Althea Writes Here

I think I've said it before here, that my whole OCCI Seminar Trilogy experience has all been about openness and surrender. But I also noticed that this openness also, well, opens me up to other people's energy. To begin with, more people are drawn to me. And not just the usual slew of con artists ("I need money to go home to Mindanao!" or "My son is dying and I need a gazillion bucks!") or beggars or lost people who somehow always pick me from the crowd (I always thought it was because I looked either harmless or stupid). A side story on that: when I was a student in UP Diliman, a guy came up to me, chatted me up about Jesus, and sold me a plaster of Paris bust of the Savior for P100. A couple of months later, I was accompanying my brother to his enrollment in UP Los Baños and the same guy picked me again! Ever since I started to really open up, I've had people introducing themselves to me. I've had more people telling me they love me. I've

It took me a while to realize this, but what has really held me back in my writing career is that I focused more on being liked--by my teachers, my mentors, my bosses, the general reading public--than on sharing my talent by using it to spread the truth. And so I trapped myself with drama, freezing any progress whatsoever I could have made early on, when UP accepted me as part of the Creative Writing program; when I graduated with my CW degree; when I won 2nd place in the Palanca Awards for my teleplay (now a defunct category, by the way) many years ago, when I worked for a major network's dot com; when I worked for major broadsheet; when I had a stint as a marketing writer that taught me so much more about writing in 6 months than I learned under my direct superior in that major broadsheet in three years; when I started pursuing my MFA in CW in DLSU; when I had supportive teachers like Doc Bau; when I heard of so many contests, workshops, open submissions, et cetera, et cetera.

As part of my personal goal in LEAP, I had my hair cut yesterday at Piandre Libis, right after my last day of training. It rained when I went home, so it doesn't look too different now, but last night, it was blow-dried straight, and it looked all neat and pretty. I'm actually considering getting it straightened permanently--but it's really expensive, so I'll think about it first. Besides, I do like my wavy (ondulado!) hair, even if in the Philippines, long, straight, and shiny locks are on top of the "Beauty" list. I tried to make it straight this morning--just in time for LEAP's 2nd intensive, so my coach and my teammates will at least see the difference--but my Revlon straightener, a gift from the US, won't work, either in 110v or 220v. I suspect it was mistakenly plugged into a 220v socket. Do you guys know where I can have this little thing fixed? Maybe I'll just have my hair treated with something? Or have it colored? I've never done

Day 1 was a long day. At some point, I was panicking at the thought of all those binding legalities--but I guess that's what an entire day of lectures about methods, and rules and regulations can do to you. Seriously, I've never sat that long and listened to lectures in my entire life--not even in college. But it was all good. Just information overload, I guess. Around the time I was having this panicky feeling, I remembered that it's part of my LEAP goal to joyfully and excitingly start my job because this will allow me to pursue a writing career without having to worry *too much* about the corporate rat race. It calmed me down. There's a Hawaiian-themed party in the pantry on Friday. I am working on not thinking about all the other things I have to do... but I find it so hard because I want to make lots of money to buy me a pretty little laptop... which will enable me to make more money! Isn't life just great!

I start training with my new job tomorrow. I'm going to be an online English trainer--something new and exciting for me. I'll be based in Alabang, but I'll have three days of training in Libis. My schedule has been packed but erratic lately, but because of this job, it's going to stabilize for sure soon. I'm welcoming this, actually, because while I hate routine, I like structure! I'm a little scared about having full-time work again--but I'm also looking forward to it because it's going to bring new people in my life. And God knows I need those right now. More news Happy birthday, baby Keona! Keona turned one yesterday, May 21! We had a simple dinner at Congo Grille in Westgrove, and coffee and dessert after at Cafe Breton across it. Her real party's this weekend, but I won't be able to attend because I'll be having my second intensive for LEAP. I'm sad about it, because the theme is Neverland and she'll be dressed as Tinkerb

On the ferry to Dumaguete Talk about hitting the ground running! Ever since coming home from my short adventure in Bacolod, Cebu, and (a surprise sidetrip!) Dumaguete, I've been living an active/hectic/full life towards the pursuit of my LEAP goals. It's scary and exhilarating and overwhelming all at the same time. But before that, here's what happened during my trip--or, what I've come to call ... My Amazing Race I left Manila via Cebu Pacific on April 30 at 8.30am. Bacolod Leg 1. Arrived at the airport 7.30am for my 8.30am flight. Long lines. Labor day weekend. Made it. :) 2. I arrived in Bacolod 9.45am; my friends (Ana, Mich, Louie) picked me up shortly. 3. Checked-in and had lunch at the Sunburst Resort in Silay, owned by Ana's uncle. 4. Visited the almost-hundred-year-old Bernardino-Jalandoni House. It was closed but we begged the guy cleaning it to let us in. 5. Rode bus to Victorias Milling Company to see the church with the The Church of Sai