FORTUNATE : Nothing to ask for

I’ve been longing since Wednesday to blog what’s been happening with me at DFA. Also I would want to make up for the things that I said on my last blog which was too emotional. I came to realize that the person who wrote that blog was Desh who still can’t handle pressure well. I tried recalling my past experiences and so I was able to figure out that I am not that durable when it comes to sudden pressure or hassle. Nonetheless I am not saying that I will be like that for the rest of my life. I will positively try to improve myself especially at these times that there are so many things lying on my shoulder. I promise.

Now back to my very reason of writing, I will share the next three days that happened.

2^nd Day at Work (Wednesday)

I arrived at the office at exactly 7 am. We are tasked to do the news round up which we will actually be doing for the rest of our stay there. We’re technically reading all news every morning and then we are to make the matrix and the synopsis. It was fun, not boring.

Then there’s this Scarborough Shoal issue. We are tasked to monitor the news about it from television, radio and internet and then before lunch we are told that there will be a press conference at around 1:30. The first thing that came on my mind is of course the word “wow”. I didn’t realize that we would be really attending events like that. Our bosses were really great.

When we entered the Press Room, there were already so many press persons from different stations and newspaper companies. (Some of them were Gretchen Malalad and Maki Pulido) Of course there were some orders given to us and so we were also able to talk to some of the media and the feeling again was great.

From that moment I can’t actually prevent myself from smiling. I never really expected things like this. I felt too lucky. Then when Spokesperson Raul Hernandez (my very handsome boss :)), two navy officials and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs himself Albert del Rosario entered the room my heart almost came out. HIHI. The feeling was just so indescribable. You know, seeing and hearing all things live, being surrounded by educated and respected people what more could I ask for.

Taken before the media arrived.

I was standing that far :)

I still want to share the things that happened unfortunately I am too scared that I might say something I shouldn’t be saying. PISU is very strict on that and I don’t want to disappoint any of  my bosses. :)

After that Press Conference we are tasked to do so many things that we have to finish as fast as we can.  I actually stayed at the office until around 7:30 because of that. :) We are the last to leave from all other interns I guess.

It was just my second day but see what I was able to experience. :)

*I will skip what happened during my third day :) It was ordinary I guess.

4th Day at Work (Friday)

 As usual I arrived at the office before 7 am. That's the best I can do :)

Unlike last wednesday there was no Press Conference that day however there was a Media Availability. So again we're busy and happy.

Media Availability happened in the morning for less than 30 minutes only and this time only Secretary del Rosario was there. But what's good is, I was able to stand very close to him unlike last wednesday that we were just merely observing.

Here's the picture I got from the internet (Balitanghali) as a proof. Hahaha. 

See? Hahahahaha. I was next to him :)

And I was standing that close :)

After the media availability we had these lunch at the office. Big lunch I should say because there were so many food. :) We sat on one table with the staff, with two Foreign Service Officer, and of course with our boss, DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez. :) HE IS SO CHARMING I TELL YOU. 

It felt so great being with these people. They we're all kind and they're letting us feel that we're part of them. I AM REALLY SO LUCKY.

After lunch we had these "grilling time" that's how they call it. They said that they always do this with all the interns that they're having. It was a sort of interrogation. Haha. We were all seated on one table and they are to ask us anything one by one. Of course it was a little awkward but at the end we all enjoyed it. Imagine, we were chatting and laughing with these people including Asec. Raul himself. :) And he was actually the one having so many questions on us, personal questions I should say :) Overall, it was just part of getting-to-know-each-other-better and I am so glad that these busy people finds time knowing each of us.

On my last blog I asked whether I should feel privileged or not. And now, I already found the answer. 

Yes. No explanations needed. :)

Now I am looking forward for more Press Conference, for more Media Availability, for more events, for more work :)) 

PS. I will soon upload some pictures :)

Desh

The now happy Intern

Positive and Optimistic 

PPS. I don't think I was able to write this well. Excited lang magshare. hahaha.

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Definitely challenged.

Let me first say that I am already too tired and too sleepy at this moment but I really want to share what has been my first day as a trainee at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

I arrived there ahead of time however I was already exhausted from the long train ride. Nevertheless, I arrived there with a smile and so much hope that I would get the office that I want – Office of the Protocol and State Visits, sixth floor, main office.

It came to me that some of my classmates that were scheduled ahead of me were assigned on OUMWA, ASEAN and ASPAC. T’was great, I don’t personally want those offices.

And then it was my time.

Knowing that we are distributed in different offices by school I am quite hoping to have a schoolmate with me since those two batches ahead of me consist of two lyceans each UNFORTUNATELY, I have none with me. Yes, I am alone.

When the internship coordinator finally told us what office we will be I partly died ( no, maybe I really died inside). He told us that we'll really have a hectic schedule, meaning we have so many works to do, our office according to him is really always busy. He also told us why we are assigned on that office, and generally because according to our credentials, we are writers. I should say he was wrong for telling that I am a writer (scroll up, I AM JUST A WRITER WANNA BE). But what made him think I am a writer? He thought of that because it came to his attention according to him, that I am a blogger. How did he know? Because he saw it on my Personal History Statement under my … hobbies. So yes, he assigned me in an office technically based on my hobbies. 

Friends, I was assigned on Public Information Services Unit (PISU) and yes it’s still at sixth floor.  I didn’t even know it exists and I suppose that no one from our school chose to be in this office. From the name of the office itself, it seems so-not-open-for-interns however, it is, and this is where I will be for 150 hours.

Now what this office does? Basically this is public diplomacy (if I heard it right, or if I remembered it right). It does all press and photo releases of DFA. THIS IS SO MUCH INTO NEWS I TELL YOU, all news relevant to the Philippines, to the Department and so on. And what is the main rule in this office? All confidential information should of course not go anywhere out. That’s one of the rules that were told to us over and over.

Now let me share how I felt.

I am emotionally, psychologically and mentally harmed. That was exaggerated maybe, but that’s how I felt. I really want to cry at that moment in the office. But don’t get me wrong, they didn’t do anything offensive on me, they were all very welcoming in fact. It’s just that, the feeling was very new to me. And honestly, I was the one making things hard for me. To explain this puzzling things I am saying let me just say that I still lack that CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-REGARD OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

I’m still earning it, I should say.

I am really contemplating to share these things or not. But obviously, I can’t help it.

Here’s the whole picture.

There are four of us assigned in that office

•   one from San Beda, an editor-in-chief an attendee to different Model United Nations in and out of the country, a debater, a future law student and a relative of this one famous political family in the Philippines

•  one from Ateneo de Manila University studying European Studies major in International Relations who studied French in France and also a writer and good speaker.

•   One from St. Scholastica’s College, an elected Student Council President and a News Editor/contributor in their school paper.

•  One from University of the Philippines taking Public Administration.

• And one from Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila a college-based organization president and merely just a writer wanna be.

After introducing ourselves, one of our supervisors told us that their office is really just accepting the best of the best. And from that I asked myself, should I really be here?

I believe I have the right to say that there is so much expected from us. From how I understood it (please don’t get me wrong I am not regarding myself above the others), the coordinator carefully chose the four of us to be in this office and that this office is truly one of the offices being looked up to.

Now should I feel privileged? I don’t know.

*Again, some of you might say I am just exaggerating things, and yes maybe i am. But this is how i really feel.

Desh Afan

The intimidated trainee

Don’t know what to do

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