Number 1599 out of 2055: The Ricky Lee Workshop Application Continues home
(Copyright © KSCDR, October 2003)

*****I know you're wondering why such title above could make it on the what's new portion. Well, for the throng of people who trooped to ABS-CBN Studio 1 Plaza last October 26, this is indeed an unforgettable number.

*****Christian and I arrived at the ABS-CBN audience entrance at 11:30 am. People have already queued outside as a hundred more were being ushered inside to register for the Free Scriptwriting Workshop by Ricky Lee in collaboration with ABS-CBN. I got number 1599 and Christian 1600. The security staff is calling 1100 that time. So we waited for 1500 to 1600 to be called.

*****Under the scorching heat of the sun, coupled with the rumbling of our stomachs, we waited for our turn. I found it very sincere when Mr. Ricky Lee, himself, went outside to check on us. He even said he's sorry about the incovenience, and that everybody will be accommodated. I particularly liked his smile. It was so sincere you'd forget you'd been standing for 4 hours already.

*****Finally by the 4th hour, we were inside, only to find out that we still have to queue for another stage of the application: diagnostic test. We were all crammed inside the audience entrance. With a few electric fans working, we inched our way towards the entrance. Then, there he was again. Smiling as ever. Entertaining and talking to the hopefuls. Gamely signing for an autograph. I thought, this guy's really great. He was as accommodating as ever. I was tellling Christian that for a person like him, he could just let the staff do the work. But instead, he went out of his way to be there for the applicants.

*****By 5:30, we were already inside, only to find out this time, that a thousand more have found their seats and were starting to answer the diagnostic test. Not finding a single vacant seat, we found ourselves sitting on the floor, but it was too dark we can barely see our papers. So we went just outside and sat in a vacant pavement. But cramps and that tingling sensation on my feet is killing me, and it was getting dark, so we went back and luckily found two vacant seats this time.

*****Then I began my duel with my pen and paper. At first, I really found it very hard to write, having stood uncomfortably for almost 5 hours, not being able to eat lunch, and dreading the onset of the night (hey, we still have to go back to Batangas!) But eventually, I felt the surge of inspiration coming through me. I wrote and wrote and wrote.....until I cannot feel my hands anymore. (I guess I should try to write in long hand again...I've been used to typing my articles on my computer.)

*****Then, by 7 pm, it was time for the interview, which lasted no more than 10 minutes. It was a tiring day also for the workshop staff, mostly writers and hr staff. Imagine interviewing 2055 applicants in a single day! So, although I was disappointed with the way they interviewd us (10 persons per interview), because I was hoping the interviewer can ask me questions directly so as to assess accurately, I found solace when I heard my interviewer say that applicants who make it to the workshop, will be hired directly by ABS-CBN by February.

*****I am not keeping my hope too high, nor giving up right away. The thousands of competition I have is really something! I am confident in my passion for this kind of work, yet I know that there are a thousand more who can do the same thing I can do, or even better.

*****That's why, whatever happens, whether they include me among the 30 participants or not, I'd still write and write and write and write....because this is my life....

 

CELFONE home
(Copyright © KSCDR, September 2003)

It was the year 1997 when I had my first cellular phone. The time when texting has not yet materialized and analog phones were the top sellers. It was a Nokia 909 unit, which was a beauty then. I bought it with my P7, 000++ hard earned money, by selling perfumes, which I knew were imitations, but was very much saleable especially among my college friends. “It’s cheaper and it smells almost like the real thing,” so goes my sales talk.

I was really adamant in buying it. I even argued with my mom and had a long discourse of the advantages of a cellular phone in this generation. How having a cell phone can help our communication. Should I be getting home late, or there are emergencies, then I can contact her immediately. Or should I be on a trip to faraway places, (which I oftentimes do because I was active in extra-curricular activities like the school publication) she can readily contact me about my whereabouts.

Finally, she agreed. So with my special friend, Christian, we were off to this small cellular phone store and bought the gadget in full payment. Hah! That was so easy!

I was a neophyte in using the gadget so I fidgeted with it, tried out every imaginable feature of the phone, skillfully scanned over the manual, and entered my very first call card pin number. Yes! After a while, I dialed my very first call using a modern cellular phone. This was so easy! I have my own phone, people have been glancing at me and my gadget…this is life…or so I thought…

Just a week or so after I bought my phone, I was horrified. A brand new Nokia 5510 has just been released and up for sale for as much as I paid for my beloved 909. Features include Simple Messaging Service (SMS), which allows the user to “text”, or send messages to another number by typing words using the keypads and pressing the SEND button. Messages were even for free!

By then, I was not only as horrified as I looked. I was so flustered. Why had I been so outdated with the news? If I had been consulting the Internet more frequently, I could have known 909’s going down the drain soon, and I would not have bought it! Shame on me! And I call myself a Computer Science major…. Hah!

I got rid of the phone as swiftly as I bought it. Luckily, I found a buyer who was more than willing to pay for my bad catch. Then, I bought the Nokia 5510 and enjoyed the texting craze. Only to find out later that messages sent using the feature would be charged 50 cents each. Hmmm…I have a feeling there are more to come….

In 2000, my godmother gave me the latest Nokia 3310 as graduation gift. I was thrilled! I was really looking forward to it since the Nokia model has just been released.

I was already working for an IT firm in Ortigas when I upgraded my phone and bought a Nokia 8250. It was love at first sight because I adore its blue backlight and its sophisticated look. Plus the fact that it was one of the latest cellular phones around. Friends would utter, “Oy, ang taray! Naka-8250!”

Then almost every week, a new model would come out, and I’m left gasping for air. Each new model that comes out has varying features, and people seemed amaze by them that more often than not they’d upgrade their phones as soon as they bought it. (read: buy a new one!).

Then, phones with radio tuner and mp3 player began sprouting like mushrooms, and selling hot like pancakes. I still have my 8250 then, but I bought a Kodak DC3200 Digital Camera so I won’t pay anymore for films and developing fees.

In 2002, I got rid of my 8250 phone and my digital camera for personal reasons. That time, the onslaught of phones with camera, multimedia messaging (mms), mp3 player, radio tuner, Bluetooth, and a lot more proved to be hotter than ever. But I kept mum about it. I was dying to have one of those cool gadgets, but I restrained myself. I felt I want to live a life in silence for awhile. I felt like I don’t deserve to have those gadgets when I’m suffering from a serious ailment. No beeping of the cell phone, no worries over telephone bills… “Nothing for a while,” I told myself.

I made it through half of 2002 until the early 2003 without a cell phone. Yes, believe it or not. If I were not sick, I would have insisted on buying the latest MMS phone with its entire splendor – camera, polyphonic tone, Bluetooth, you name it. But I was, and so I didn’t insist.

Right now, I’m using a Nokia 3315 my mom gave me as a birthday gift last May. I wasn’t that ecstatic over it, not because it was just a 3315, but because I’m not up for having a phone again yet. But my mom insisted I use it because I’m always out managing the business my boyfriend and I established. So I did.

But then again, I feel like craving for that latest Sony Ericcson P900….

San Miguel, Bulacan: A leap into the past home
(Lavoxa DevCom Article July 1998)
Copyright © Kristine Sendy Comia del Rosario

I wasn’t in the mood for traveling. The heat emanating from my seat (since I was sitting in front of the L-300 van right beside the driver) couldn’t keep me still. In spite of the full-blast aircon, I was feeling hot and uneasy. How I envy my co-staffers who were sitting comfortably behind me! I was feeling sleepy, annoyed and so much pre-occupied with a lot of personal thoughts that my mind seems to wander. We were bound for San Miguel, Bulacan at that time and though I was somewhat fascinated with the unfamiliar views, my mind just couldn’t keep still.

Upon reaching the city proper, I remembered that once in my life I had also been to this place. I was too young to remember though, where and when I came to visit San Miguel. What I know is, I have relatives in this place and that once in my life, this has been a special part of me. I felt the urge of finding out for myself familiar places or faces that would remind me and perhaps, get the chance to meet them once more. I was out of luck, to say the least. We were leaving for Biak-na-Bato (also in San Miguel), but still all I saw were posters of candidates for the upcoming elections and all too unfamiliar streets.

BIAK-NA-BATO….HERE WE COME!

We were becoming more eager as we passed by signs indicating that we were nearing our destination. Twice we lost track of the right route but we finally heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing the large sign that says: WELCOME TO BIAK-NA-BATO NATURAL PARK. Our adviser paid the entrance fee for the 18 of us and eventually made our way through the steep routes of the park. What amazed me more were the large rock formations that are covered with mold and algae and aged by time. The rocks were firmly in place at the mountainside and were similar to pairs of eyes staring at the park visitors.

BREATHTAKING GLIMPSE OF BIAK-NA-BATO

“I wonder how this one looks at night,” I thought staring at a large rock with deep crevices and imagining exotic and dangerous animals creeping out from them. (Obviously, my thoughts were running wild that time.) My reveries were suddenly shattered as we heard shouts and a seeming joyous escapade not very far from where we were standing. In a little while, we found ourselves balancing on slippery rocks and discovered people of all ages taking a dip in waist-deep water in an almost secluded cavern. The water was ice-cold, and that we proved even without touching its surface! The cool air we felt was enough reason to say so. Imagine our regret for not bringing extra clothes! We could have appeased the growing heat inside us if we only knew Biak-na-Bato has this impressive and panoramic view. Anyhow we were able to control ourselves from splashing with the others as we sauntered farther from the place. But oh, such a cruel world! Now we were faced with a sign that indicates that a boat can be rented for visitors to see the underground cave. But for some reasons, we snobbed the idea since we were practically new in the place and we aren’t sure of what might happen in our undertaking (well, our adviser said so himself). Oh well, maybe next time…

Instead of gawking at the enticing underground cave, we inched our way towards a higher place. There, male and even female staffers clambered on rocks and explored hidden caves which they believe were used during Aguinaldo and his men's sojourn a hundred years ago. Some were simply awashed with a desire to at least feel the silky touch of the water. They couldn't help but untie their shoes and dip their tired, aching feet into the cold surface of the river just a few walks away from the underground cave. The echoing noise of the enjoying crowd of men and women, old and young were just invigorating. While eyeing each of them, I chanced upon a group eating their lunch and suddenly heard something growling......oopppsss, just remembered we haven't eaten our lunch yet.

ADIOS, BIAK-NA-BATO....

After a while, we decided it was time to move on with our next destination: Pampanga. Yet, the mere thought that we would be leaving the caves, the ice-cold water, the feeling of being part of the past, was something that deterred me from moving from my position. I felt an hour visit wasn't enough for people like us whose lifeworks were more than just of seeing, but more so, of feeling and expressing. While we were there, I felt Aguinaldo and his men were looking at us expectantly, as if he (Aguinaldo) was saying, "We've done our part, my children. Go now and do yours."

The others had made their way to the vans now and I was still panting and wheezing (!) when I approached them. Amidst the terrible heat and my wheezing, those words kept rushing back to my mind. I just wonder if the other staffers had heard it too.

I knew it was fate that brought me and other LAVOXA staffers to Biak-na-Bato. But as we zoom past the trees of San Miguel all the while enduring the unbearable heat and hunger, I couldn't help but glance at my colleagues and wonder if they had heard the same voice that held me contemplative all throughout our trip. I'm sure they did. I'm glad we did. I'm glad I came back. (In silent prayer I said, "Thank you for doing your part. We'd try our best to do ours.....")

Subic Ilaya: Life amidst the water home
(Lavoxa DevCom Article February-March 1998)
Copyright © Kristine Sendy Comia del Rosario

“Dalawang piso (read: P200), ihahatid ko na kayong lima sa Manalao,” (For P200, I’ll take the five of you to Manalao) volunteers a jeepney driver who found the five of us (I, Herwin, Ryan, Kuya Rael, and Sir Bruce) amidst the jeepney terminal in Lemery, Batangas.

We were headed for Subic, Agoncillo Batangas to join the 3ED class (third year Education), (who had left earlier that day), in their Immersion* trip. All of us, however, were not even aware of the exact location. Basically, we were taking chances so we were up to decide whether or not to hire the PUJ (Public Utility Jeepney) driver and pay the seemingly overpriced fare.

“Mahirap ang sasakyan doon. Napakasama pa ng daan at napakaalikabok,” warns the sando-clad driver.

In the long run, sensing the trip would indeed be very rough, we scurried aboard the vehicle for it was also getting late.

After a short stop at Nanay Chita’s place in Subic Ibaba (also in Agoncillo), where the 3B class (third year Business Management) stays, we headed north to a place they call Subic Ilaya. A young girl, Clavel, daughter of the foster parents of the 3ED class, went with us and chatted along the way. True to the driver’s words, the road was indeed very dusty. We were practically enveloped in thick, smothering dust and thrown vigorously inside the vehicle because of the man’s reckless driving. So thick the dust was that our tousled hair felt stiff and our travel bags were covered with dust.

I snatched a few glances at the environment even though dust gets into my eyes, and saw the vast expanse and the – waters! Yes, we were headed to a barrio where the primary source of livelihood is fishing. Right there and then, I knew this trip would be a very interesting one.

After a while, a bungalow type house came into view and I recognized Lasallians shooting some hoops with unfamiliar faces. Earlier that day, there was the so-called “harvesting of tilapia and bangus”, as excitedly related to us by the 3ED students. A massive heap of fresh tilapia and bangus they brought from the waters to the large container in the shore with other people from Subic Ilaya. Obviously, the fruitful harvest had been very strenuous for the group and yet was enjoyed by all.

“Ang laking hirap ng mga batang iyan kanina nang nag-harvest,” (These kids really exerted effort earlier during the harvest) tells Nanay Lina Atienza who was busily preparing our dinner.

The sun had set down and the 16 of us were huddled in a makeshift cottage where we ate dinner of fried bangus and chop suey.

“Walang magkukutsara, lahat magkakamay!” (No one should use spoon and fork, everybody use your hands!) joke the guys as we were about to eat.

Afterwards, some of us headed to the shore. In the stillness of the night, we were there closely sitting on an old log and some scraps of metal because it was really a cold, windy night. The smell of the sea was intoxicating. There we wonder what our families in the highlands were probably doing that time; and what the other class on Immersion was up to at that particular hour.

We went back to the house and found our “family” watching TV. Like a real family, we joined the fun and immersed ourselves hovering over a favorite show. Some were outside busily chatting with Nanay Lina’s husband, Tatay Peping, their son, and his companions just like old friends.

By 11 o’ clock, all of us were fast asleep, forgetting the plan of setting a bonfire at the seashore. In this case, the group must have thought sleep was the best choice after all.

I was awakened by the noise made by the guys and realized it was only 5 o’ clock in the morning. Nanay Lina was busy loading a container full of fish to the fierra and told us that she is going to the “talipapa sa pantalan” or the marketplace. Sensing the chance to interview fishermen, I jumped out of the bed, combed my hair, grabbed the recorder and my pen, boarded the fierra, and sat beside the six guys (Sir Bruce, Ryan, Herwin, Rael, Dennis, Ted).

The talipapa was bustling at 5:30 a.m. and some chattering women crowded us as we set the fish container onto the ground. There they started doing business – asking for “tawad” or bargaining for the fresh produce; some were busy scrutinizing the fish and if not satisfied either with the price or the fish they would say, “Ang liit-liit naman eh, ibigay mo na sa presyo ko…” (This one’s too small for your price, why don’t you give it to me on my price…)

The sun was slowly rising and I wandered along the place. Then I saw a small boat docking and a man pulling a container of fresh tilapia. As he placed it onto the pavement, some women started doing business talks and the man’s wife attended to their needs.

I introduced myself to the man and found out he’s Mang Eddie, 50 years old and a fisherman ever since his childhood days. He is from Barrio Bilibinuang, next barrio to Manalao or Subic Ilaya.

“Simulat’ sapul ay mangingisda na ako. Ang mga magulang ko ay mangingisda rin pero dito na sila tumigil sa Subic dahil sa bulking Taal,” relates Mang Eddie.

His catch for that day were fresh, big, still wiggling tilapias. I even screamed when a fish suddenly plopped out of the basin and landed straight into my feet! Mang Eddie said he caught them in his own fish cage or hapaan but at times they still go to the lake because there are larger tilapias that weigh three kilos each!

“Magkano po ang kinikita niyo araw-araw?” I asked.

“Nakakaisanlibo naman araw-araw. Pero nagkakataon pa rin na mahina ang kita dahil sa mahal ang feeds ngayon dahil nga sa mga fish cage na ngayon pinalalaki ang mga isda,”

“Minsan rin dahil sa mga bagyo, at sa kakulangan ng pangangalaga ng namamahala. Noong Hulyo rin nang naghibayan, nagkamatay ang mga isda sa fish cage dahil daw sa tubig kaya humina ang kita,” admits Mang Eddie.

The price for the tilapia that day was fixed at P60. There was however, the usual “tawaran” that Mang Eddie’s wife decided to give it for P50. There are times too when the prices reach P70-75 especially during December, March, and April when many people go back to provinces for vacation.

“Saan niyo po dinadala ang mga huli niyo?”

“Sa Malabon, doon kami nagdadala. Noong minsan 600 libong kilo ng isda (5 tonelada) ang ipinagbili naming doon. Umabot sa P200 libo ang kinita naming pero maliit pa rin iyon kung tutuusin,” Mang Eddie says.

Mang Eddie and his wife have eight children, the oldest of whom is 25, and the youngest, two years old. He has been raising them ever since as a fisherman and he finds it somewhat enough for them.

“Hindi naman din delikado sa dagat. Lalo pa ngayon na sa mga fish cage na kami nanghuhuli. Kapag nasa dagat natatantiya rin naman ang alon,” he assures when asked if he is not afraid of the water.

Many fishermen meet accidents while treading the water. Mang Eddie recounts one incident when his boat suddenly capsized when another boat accidentally bumped him during the night. This was because of the fact that the boat of the other fisherman had no spotlight. Mang Eddie says boats really need spotlights especially at night to avoid such predicaments.

After a while, Mang Eddie’s and his wife’s tilapias were sold out. Other fish sellers have settled accounts and the bickering have quieted down. Mang Eddie has to go back to his boat now and I sadly bid him farewell after telling him that I’ve been staying with Nanay Lina in Manalao.

I went back to where my other companions were and saw that Nanay Lina’s bangus were also sold out. As we put the container back to the vehicle, we laughingly recall the incident about Nanay Unday. She is an old woman who was doing business earlier with Nanay Lina’s bangus, asking for “tawad”, and eventually buying a fish or two. However, all of sudden Dennis saw Nanay Unday cautiously retrieving a fish out of the container without the consent of Nanay Lina. There and then, the former was questioned by the latter, and the old woman eventually paid for her “catch”.

We went “home” by 7 a.m. and famished as we were, devoured the puto we bought from the talipapa. On the course of the day, we spent the hours left joking around, shooting hoops, and taking turns getting water from the artesian well and taking a bath. A sumptuous lunch of tilapia was prepared and we ate with out hands as we relish the good food before us.

We started packing our things after lunch. As final tribute to Nanay Lina and her family, the group gave gifts, took souvenir pictures and expressed gratitude through firm handshakes and hugs. A nice gentleman, Mr. Guce who is also from Lipa , offered us a ride on his boat and because we were as excited as a bee, we all agreed. Nanay Lina went with us on that boat. We took pictures as we zoom past the waters. The experience aboard the boat was fantastic, we didn’t take notice of our being soaked by the water as it hits the boat. It took us about 10 minutes and we finally arrived at the small port in Subic Ibaba. We slipped into the water carrying our heavy bags and walked towards the shore as the boat could no longer bring us closer. We, then walked all the way to the parish church in Subic amidst the curious glances of the residents.

A waving, teary eyed Nanay Lina was all that we could pictures as the service jeepney we were riding on sped off. Vowing to go back to this special place one day, we heaved a sigh of relief knowing that the “GUILTY” (read as Nagmamadali) driver under whom we experienced “libreng powder” and lumps in the head was just a thing of the past.

(LAVOXA wishes to thank Mrs. Mangulabnan and the 3ED class: Hayde, Dennis, Christian, Grace (who happen to be LAVOXA staffers too!), Reinard, Luisa, Ted, Jerome, Anabel, Maribel, and Nerissa for making this immersion a memorable one. Sa uulitin!)

Crying over spilled milk home
(Editorial, LAVOXA, October 1998)
Copyright © Kristine Sendy del Rosario

"Manila is a ghastly place," or so says Claire Danes. But such remark irked many Filipinos who found her tone very insulting and rude. "How could an educated, Hollywood-bred actress be so ignorant and indiscreet in her words?" the Filipinos must have been saying.

But do we really have to release such steam over the fact that a sophisticated teenager expressed her disgust of Manila? That upon setting foot in Manila found the place "ghastly" with mucky cockroaches and the people "without eyes, ears, feet, hands"?

Most Filipinos found the issue very insulting indeed. Thus, prompted them to gnaw back at the predator and show her immense animosity. The words Danes left with her stayed in Manila and stabbed the sensitivity of the people. Some of Manila's political leaders at City Hall even spearheaded a move to a national boycott other movies and even a persona non grata title, meaning she is unwelcome to the country. Even President Estrada has joined the rage and people know that perhaps this has all been part of a gimmick to market Danes' film. President Erap knows about this for sure since he's a former movie star himself.

Filipinos say that Danes' words are ruthless and the girl needs some spanking on the butt and a head-on education on good manners and right conduct. But how true is the word "ghastly" to Manila's present condition?

True enough, Manila has dwindled into a murky place with cockroach-infested canals, poverty and shambles. But this is not to say that Filipinos do not try to have clean surroundings. This is not to say that we are not naturally hygienic and beautiful people. In fact, we can boast of the many beautiful things our country can offer to the world. All these filth and ugliness are common to many developing nations as well as with the already developed ones. The only sad thing here is that Danes did not have the chance to explore the famous faces of Manila, as well as the country as a whole. She should not have spoken such if she had only seen all those majestic views of the Philippines!

True, Manila and other cities in the country do need an immediate cleaning. That's the first thing we must do and therefore stop all the hubbub over what Danes had indiscreetly uttered. Danes' words may have or may not have hurt the Filipinos, but (his did not destroy us. In either way, the fuss should not anymore be centered on her. Let us stop crying over spilled milk. Let our sensitive and peering eyes center on US, this time

Benefit of the doubt home
(Editorial, LAVOXA, July 1998)
Copyright © Kristine Sendy del Rosario

Evident facts have established a contour of different views regarding President-elect Joseph Ejercito Estrada's victory in the recently concluded Presidential race. Much have been told of his past and now doubts arise on his present post. The question on his capability and dignity to be the commander-in-chief of Asians newest tiger still roam about in the society.

The masses won their battle but the question is—can their champion make it as what they expect him to become?

The answer lies on the President's hands now and for sure on ours too. However peculiar or obscure the atmosphere is now that Erap had finally sworn into office, the more we should maneuver our instincts to keep on believing in him despite the truth that many are still reluctant to believe. Chances and opportunities are everywhere if we are to look eagerly and positively. For a person like Erap who had braved himself to run a race where only the bravest of men dare venture, there will be more to his "carabao english" and slight mistakes. There are greater possibilities that everything will be well once it starts and ends well. Let us be complacent at the moment for we seem to be the one crafting our own dilemmas out of a molehill. If we keep on questioning someone without giving him the opportunity to prove us wrong, how in the world could we be the democratic country we ought to be?

Vintage anchorman: True Lipeño home
(Lavoxa, February-March 1998)
Copyright © Kristine Sendy Comia del Rosario

Guess who had made a comeback to his hometown lately? Who else but Mr. Chino Trinidad of Vintage Sports!

The McDonald’s PBA All Filipino Cup road game between Sta.,Lucia Realty and Gordon's Gin last February 7 at the De La.Salle-Lipa Sentrum, brought the LAVOXA staffers in cutting edge.

We were initially eyeing the basketball players for interview but their hectic schedule and a tight security hindered us from doing so. Nevertheless, we were able to corner Vintage Sports’ leading anchorman/sportscaster Chino Trinidad who chatted with us unstoppable despite his busy schedule.

"Yes, I am a Lipeño. Nandoon ang mother ko," he says as he points to a pretty woman in her mid-50 when asked if he is a Lipeño.

"Actually, I spent my Grade 2 days at Canossa Academy and that was in 1975,” he adds. He further explained that his mother is from Lipa while his father is a Manileño. When he traced .his rools, it was found that his great great great grandmother is Dr. Jose Rizal's first love, Segunda Katigbak, a pure-blooded Lipeñal That explains his being a Lipeño though most of his child and teen days were spent in Manila,

Chino finished BS Zoology at the University of the East. In 1990, he started his stint as a radio commentator after undergoing two auditions. Later on in 1992, he started reporting for TV coverage and at the same time taking up Physical Therapy as a pre-Med course. As a natural-born lover of Sports, it was actually his dream to become a PBA player, but because of some setbacks he wasn’t able to pursue it.

"Anyway, though I wasn't able to play for PBA, I’m very much satisfied with my life now since I'm still in sports, yun nga lang, not as a player but as an anchorman," quips Chino,

Now 30, Chino still finds enough time for his wife and two children, now 3 and 6 years old despite hs very hectic schedule. When asked if he'll be willing to allow his children to pursue a career in basketball, he relates, "Of course, as long as gusto nila, I wouldn't be a hindrance,"

At this time when the MBA entered the scene, Chino says it will serve as a challenge to them. Furthermore he says that with such challenge they'll be able to gauge their craft in basketball coverage.

When posed with the question "If given the chance to be a part of the PBA, what particular team would you join," he laughingly quips, "MBA na lang," but was quick to add that he prefers not to be in any particular team even when given the chance because he is very much satisfied with what he is now.

Chino has gone far…much farther than what he has dreamt himself to be. Like what he always says, he has found complete satisfaction with what he has accomplished. What he did was to find time for himself, dream dreams, take action.