Gratitude and Attitude

An editing assignment, a radio show, a part-time teaching opportunity and an entertainment column in just three years. Everything started here in PenPoint on May 7, 2004. Before that, I was an ordinary police beat reporter trying to fit in and doing my best to prove that being gay is an advantage in a world dominated by real men. Having been in that beat for five years taught me a lot in terms of dealing with people, running after stories, asking the right questions, beating deadlines and being patient. It''s a pressure-filled world, challenging but exciting as well. But destiny has another career path for me so I had to move on. I would say I made the right choice because opportunities that I just dreamed of years ago are slowly being realized. Thanks to PenPoint. Thanks to destiny.

I said destiny because I think things happened because I was at the right place at the right time. Since PenPoint was born, doors of opportunities opened up not because they found me knocking on the doorstep but simply because they needed to be opened. Sometime in April 2004 I was only talking to then editorial assistant Ariel Allera of The FREEMAN Lifestyle how I wish to write an entertainment column for the section. And the next day, Ariel was telling me that Madam Mayen Tan, the section''s executive editor wanted to talk to me about the column. She then asked me to propose titles and so PenPoint was born. The fusion of hard news and entertainment pieces began.

Then on September 2004, when the entertainment page separated from the lifestyle section and started to stand on its own, I was automatically taken in because I was already there when my editor Nathalie Tomada was scouting for people to join her in strengthening her "baby." She had no choice actually. Ha ha ha! (Kidding aside, thank you so much Nat).

Fast forward to December 14, 2005. There was a need for Banat News, our sister tabloid, to strengthen its entertainment section. Our president, Sir Miguel Belmonte, asked me if I was interested to helm it. Of course, I said yes and on January 1, 2006, Hugyaw started hitting the streets. I became editor at the time I least expected it. Of course, I know I''m not the best person for the job; it''s just that because of PenPoint I was introduced to the entertainment circle before rightful takers could come. But I''m deeply grateful to Sir Miguel and Sir Bhoy Mendoza, our general manager, of the opportunity since I have pushed myself further. I realized: Kaya diay nako!

On the first week of May 2006, destiny played a hand once again when my good friend and colleague Fred Languido told me that the station dyLA was about to re-format and he had just proposed to the management to let me handle an entertainment program. I thought it was still subject for approval, but the last thing I knew I was already given the go signal to start ASAP. And so on May 15, 2006, OkRyan (3-4a.m, Mondays to Fridays) debuted in the airwaves, reuniting me once again with my first love-broadcasting.

October of last year, Queenie Bronce, our news editor, asked me to teach Journalism at the University of the Visayas because there was a need for additional instructors to maintain its accreditation. And so on November 12, armed with nothing but hard news experience I reported to my class teaching Bisayan Journalism. It has been great! Now, I have a fallback in case things would stop coming my way.

For all the good breaks I have now, I only have God to thank for, for planting the right people, who have not only been kind and helpful, but have contributed a lot to what I have become. Unsa ra gud tawon ko sa una? Yes there is pressure in the sense that I should not fail the people who have paved the way for me. To those who have helped me, thank you so much, I would forever be grateful. To those I have hurt and disappointed, I say sorry. I''m doing my best to be pleasant always for there is no reason for me to be bad. I have been so blessed all these years and I know that, even in one blink of the eye, everything would vanish if God wants it to. My family who has been supportive of everything I do should also be credited. To friends and foes, thank you for the inspiration and challenge. And to my loyal readers especially those who go out of their way to give me feedback, thank you so much. You are the true winner for without you there will be no PenPoint. I hope that you continue to read me, every first and last Saturday of the month.

Actually, there are times that I would feel tired of writing, even considered of asking Nathalie that I won''t be submitting because of some mental block or I''m too preoccupied with other assignments. But I couldn''t afford to pass up any single opportunity. What if it is taken away from me? But truly, I love this column a lot because it is here where my dreams have unfolded and hopefully, continues to unfold. Happy 3rd anniversary to all of us.

"Pasaway" PDA Top 6

Since last week, Hugyaw has been carrying explosive stories about the so-called "pasaway" (problematic) attitude of the Pinoy Dream Academy Top 6- Yeng, Jay-R, Ronnie, Panky, Irish and Chad during their series of shows in some parts of the United States. That Yeng and Panky snubbed Pinoys who wanted their pictures taken with them and asked for their autographs. That they got drunk and became very unruly and the producer of their US concert tour was made to pay a thousand dollars as fine after they tarnished the carpet in their hotel room in Las Vegas. And that Panky and Irish swapped rooms with the boys. All these and more did not escape the pages of Hugyaw since the controversy started until it was given a sad ending. Yes, sad because after investigation, the Dream Big Productions management decided to remove Chad, Irish, Panky and Jay-R from ASAP O7 effective last Sunday as consequence of their misbehavior. The blow-by-blow account of the story that reached Hugyaw''s desk as forwarded by PangMasa, our sister publication, was very juicy, explosive and reliable because all these came from our kababayans in the US sent through email.

At first I thought these were just mere smear campaign but no! The latest development of the issue is that Panky, Chad and Irish were sent home, with the Cebuana rocker automatically removed from CEBALO band. Jay-R, on the other hand, was said to be suspended-nobody knows when he will be taken in back. There are also reports suggesting that Panky and Chad as well as Irish and Jay-R had sexual relations while in the States. Both Panky and Jay-R could not be reached for comment.

Reliable sources, however, said that Yeng went wild during that drinking session, she vomited and broke a flower vase as she ran towards the lavatory to vomit again, insisted on drinking more than what she can take… and a lot more derogatory rumors about her. Well, either the story is true or not, the truth is ABS-CBN would really protect Yeng because she is the network''s latest jewel as her debut album is selling like hotcakes. It''s just so sad to learn that the other scholars misbehaved when they still have a lot of proving to do. But they have obviously forgotten that-drowned in the applause and cheer of fans that they failed to hear the dictation of good manners and right conduct. In showbiz, nobody cares about newcomers who show a lot of promise but have an attitude problem. Let''s wait and see on what''s going to happen to these scholars who have yet to take off, but have crashed already.

Advanced Happy Birthday Alex Ong of Universal Records on Monday, May 7. Please help me save our very own Dionne Monsanto from eviction tonight by typing BB__ Dionne and send to 2331 for Globe, Touch Mobile, and Sun Cellular subscribers and 231 for Smart, Talk N'' Text, and Addict Mobile subscribers. React @[email protected] or text me at 09286252596.