Charice and Celine Dion Duet

Charice made it again. Another dream came true for her. This time, it's a duet with Celine Dion.

In the concert, the Canadian international star first told the life story of Charice. "This young girl's name is Charice. I'm so excited. She's 16 years old and she's from the Philippines. Let me tell you she has a voice that can literally blow the roof off Madison Square. But the real story is, Charice and her mom escaped a terrifying experience and had to leave Charice's violent father. You know, to start a life on their own, Charice vowed to save her mom from life's desperation. Through prayers and dreams and God-given talent, an incredible voice, Charice entered and won every singing contest in her native country and eventually got noticed. By such a fortunate chance people saw the show on Oprah and Oprah wanted to take her under her wing and David Foster joined them.

"I had a chance to see Charice perform one of my songs in Oprah last week. I have a little difficulty to talk right now because I met Charice and I'm so emotional and so I'm searching and looking for my words trying to control my emotion. I invited here to come her tonight to sing with me...,” said Celine Dion.

We're so proud of you Charice.

Dreams Do Come True

This is not news anymore for it happened few months ago, I just want to post this very heart-warming video of Charice Pempengco on Oprah show for my kids. As I keep telling them, indeed, dreams do come true. A fellow Filipino, the charming Charice is now conquering the world with her very powerful voice.

Working At The Senate

As the Senate session starts this month, I have been thinking and re-thinking if it's ok to post my previous work. Right after college, my friends and classmates started job-hunting. We gave out application letters and resume to marketing companies and ad agencies. I've always dream of working for a big ad agency as a copywriter (one who thinks, drafts the storyboard) or an account executive (handling the agencies' accounts). Our professors in UST made quite an impression on me. They work in the agency on mornings and come to class after their office work. They teach well and also get some ideas from us, their students. One time, our professor instructed us to make a copy for a certain brand of car. I did a nice one. After few weeks, it's on tv but we never got paid for it, I bet my professor was, he he. We made lots of storyboards, public relations and marketing strategies even the actual tv commercial. We even had it aired over Channel 9 as part of our thesis, thanks to my Ninang who gladly worked things out at the network. I was so excited doing these things in school. So I set my eyes working for an ad agency...

Oh, I'm veering away from my topic. I never got the chance to work for one, the agency. Instead I was hired as a writer/legislative staff to a newly-elected Senator. My good friend asked me to go with her, I got interviewed and got hired on the same day. Wow, I don't even have any backers. I'm just a walk-in applicant. That's the beginning of my very colorful career, working in the Philippine Senate. What could be a better job for a newly-grad...

As I started working, I learn the ropes little by little with the help of my colleagues who would become my wonderful friends as the years went by.

To give my readers an idea, here's the office set-up. Each Senator can get a staff of 20-50 employees. If the Senator gets a Committee Chairmanship, he can still add more staff. They are all in the Senate payroll, government pays for them (not from their personal pockets). In our office, we have the Legislative Group-composed of legal secretary, researchers, lawyers, speechwriters. They are the ones who serve as back-staff to our boss in the Session Hall or during committee hearings.

The Political Group/Constituency Unit headed by a Political Officer/ Constituency Officer- those who handle and facilitate numerous requests from walk-in constituents, political leaders, government officials (mayors, governors, congressmen. brgy.captains, etc). This group also includes the Project Officer. The one who handles the Senator's projects, the most sought after staff in the office.

We also have the Media Group/PR Group composed of press release writers, Public Relations Officer, and a secretary. They write press releases, give it to the media reporters covering the Senate, fax them to radio and tv stations. They arrange for the Senator's press conferences. They make sure that their press releases will be printed on the papers the next day. They initiate tv and radio interviews. The more publicity, the better.

The Admin Group includes the office accountant, personnel officer and another secretary. The Senator also has an Executive Secretary and Appoinment Secretaries, aside from the Executive Assistant. Of course the office has a Chief of Staff (usually related to the boss).

By the way, each Senator has a monthly allowance of P2 million for the staff salaries, travels, office rentals, newspaper/magazine subscriptions, office supplies/equipment, food allowance, representation, etc. and the so-called MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses). Plus they each have a P200 million fund for their priority projects which they will identify, wink here.

This would be the first part. So many things to share with you guys...

"MS. UNIVERSE"

Today as I was watching the live telecast of Ms. Universe Pageant in my room, I remembered my childhood dream to be a beauty queen. I would wear a robe, put a crown and strut around the house waving to my sisters and mom. They would laugh at me. But am not destined to be one because I only grew up to 5 feet. To my mom and dad's disappointment...

I get to meet beauty queens though in college at the University of Santo Tomas. Three of them became my classmates. One was even in my circle of friends, who eventually became ninang to my first born, Nicole. She is Jenette Fernando (former Ms. Cosmetics, former Ms. Avon, Binibining Pilipinas Ms. Tourism). Jenette joined beauty contest one after the another. She always won. Her beauty is perfect (even without make-up), she stands 5'4 , has flawless skin and she's smart. She is really a good student, I know, she's also my seatmate for 3 years in college. Suitors are all over the building. Sometimes, we would hide her from the persistent d.o.m guy (who uses different car every time he would visit in our university). People can't help stare at her beauty, even in jeepneys (yes, we commute back then). We even wade through the flooded Dapitan Street on rainy days. Cowboy, noh? After college, she entered show business. Worked with a lot of stars like Rudy Fernandez, Bong Revilla and even Dolphy. She joined GMA Supershow as one of the hosts. I would hear from her from time to time. Get to read the latest about her in the newspaper. When I gave birth, asked her to be ninang to Nicole. Of course, she was there with her ever loving mom. Every year, every birthday, she was there. Eventually, she got married and had kids, I am also ninang to her only son.

Segue to the recent pageant, I also saw the Binibining Pilipinas contestants way back during the senatorial campaign of Sen. Mar Roxas. We were using the Expo Centro place as campaign headquarters, the contestants would use our bathroom during their rehearsals. And to my surprise, I saw them using foundation make up on their butts, legs and even on their armpits. No wonder they look flawless during the pageant, he he. All of them were wearing nice clothes and using shoes with high heels. I even overheard them saying they were not eating rice and meat weeks before the contest. And I bet some of those ladies took up short courses at Speechpower or John Robert Powers to get ready for the prestigious event.

Back to my topic, Ms. Japan won as I was doing this post. My bet was Ms. Venezuela or Ms. Brazil...Ive watched the preliminary activities, all the girls seemed to be enjoying their time in Mexico City. Why not, it's one in a lifetime experience. The most anticipated beauty contest is over. Wait til next year girls- Ms. Universe wannabes....

I Love Watching Movies

Way back in college, my good friend Alona was my movie buddy. We would always go to SM City (North Edsa) after our morning classes in UST ends. During our 1st and 2nd year, we have half day classes. Classes usually end at 12 noon. Off we go straight to the mall (that's the one nearest), eat our lunch and watch a movie. I think we were able to watch a movie thrice a week. I was enjoying this schedule, I even narrated to my mom the movies we've watched. She didn't object my doing so, she knows I'll be taking up Communication Arts as my major in college and venture on film making or advertising later on.

I cannot count how many movies I've watched. Some are real or true to life movies, intellectually scripted while some are considered trash (mostly Pinoy produced movies). Wondering why Pinoy directors and producers did not get new ideas for their stories back then and until now....Why can't we have movies like The Godfather, Big, Sleepless in Seattle, Pretty Woman, Ransom, The Rock, My Bestfriend's Wedding, Troy, Gladiator, Catch Me If You Can, Ocean's Eleven, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina, Moulin Rouge, Evita, A Walk to Remember, The Passion of Christ, and many more real good movies....

How I wished more producers (including writers, directors) would make good quality movies that we can all be proud of. When the right time comes, I wish (and dream) I can also make even an indie movie.