Yay! I'm Officially Writing for a Local Paper!

No matter how many times my articles have been published in several papers, you think I would just be uber cool about it and act nonchalant as if it's no big deal. But actually, the so-called glory of the byline definitely has the power to turn the normally "stoic" me (Hahaha! This needs an explanation since my friends would ragingly disagree with this!),  into a secretly dancing diva. Yes, that's one of my dirty little secrets-----I dance.Whenever I get published, I secretly go to my room and dance this little jig of mine coupled with a silent "happy scream", which I hope nobody sees, since all the respect for me would definitely fly out of the windows once I'm seen with this lame excuse for a dance.

So officially, I am a columnist of Panay News. Thanks, to Manang Aiza, a writer friend who offered this cool opportunity to write and get published again. Forgive me for being so overly dramatic about this but the idea of a tiny space reserved for me just gives me this happy-kind-of-being-stressed state. Yes, no matter how others would romanticize the idea of writing, in real life my dear folks, it's a stressful process----much more with the idea that other people would get to read and criticize your work.

I'm just happy because even though I'm far away from 'pinas (naks, ang arte pakinggan), but I get the chance to share my thoughts on current issues and share some of my daily life anecdotes (As if my life is soooooo interesting, duh!). Plus the BIG BONUS is that my nanay would get to see my picture on a boxed column every Tuesdays and Thursdays! Isn't that a delight? ;)

Seriously, this is actually more of a responsibility than an opportunity. The fact that whatever you write in this tinie-winie space could affect other's viewpoints and could stop or make them move to action, is something that can equally give you a heady rush and at the same time, weigh heavily on your shoulders

However, I'm totally built for this. I can take criticisms well as much as appreciation-----that's the kind of humility that any aspiring and struggling writers surely develop. Frankly, it's not without great effort. Here's my dose of inspiration/challenge from Bob Ong: "Hindi lahat nabibigyan ng boses sa papel. kaya 'di dapat sayangin ang pribilehiyo na mailapat ang isip sa isang babasahin. Ipayakap mo ang buong papel sa sariling salita. Angkinin mo ang bawat sulok ng espasyo na ipinagkatiwala sa'yo. Dahil hindi ka nadadagdagan sa paggamit sa mga sulating hindi mo gawa, nananakawan ka lang ng napakahalagang punasan ng tinta."

So, I am definitely claiming my tinie-winie writing space. ;)