OJT Journal 7

OJT Journal 7 (May 23 – May 27)

By Yeye Ignacio

            This week was originally scheduled for a one-week-conference of the FBI for the FBI training sessions at the Sofitel Hotel. Aside from the FBI officers and delegates, Vice President Jejomar Binay and US Ambassador Harry Thomas were also part of the event. Ms. Brago informed me that we were going to meet at the hotel lobby before the opening ceremony at 8:00 am. But when I arrived, she texted me saying that she will not come and will let me learn and experience again covering an event by my own. I felt nervous but excited. I went in alone to cover the event and to attend the press conference. Unfortunately, they revealed that the sessions were not allowed to be published because they said the terrorists might learn the agendas of the FBI against them. So the covering of this one-week-conference was cancelled by Ms. Brago.

            I was about to go home when Ms. Brago sent me a message again asking to go to Diamond Hotel for another interview with Usec Basilio and some people from the UK embassy. Still, I went there alone because Ms. Brago had another scheduled interview to attend at the British Embassy in Makati. Like before, I recorded the interview, give my trainer a copy then write the news story. I submitted it to her at 6 pm.

            On Thursday, during the enrolment, she asked me to be at the DFA Auditorium for an event about HIV/AIDS cases in the Philippines. Luckily, I was already done enrolling when she texted. The event lasted for about 3 to 4 hours; but somehow, I felt like being at ease covering an event alone since she had brought me into the same situation for the fourth time already. Deadline for that article was morning of the next day. I had four articles for this week.