Ms. Charie Villa

The mainstream media really has a knack for making little things seem so big. I experienced that in my GMA Network Visit. What seemed to be a very big newsdesk was actually a little bigger than my study desk at home. News on Q looked like a very big room. Turns out it wasn't. And finally, 24 Oras, well, had the bragging rights to a big newsdesk. But Pia Guanio's Chika station? I think it just fits her.

So that's the gist of my experience in ABS-CBN. Just as when I though everything was SO big, turns out to be a tad modest. And though I'd still contend that the GMA7 is still smaller in terms of size and area, my initial notions of a big and wide ABS-CBN were dispelled to its right size.

First, was the gate. Unlike GMA7, ABS-CBN has a lot of security measures before entrance. To be sure, outsiders can't get in without official business. And it doesn't stop there, there's baggage inspection coupled with walk-through metal detectors. Goes to show, then, that security is tight whether it's a red alert day or not. Only an inside nut job, then, would put the entire network in total jeopardy.

That's just on the outside.

The INSIDE of the News and Current Affairs Department was also heavily guarded. There were walk-through metal detectors too and ID scanners. It was pretty much like a railway station - situated in the office, so to speak. Then I saw the DZMM radio booths which were way, way bigger (and brighter) than the ones in GMA7. The quintessential silver ABS-CBN logo on some reddish tile was also there - proof that I'm not getting lost. Inside the Department, I saw their mini-collage of TV equipment. It was still art and it reminded me of the great cameras display in Promenade Greenhills (top floor).

Then we went to the Newsroom. I was actually surprised when I saw the front desk. It was a little bigger than my study desk. Although there was only one receptionist, I really think 3 people wouldn't fit that desk. There were also packages for Ms. Karen Davila and another person behind her. So we stated our purpose and told us to wait for Ma'am Charie since she's on a meeting.

We had to wait on the desk's side. I remember smiling.

Hindi ko ito ipinapaalam sa lahat, pero deep inside, nagmemega fanboy moment ako. May ilang news personalities na pumapasok like Gretchen Fullido and Ricky Carandang (in his audacious pink and gray repertoire). Nasa-spot ko rin si Paul Henson, and Mario Dumaual. Jing Castaneda also came in and I realized something: these people dress so professionally at work! And not only that, they were (especially the guys) of relatively tall stock. How the heck am I supposed to compete with their height? My goodness...

But what the heck, Atenean Willard Cheng is almost the same height as me. I can even show you a picture. Here!



(I'm at the farthest right, by the way...)

My fanboy moments were cut short when the secretary told us to see Ma'am Charie already. On the way to her office, I saw the different timezone clocks I used to see once-in-a-while in News Patrol. Right beside her office is a newsdesk where the news advisories must be shot. I should know... there were teleprompters around (not to mention the business attired anchor-girl)!!! Then we went inside.

She wasn't there.... but Mr. Henry Castelo, the one who sent us the waiver forms, first said hi. Then came Ma'am Charie.

Comment: Pumayat siya!!!! She was wearing a black sweater na naka-zip up to her neck. It was really cold inside her office, but very much spaceous for her and her guests. Then she handed her business card to us while asking, "O, what time do you want to be deployed? 10PM? 2AM? Early morning?"

We weren't saying a thing.

"Ano ba?! Joke lang iyon... Ano nga? What are your free schedules? Morning, afternoon?" Then Claude, her deployment officer, came and introduced us. She said we were students of Ma'am Chay Hofilena doing an exposure assignment - a 'tag-along' to be politically correct. Mr. Henry went curious and asked whether this was already our internship or just a requirement. We clarified it and all became well.

After discussing the situations, what would happen, and supposed timeslots, we went on our way already. That meeting must have taken only 30 minutes. Damn.

But I guess it was better than just relying on email. You really can't trust technology sometimes.

All in all, that trip was good. And as I *psychologically* prepare for the big cover day, I'm placing trust in my senses that I'd be able to gather the news as quickly and effectively as it should be. Lest...

...I'd have no news to submit for class,

...and I won't be good for the reporting industry.

So yeah, that means that I'll be sacrificing some free time for myself. But if this time would be time well spent, then I guess I shouldn't worry any longer.

Travel safe!

On Virginity

(I can actually hear the TV Patrol World theme on my head...)

Rambo, Ma'am Charie, and Mother Ignacia

So there you have it. I've been given the chance to speak on air because the DJ said so. And not just any DJ, "Papa Bear" of Barangay LS during the afternoon radio show. I remember being teased with "Rrrrramboo!" relentlessly in school for doing just that. But I find it cute and funny because behind that teasing is the affirmation that I am really meant for broadcasting (daw).

We actually have a requirement for my News Writing class at school. It's called "The Beat Exposure Trip" in the journ kids get deployed to different media outfits (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Bulgar, Bandera, ABS-CBN). Most of these media outfits are in print; and ABS-CBN is the only broadcast network available. I hate to admit it but ABS-CBN is really a coveted assignment. That's why being assigned to it for this requirement gives me the shivers - both good and bad.

Anyway, so yesterday (January 9) was our first meeting with Ms. Charie Villa, the Head of ABS-CBN Newsgathering. "Ma'am Charie", as ABS-CBN people call it, is a top-caliber broadcast journalist. She is one of the "Tres Marias", the three big women of the network (Maria Ressa, Charie Villa, Luchi Cruz-Valdes) until by some twist of fate, Luchi Cruz-Valdes resigned. You could imagine, then, that the name Charie Villa was just something I've heard of in bigtime newscasts (or issues like the Manila Peninsula Journalists Arrest). Now, I'm seeing her in person.

We left the school at 1:30PM, right after my Japanese class. Mav, Dessa, and I were onboard Reema's family car en route to the network. As I was looking outside the window, I noticed that the radio was set on Barangay LS (DWLS 97.1) and it was the Papa Bear Show where callers can request and air their thoughts. Back in my COM100 days, I had the chance to join the Tracktrip to GMA Network where I saw the radio stations and the sets of 24 Oras, Saksi, Balitanghali, and Sis. There, I was able to sit by the DJ's microphone and do some spiels care of 'Papa Bear' to the great (hopefully) astonishment of those watching.

That's Maria Ressa and Ma'am Charie, by the way (taken from her Facebook account).

The time was 2:00 PM, and we were going through Timog Avenue already, crossing over to Mother Ignacia street when one caller shared her twisted love story and philosophies in life (read: 'motto'). I could care less about her love story after all it's a free nation. What I cannot stomach was her saying, which is...

"Virginity is not purity. It is lack of opportunity."

And I felt my eyes bulge in surprise and shock.

Graar!

Virginity has always been a dear topic to me. It concerns me greatly because I still believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church when it comes to Life and Human Sexuality. Today's society, however, is placing that hypothesis under great fire.

I really wanted to get mad at that statement (and I am indeed mad!). But what can I do? I am just only one of the diminishing people who still believe that sex must come after marriage no matter how easy or difficult it may seem.

Sexual liberation is actually happening in my generation today. I have seen cases of teens unable to contain their drives and go on in their sleazy escapades. I really, really want to frown at this but reality is hitting me far more than it is. But one thing that keeps me going (no matter how easy or difficult it may seem) is the thought echoed by a Youngblood contributor (Sex and the Single Pinay, Youngblood 3): I am not afraid of eternal damnation. I am afraid of eternal infection.

I think that best summarizes my reason for holding me horses.

But don't you think it's time to rethink if the caller's statements are true? I actually feel that it's a maligned way of justifying having sex 24/7 to known and unknown males. That person may have her reasons, but I think it's something I shouldn't condone nor agree to.

Not even in a million years.

Hopefully.

Patrol?

In other news, the meeting with Ms. Charie Villa was, well, pretty quick. Shorter than expected. Dessa even told me that the conversation could have been done through email. Find out more in this next post.