inquirer – Eliza Victoria

pdi turns 27

And J and I went over last week to abuse the photobooth. Happy anniversary, Inquirer! Much love to your people. I will always be an Inquirer baby.

I attended Inquirer’s tribute to Sir Y last night. It was so beautiful. Food, friends, and laughter – definitely his scene. ~~Sorry for the crappy phone photos.~~ I have crappy phone photos, so I’m uploading Kate’s photos instead.

Please see: Kate’s blog post.

That’s Inquirer President, Sandy Prieto, giving a tearful speech. We were in the satellite room. We were able to push ourselves into the jampacked main room only near the end of the tribute.

Amando Doronila, raging against “Twitters” and Facebook hahaha.

The program ended with a message from Inquirer’s Editor in Chief, Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc. I teared up a little when she said, “When [Gani] was told in 1994 that he was going to be appointed Inquirer’s Publisher, he wept.”

It has to be told that when we went to a Starbucks after the program, Kate and Julie heard the cashier talking to the man in line in front of them. The cashier said:

“Thank you for coming, Sir Gani.”

What are the odds. :)

MANILA, Philippines – Isagani Yambot, publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, died Friday.

Below is the official statement of the Inquirer:

”It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved publisher Isagani “Gani” Yambot. He will surely be missed but his spirit lives on in the work we do to ensure editorial policies are closely followed.

“We are very grateful for all of his contributions and we applaud his passion and commitment to his work. We request that you join us in prayer for the eternal repose of his soul.”

PDI Publisher Isagani Yambot writes 30

I was an Inquirer Researcher from 2007 till July of last year, but I first met him in college, while taking the exam for an Inquirer scholarship (which I later won with other classmates).

I remember hearing the news about his health scare, and his subsequent requests for articles about heart surgery, heart bypass, and maybe non-traditional procedures? He was still on leave then, recuperating, and he’d ask me to print out the documents and leave them at the front guard. I’ll have someone pick them up later.

He was looking at his options. He was trying to save his life.

I get sad whenever I think of those Sunday afternoons, him phoning and asking Research to look for articles that could save his life.

You know what stress and deadlines and the daily grind could do to you. Editors have screamed at me over the phone, but not him.

I could say this: he was never mean.

I hope you remain jolly wherever you are, sir. Rest in peace.

(Photo from Princess.)

book swap night, and other random happy things

The Book Depository site says my three books have all been dispatched. If all goes well, they should arrive within the week!

Speaking of books, book swap with the girls (now also with Almi) at Starbucks 6750 Saturday night.

(Thanks to Andrea for the additional photos.)

Bought a cake and drink for poor Jaykie, who was sweet enough to drive me through hellish EDSA traffic.

Was it simply because it was a Saturday? It was awful! We left QC at around 6 and arrived at my place at 9 pm. We wanted to eat dinner in the Glorietta area, but the drive made us so hungry that we just decided to stop at the nearby KFC.

(I’ll tell you a secret: I had rice. I know! But I was so hungry!)

What went down:

I got these books, while I lent Atwood’s The Robber Bride, French’s The Likeness, Joe Hill’s 20th Century Ghosts, and Carljoe’s The Kobayashi Maru of Love. (Andrea’s copy of Jonathan Carroll’s Glass Soup not in picture.)

Fruit Ninja! Angry Birds! Nail polish!

That very intelligent game where somebody asks a question, gives a page number and line number, and you have to find the answer in the book you’re holding.
Example: “Who is your ideal partner? See Page __, line ___.” Me (checks book): “‘woman, right?'” (This actually happened.)

I think the people around us were looking at us funny. But this is a book club! I swear!
It’s not really a book club.
A little girl named Kylie wandered into our corner. Cute kid, probably powered by espresso. I think she liked Jaykie. Big bear! :D

The girl sat on Almi’s lap first, so I guess that means she’ll have a baby soon? Hihi.

The little girl’s companion (father? uncle? brother) introduced himself and said he does tarot readings in Robinson’s (Galleria I guess?). He also gave us his number.

The Mothership gave us this commemorative watch (made by Swatch). The company workshop that preceded it wasn’t so bad either.

So shiny! I love it.

Badminton Friday. On Saturday, I did four rounds around the oval, so that’s at least 8 kilometers. I took an Alaxan after! Ha! I should get used to the pain.

photobooth takes/outtakes

We pushed the tables (and printer) aside and:

With the Boss!

Merry Christmas!

happy 25th, inquirer! (picspam edition)

Loot bag + free ice cream + dinner + party + raffle prizes (didn’t win any) + comedy bar break + music + wine + beer + tequila shots + Jaykie = great party, Inquirer!

Photos by me, and by Almi, Ruthie, Schatzi. Thanks, girls!

Photobooth with Guyito!

Photo of a photo (notice award-winning photographer Edwin Bacasmas photobombing me):

The Inquirer Read-Along volunteers:

Speaking of the mascot, click here to watch him dance. :) (And here to watch Barbie Almalbis perform.)

Jaykie arrived just in time for comedy hour, haha!

Pretty Trizsa was high-larious!

Juan Pablo Dream takes the stage! Let’s dance!

As for the raffle, I was praying to win the digicam, but alas, it was not for me. I was also praying to win the Boracay trip, but Lawrence won that. Hmf.