Studio 23 - "Amazing Pinay" (!!?!!) - EDITED

Aside from the psychological pressure of being home with the cast, I also had to put my best foot forward for media events. For a person who is totally honest that her secret dream is to be a celebrity , I was a nervous wreck during our first press conference at the Tektite Tower in Ortigas as the PR team of Zesto (our main sponsor) introduced me over and over as the "First Filipina Uppie"

I was a good spokesperson during my UPLB years. I don't know why - probably due to higher standards of the "real world" , my confidence just faded away when I was already working.I guess that's a different story altogether and something that I should totally overcome.

Going back, it really took a lot of courage from me to do these media stuff (pwede, pasulatin nyo na lang ako and wala ng interview?) . I had a press briefing from Paul Whitaker and Luis Petzhold (our Asia team) and had a brief pep talk with my cast manager Joern Gutowski and a big hug from castmate Lysan (thanks so much Lysan!)


It also helped a lot that the Studio 23/ ABS-CBN crew was a fun crew And the best part was when the camera followed Jules and I from Ortigas , to the cab, to the apartment in San Lorenzo.

Property of News Central, Studio 23.

It was funny because they featured this back to back with Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez' participation in the Amazing Race Asia. The title of the feature? "Amazing Pinay" :oP

Also thanks to Ann (the reporter, I LOVE HER JOB) UWP had good exposure on Studio 23 :-) Watch out for other features in the next updates. Ah, if you want straight news and extraordinary feel good news, watch News Central!

Manila (ila-ila-ila)

(The cast seems to get a kick out of singing Manila-ila-ila to the tune of Umbrella-ella –ella , which I believe was fitting for one of the experiences we had here!)

Believe it or not, I have not ridden so many cabs in a week before UWP is in Manila. Nor have I tackled rush hour traffic in a Philippine jeepney (a jeepney or jeep or “dyip” is a modified US-Army design jeep that is the primary mode of public transportation in the Philippines .. an example of Filipino ingenuity!). In my normal life in the Philippines, I avoid these modes of public transport. I either find someone to take me, or just go to places accessible by bus or by walking.

Yep, that’s right – I am not a city girl. I lived most of my “matured” life in UP Los Banos. I worked in the Makati Central Business District and made myself familiar with the route from the mall bus stop to my office, and back. Beyond Makati, I am in nervous shambles. I get tears in my eyes whenever I imagine myself living in Quezon City.

Honestly, taxi cabs for me are scary and jeepney routes are way too confusing. I am geographically-challenged.

But if I can handle public transportation in Denver, Berlin and in Milan – I should be able to conquer my fear of Manila. And that is how Up with People is squeezing me out of my comfort zone even in my own country. It is about time that I face the city !!!

As I said before, Internet access in my apartment has been erratic (I don’t even know when I will be able to post this…) so if this gets posted way after the cast left already, I am so sorry!

Manila decided to welcome the cast with torrents of rain. My CI site was located in a part of Makati where a few sprinkles of rain floods the streets. Lo and behold, during my first day of CI, the cab decided to drop us off at a street corner and we had to ride a tricycle to the main office of Virlanie Foundation. I was assigned at this CI site with Jules (Uganda), Patrick (USA), Lysan (Germany), Christine (Austria), Jessica (USA), Whitney (Panama), Vanessa (USA) and Mallory (USA). Imagine my horror when we had to walk through knee-deep murky water to get to our respective houses! I was not to grossed out by it, but the thought of having my co-UWP students brave this on our first day!

What a cultural experience!

Unlike in the USA and Europe, where the Cast saw each other everyday – Manila is treating us differently. We see each other (if we are lucky) only twice a week. And luckily the Cast activities are scheduled at the Assumption College which is only about two blocks away from my apartment (but Jules said, it’s far!)

Not seeing each other everyday was a bit hard, especially added to the drastic change in our cultural environment. I cannot help but feel bad and sorry for the people who cannot seem to adjust to the crazy Manila / Philippine environment. The traffic, the air and noise pollution, the language – the “balde” (a bucket filled with bath water) and “tabo” (a smaller “scooper” used to get water from the “balde” that you use to pour over your body to take a bath) , the lack of hot showers, and when available – the outrageous number of househelp in the homes of host families.

It is hard to face the negative feedback and negative feeling around the Cast. But I know that this will only get better as we move along.

Manila, by far, will definitely be the cast’s most memorable moment. The ultimate O.S* moment ….

(O.S defined – “Oh Sh*t” moments are moments in our lives that scare and surprise us. But as we go through it, it makes as stronger, braver and more learned. This came from a speech by Mr Steve Farber during our Denver orientation. I absolutely love the concept.)

Somewhat Like Home

I am home. The sights, the sounds, the smells of my Manila.

But it totally doesn't feel like home. Because the cast is here and they are still my life every minute of the day. It really feels weird to be home but totally thrown off your regular routine.

It is also only this time that I feel a sense of loss of my long-time job at Ayala Foundation. Remember, I was still working two days before I left for Denver last July. Oh well, opportunities will come, I guess (I hope! :-)

These past few weeks have been crazy. It has been an emotional roller coaster!

The cast is here, the cast is about to leave soon.
My friends and family are here, but I haven't really had the time to see them.
There is so much to do in the Philippines ... and I hope a lot more people will step up to this challenge.
Feeling less engaged in cast activities.
Hearing the cast's opinions on the Philippines and the Filipino people - some of them negative, some of them positive.
I've been on TV, the radio, and the newspaper.
I think I've accomplished a lot of things in my "secret wish list" like presenting infront of an international audience, volunteering internationally and being featured on TV.

Whew. Intense. Mixed feelings.

Here's another article for you! This was published in today's paper. http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/2bu/view_article.php?article_id=102125.