Bidlisiw: The Philippine Participating Youth of the 30th SSEAYP

Torn February

It seems lovers will have themselves fully booked this Valentine's season with two big events: Close Up's Lovapalooza and Clear's Black Valentine's Party. I saw their teaser ads and both were catchy and interesting. Piolo as the black cupid was a good promotional move, as if ostracizing Red as the official color of February was not enough. The Kim and Gerald love team, meanwhile, graced the formulaic Close Up commercial. Nevertheless, there's always room for kilig during Valentine's, so I kinda liked their ad as well. Question is, which one will I go to? Or, perhaps, the bigger question is, will I even attend any at all? Hahaha. I won't give away the answer because that would mean exposing to the world my love life status. Hahaha. I'll keep you guessing.

Make Way for PLM's 7th Steward

Big success ang Investiture Ceremony ng 7th President ng Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, si Atty. Adel Tamano. We spoke right after the program and he seemed pleased. Sana raw ay hindi yun ang swan song ko. Hehehe, si Sir talaga.

Bukod sa ilang minor booboos ay maayos ang naging takbo ng buong program. The processional was smooth. We were done after two and a half hours. During the recessional, I received a lot of handshakes and words of congratulations. Napakasarap ng feeling. Naging worth it lahat ng pagod na ibinuhos ko for this big event.

I arrived early at PLM to make way for last minute cramming. Kelangan pa kasi i-prepare yung press kit na ipamimigay sa mga mediamen sa presscon. Although walang pasok ang mga estudyante that day, nakakatuwa na makita na napakaraming bata ang tumutulong. Mga Tourism students ang pinaka-busy sa lahat as they prepared for the cocktails and reception. Mga student sponsors naman ang kalahati ng mga usherettes na naka-antabay sa mga VIPs at guests. Of course, ang student chorale, rondalla at dance troupe naman ang mga performers namin that day. And finally, several Mass Comm students will help Gemma and me sa program, technicals at coverage ng event.

I am so blessed with my newfound friends na naging karamay ko from the planning stage to the actual ceremony: si Dean Gemma, na masarap katrabaho at kaydaling kausap; si Ma'am Susan na nag-supervise sa mga students na nag-perform sa mga interlude; si Doc Sonny na infectious ang pagiging kalmado kaya nakabawas ng matinding pressure; at syempre ang bossing ko na si Atty. Ernest na sobrang supportive at sobrang understanding.

Atty. Adel Tamano, an accomplished lawyer, educator, writer and academic administrator, was finally inaugurated as Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila’s seventh president at exactly 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Sa unang 100 araw niya sa Pamantasan, isinulong ni Atty. Tamano ang mission-based vision ng Pamantasan: a focus on students, strong academic programs, technology improvement, increased emphasis on faculty development, and open and clear communication line with the University’s constituencies.

Atty. Tamano comes from a lineage of law practitioners, starting from his grandfathers (who later became judges) down to his father and uncles. He is the eighth of nine children of the late Senator Mamintal “Mike” Tamano (who himself had built a reputation of statesmanship) and Haja Putri Zorayda Abbas Tamano.

Nagtapos ng Ll.M. si Atty. Tamano mula sa Harvard Law School; tinanggap niya ang kanyang Masteral Degree in Public Administration mula sa University of the Philippines; at nakuha niya ang kanyang Juris Doctor Degree at A.B. in Economics from Ateneo de Manila University.

He and his wife, Rowena, a lawyer herself and a Senior Vice President at an International Bank, have been married 9 years. Atty. and Mrs. Tamano have two sons, Santi, 5, and Mike, 2.

Reality Check

Here's a funny story.

On a previous blog, I wrote about my woes at work and how torn I am right now. I go on mentioning about how I might be forced to consider leaving PLM so I can pursue my dream and my passion for writing.

Then, last Tuesday, Atty. Adel Tamano approched me at my desk and told me he was surprised to see me at work. Hindi ko agad nakuha yung ibig nyang sabihin. So I just replied, "Of course, Sir."

What he told next shocked me. "Well, your blog says otherwise," he said, smiling. I sat there thinking, Oh my God! He read it!

So, my secret is out in the open. Whew, what a reality check. I post my thoughts in this blog, never fully realizing that there are actually people reading it. I'm such a dumbass, hahaha.

PS: Atty. Tamano, ever the gentleman, spoke to me again later in the afternoon. "Let's talk after the Investiture. We can't lose you here." I am so touched. Now, I'm all confused again.