Telling Stories

I don’t know if it’s some weird conspiracy of the universe that the past few weeks had been  a series of events and conversations that got me thinking (and feeeeling) a lot about my first love – telling stories.

Last month, I ended up producing a same-week edit (pauso term), for one of our programs at work – a six day leadership journey for doctors in the beautiful island of Siargao. We used to hire a producer to do this, but we decided it’s more efficient (and cheaper hehe) if we do it in-house. So I ended up wearing my producer hat, one that’s been shoved in the closet for quite a time, for some behind-the-camera action. Most of the guys I worked with on this were friends from my ABS-CBN days, so not only was a it a great output, it was also a blast producing.

After that, I contributed an article for a magazine, thanks to an officemate (who also happened to be a great writer), who opened up the opportunity. It was a simple travel piece, but I was so kilig ‘cause it was the first time that I wrote on a topic I really care about. I’ve been contributing for a local magazine for the past four years, and it’s fun and all but it was always on assignment, with not much room to express my thoughts.

Just a couple of weeks back, I had a good (virtual) conversation with an old colleague and friend. We talked about our exciting times in news and current affairs and how we can never, ever unlearn our instincts to look for things to write about, nor douse down our passion to reach out and be heard (or read, or seen).

I also just recently finished a photobook on our Arizona trip last year (yeay!).

And then this. Spent the past four days out of town, joining another one of our program’s community visits. There we came face to face with hogwaste, dumpsites, and TB-prone community - and groups of young, innovative people who are proving that we stand a chance against these enormous health/social problems (quite literally for those mountains of garbage). 

It was wave after wave of nostalgia. Exploring new places, meeting new people. Hearing of their plights, sharing their dreams. Calltimes and pullouts. Soundbites and crowd control. Grit and grime. Local heroes. Kids full of hope. Selfless acts. Bayanihan. Living proofs that our country hasn't gone to the dogs. I just felt at home with all of it. 

Even the talented young[er] (medyo tita feels) filmmaker and photographer who were doing our program's documentation were fresh addition to the experience. It was so cool to exchange ideas, and gain new insights (not to mention get free photography tutorials hehe). And I just kept thinking of all the possibilities of stories - how they can change lives and people's view of life. 

My point? I can’t wait to do a new project. I don’t know what it’s gonna be about or who I’m gonna do it with or whether or not it’s gonna mean extra moolah for me. I just know it’s gonna happen – they’re gonna happen. I'm feeling the fire in the belly again. :)

Who wouldn't be inspired by this bunch?:)

Just a few days ago another officemate, who’s one of the wittiest blogger/social media-climber/ photo-captioner I know (what can I say, we’re a pretty talented team haha!), wrote a blog piece, Date a Girl Who Rides the MRT Daily. In just a couple of days it got more than 6000 hits, tons of comments, a proposal to be featured in Rappler, and a possibility of being turned into a group of students’ short film. #wootwoot

How awesome is that? :) For a single story, a train of thought (no pun intended), to evoke so much emotion, get that much reaction. It can be as life changing as a leadership journey, as amusing as a new travel getaway, as inspiring as the youth giving back to the community, or as mundane as daily commute. There are stories everywhere, and they’re worth telling.

And some people are just born to tell them. :)