donation. i was dumbfounded.
i grew up thinking that beggars can't be choosers but this woman, who was probably five years older than my mother, did not fit the description.
her words hurt me but honestly i didn't know how to react, i just let her slip out of my sight. turning to myself, i felt terribly sorry. when i recovered, i comforted myself saying i'm not rich to
give everything away.
what hurt me really was the fact that the few coins were precious to me. i came to that mall because it was on sale and i could buy more items with only so much cash. i never meant to be stingy, i'ts all i had. i have a couple of one-hundred peso bills in my wallet, but there's another day to think of.
i was asking myself - would she react differently if i gave her a bigger bill? her attitude to my small donation was a giveaway.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
a servant's prayer
here's a beautiful prayer composed by the founder and adviser of our community. it comes from the heart and strikes at the heart. indeed, without God, Jesus and the Spirit, a servant is without reason, without purpose and without direction. only God can make a servant. no servant can start his work and give it closure without God.
Servants Prayer
I am nothing Lord, You are everything,
Come…
-Think in me
-Breathe in me
-Flow through my blood
-Look with my eyes
-Speak through my voice
-Move in my actions
-Work through my labor
-Beat in my heart
Be with me Jesus, in all things at all times
-In my heart
-In my service
-In my suffering
-In my laughter
-In my family
-In my decisions, and
-In all my directions
Come Holy Spirit, infuse in me the fire of your love and fill me with your holiness.
Amen.
(Glory Be…)
Servants Prayer
I am nothing Lord, You are everything,
Come…
-Think in me
-Breathe in me
-Flow through my blood
-Look with my eyes
-Speak through my voice
-Move in my actions
-Work through my labor
-Beat in my heart
Be with me Jesus, in all things at all times
-In my heart
-In my service
-In my suffering
-In my laughter
-In my family
-In my decisions, and
-In all my directions
Come Holy Spirit, infuse in me the fire of your love and fill me with your holiness.
Amen.
(Glory Be…)
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