I just realized...

...that I haven't updated this blog in a long time. I don't know what to put here anymore; it used to be a place where I put these things:

1. thing I wanted to share/pass along
   
2. thoughts about sports
3. thoughts about politics and issues
   
4. book reviews
5. various kwento about love life

#1 has been pretty much replaced by Facebook; there's no more need to share links here when it's just as easy to post a link and a quick thought on the Facebook wall. #2 went away after I started Fire Quinito.

I've been doing a lot of #3 elsewhere, for the PCIJ and for FHM. It's odd, FHM's managing editor for the web contacted me about writing for the site, and I thought I was going to get to write about hot babes; instead, my articles for them have been about politics: political speeches, a Cory Aquino tribute, and a Ninoy Aquino tribute. In between, I was able to write about basketball and music.

I still pinch myself about how lucky I am to have the opportunity to work for the PCIJ. A few months back, the whole staff drew lots for potential presidential and vice-presidential candidates, with each person keeping tabs on his or her candidate for a later feature. I drew Noynoy Aquino, and at the time we all figured it would be easy since he was a long shot candidate. Show what we know.

My feature on Noynoy was the first big story I wrote for the center, and it is perhaps the biggest story I'd written in my life, ever. Let me point out, too, that our editor is so mind-blowingly good. The final piece is about a thousand times better than my drafts, just because of great editing. I'm grateful too that the spirit of the story was retained, and my voice was unchanged. If you'd been reading me, it's not hard to figure that I wrote the story, even if you didn't see the byline.

The story was published by the Manila Times, and also posted by GMA News and ABS-CBN News. So that was nice.

(I also wrote this cheeky blog post after Mar Roxas' announcement last week, if you're interested in this sort of thing.)

I'm embarrassed to report that I haven't been doing #4, writing about books, as much because I haven't been reading books as much. The last book I read was Nick Hornby's Slam, a light breezy read, which is just about the only thing I have energy for reading right now. Hey, I'd been reading up on Senate bills authored and filed by Noynoy.

Oh, and happily (or sadly), I don't do #5 anymore. This month, I will have had a blog for 10 years now. Took me long enough to figure this one out.

- posted by jaemark @ 9/12/2009 03:24:00 AM