Summer Getaway with Writers Block 2012: Travel the Write Way

Travel the Write Way workshop by Writer's Block
Phiippines conducted last April 28, 2012 in Makati.
Courtesy: Writers Block Philippines

It is always a tradition for me to write what I have learned from writing workshops I attended.

Two months ago, I decided to enroll in a one day travel writing workshop conducted by Writers Block Philippines. Actually, this is the second  eventof the Writers Block that I attended after the Jumpstart Your Freelance Writing Career 4.0 workshop last year. Before I made it to the travel writing class, I got lost in the Makati Loop and having an adrenaline rush before I came to the venue. When I arrived at the place of workshop, I met the three lovely and smart ladies of WBP as well with other participants of the workshop. I said to myself that I am the least experienced traveler but I have a lot of quirky stories to tell through writing. Therefore, my purpose in attending this workshop is to improve my craft.


The workshop covered on topics about the basics of travel writing such as the different types of travel articles, choosing catchy and appropriate soundbites and travel photos, opportunities for travel writing and how to identify the good, the bad and the ugly travel write-up.


After the lecture, we need to face the music in the most exciting part of the workshop which is the writing session. In this portion, we are going to write our own travel article based on our experience. We spend our time in writing for thirty minutes plus fifteen minutes for extension. In my part, it is hard to write when you are under the pressure of a limited time and I was confused on the location and concept that I am going to choose. In the end, I wrote about my travel experience in the Laguna Loop via commuting. After forty-five minutes, we are divided into three groups. Each group was mentored by the three ladies of WBP namely Ana Santos, Nikka Sarthou and Nina Terol-Zialcita. I am thankful that I was assigned to Nikka's group. Our group was able to share our writing piece and I imagine that it leads me to my imagination, from mouth watering Chinese delicacies to surrendering her breakfast in the ocean while others (including my work) covered on the captivating places in our country and in abroad. In the end of critique session, she gave us a reward: a nutritious Soyamilk.


At the end of the workshop, I learned a lot of things about my strengths in my craft such as having the informative details of the place I visit and I need to improve my creativity and mechanics. Therefore, I am still willing to pursue a career in freelance writing and more travel experiences to come. Thanks Writers Block for this wonderful opportunity!

Ang Aking Hilig sa Larangan ng Pagsusulat: Isang Pagsisimula

Bawat tao sa mundo ay may kanya-kanyang talento at kakayahan na ipinagkaloob ng Diyos. Ang Pilipinas ay isang bansa na sinasabing naghihirap nga ngunit ang bawat mamamayan nito ay pinagkalooban ng talento sa iba't-ibang larangan. At ako ay isang Pinoy na ipinanganak sa Cavite, isang lalawigan sa Pilipinas sa rehiyon ng Luzon na may sariling kakayahan.

Ako ay isang tao na sadyang malikot ang aking imahinasyon at maraming mga ideya na tumatakbo sa aking kaisipan. Mahilig akong magbasa. Mahilig akong mag-aral. Mahilig akong magbahagi ng aking kaalaman sa pamamagitan ng pagtuturo. Madaldal. Maraming kuwento. At higit sa lahat, pag ako ay tahimik, ang mga sankaterbang kuwento at ideyang dumadaloy sa aking isipan ay idinadaan ko (minsan kausap ang aking sarili) sa pagsusulat.

Hindi ako ang tipo ng taong makuwento ngunit kapag may mga taong madaldal sa aking paligid na mahuhusay magkuwento ng isang bahagi ng kanilang karanasan, nais kong magkuwento. Ngunit may mga ibang tao na di mo puwedeng makumbinsi na pakinggan ka dahil iba ang kanilang interes. Dinadaan ko na lang sa pagsusulat.

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Mahilig kasi akong magsulat. Kung anong naiisip ko na pawang nakakatuwa sa aking imahinasyon eh isinusulat ko. Mahilig ako sa ballpen at papel. Mahilig din akong magmasid sa paligid, minsan sumulat sa diary, manood ng TV, magbasa ng libro at mag-internet kung saan ako nakakakuha ng inspirasyon sa pagsusulat.

Noong bata pa ako, ang aking mga paboritong libro ay fairy tales, Araling Panlipunan, at mga libro sa paaralan. Ngayon, hilig kong basahin ang mga libro ni Bob Ong (ABNKKBSNPLAko?, Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino, Stainless Longganisa), Alex Lacson (12 Little Things That Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country), Kokology ni Prof. Isamu Saito at mga inspirational na libro.

Mahilig ako sa pulitika, TV shows, feature articles at mga personal essays. Hilig ko ang pagsusulat ng sanaysay, hindi ako mahilig sa tula ngunit gusto kong matuto ang pagsusulat ng maiking kuwento at dula.

Nakakapagsulat ako kapag may tumatakbong kakaibang ideya sa aking isipan na makakakuha ng interes ng ibang tao at nais kong ibahagi sa madla. Isinusulat ko muna ito sa papel at ililipat sa computer sabay type, edit at print. Kapag naprint, ipapabasa sa ibang tao. At itatago sa aking folder. Yan ang nakagisnan kong mga bagay at sikreto sa pagsusulat.

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Hindi ko akalain na sa pagsusulat ako makakakuha ng mga papuri at parangal ng ibang tao. Nagsimula ito noong Grade 6 sa isang tipikal na klase, last section. Naghahanap ang aming guro ng pambato ng aming section sa Nutrition Day Essay Writing Contest, dalawa sa aking kaklase ang nagsasabi na ako raw ang isali. Wala akong idea kung ano ang "essay" hanggang sa pumayag ako kahit hindi ko iyon alam. (Alam ko lamang noon ay talata o paragraph) Noong sumalang na ako, doon ko nalaman na ang essay ay isang sanaysay o isang sulatin na pinagsama-sama ang mga grupo ng talata na may iisang diwa mula sa paksang hinihingi. Sumulat na lang ako ng sumulat kung ano ang hinihinging paksa. Ibinahagi ang aking nalalaman tungkol sa nutrisyon, masustansyang pagkain at pagpapanatili ng malusog na pamumuhay. Hanggang sa di ko akalain na makukuha ko ang ikatlong puwesto sa nasabing patimpalak.

Noong high school ako, ipinagpatuloy ko pa rin ang pagkamit ng pangarap. Ngunit hindi sa pagsusulat. Pansamantalang naudlot. Ngunit may mga gawain pa rin sa pagsusulat sa mga subjects namin. Ang aking kaibigan ay sinubukan naman naming gumawa ng mga kuwento. Ngunit libangan lang namin iyon. Nakasali din naman ako sa Spelling Bee at umabot naman ako sa school level bilang pambato ng second year high school at natuklasan ko ang kakayahan na makapagpantig ng mga salita sa Ingles. Noong fourth year high school ako, ang aking mga kaibigan ay gustong sumali sa staff ng aming school paper, nagpasa ng entry ngunit di kami pinalad. Kahit ganun pa man, naudlot ang aking hilig sa pagsusulat.

Noong dumating na ako sa kolehiyo, muling nabuhay ang aking interes sa pagsusulat. Noong first year college ako, Linggo ng Wika, ang patimpalak noon ay Pagsulat ng Sanaysay. Isinulat ko ang aking mga ideya at nalalaman tungkol sa wika, kung paano nabuo ang wikang Pilipino at paano natin ito ginagamit sa araw-araw na pamumuhay at ang salamin nito sa ating kultura. Muli akong nabuhayan ng lakas ng loob dahil doon ko nakamit ang aking unang medal kung saan nakuha ko ang ikalawang puwesto sa pagsulat ng sanaysay. Noong third year college naman ako, sumali ako sa campus paper at gumawa ng mga articles. Ngunit di nailimbag ang aming article dahil kulang sa pondo. At noong college ako unang nahumaling sa blogging. Gusto kong magpahayag ng saloobin. Ngunit mahirap talagang kumbinsihin ang mga tao (You cannot please everybody ayon sa kasabihan).

Noong panahon na wala akong trabaho, ako ay nasa bahay lamang at ibinubuhos ang oras sa harap ng computer. Hanggang sa nahumaling ako sa Facebook notes at Blogspot. Isinulat ko ang ilan sa mga sanaysay tungkol sa mga ekstraordinaryong pakikipagkaibigan sa mga produkto ng reality search kahit sa isang pulitiko at ang aking pananaw tungkol sa napapanahong isyu. Ang hindi ko talaga malilimutan ay ang pagsali sa Online Writing Contest noong nakaraang taon. Ang tema ay tungkol sa Pilipinas at pagiging Pilipino tulad ng kultura, mga pagkain, mga magagandang lugar at mga kaugaliang Pinoy. At naisulat kong sanaysay ay tungkol sa pagkaing Pinoy tuwing tag-araw ("Cool Pinoy Delicacies On Hot Summer"). Nai-publish ko siya sa OfficiallyPhilippines website kung saan ginanap ang patimpalak, sa Facebook account ko at sa Blogspot. Kailangan din ng online votes. At buong Pilipinas pala ang labanan nito. Ngunit hindi ako pinalad na manalo at kahit ganoon pa man, tuloy pa rin ang pagkamit sa pangarap.

Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy pa rin akong nagsusulat. Sa tulong ng papel, ballpen, computer at website. Manalo man o matalo, tuloy pa rin ang pagkamit sa pangarap. Hindi pa naman ako kilalang manunulat. Isa pa lamang akong nagsisimula sa larangan na ito. Kahit nagsisimula pa lang, pursigido na akong abutin ang panagrap na ito. Ginagawa ko ito sa mga taong sumusuporta at naniniwala sa kakayahan ko. Kaya salamat sa mga sumusporta sa aking pagsusulat, dahil sa inyo hindi ko ito maisusulat kung wala kayo. Higit sa lahat kay Lord salamat din po dahil gagamitin ko ang talentong ito para sa ikabubuti ng ibang tao. Ito pa lamang ang simula.

My Interests in Writing: The Beginning

Every people in the world has its own talents and skills granted by God. The Philippines is a third-world country but every citizen is endowed with spectrum of talents in various genres. Lastly, I am a Filipino, born in Cavite, a province located in the Philippines, possessing my own talents and skills.

I am a young guy who has a wide imagination. I love to read and study. I like to share my knowledge through teaching. I am a talkative person who tells a lot of stories which is interesting but majority of it is non-sense. Most of all, when I am quiet, there are lots of ideas running in my mind that I like to share to others (sometimes there are moments that I talk to myself alone or in my inner thoughts). These ideas are diverted into writing.

Before, I was a type of person who is not fond of talking too much. However, because of the influence of people who has a gifted skill in conversation, I am willing to share my experiences also. But there are times that you cannot please everyone to listen in what you are saying because they have different interests.

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I really love to write. When something comes into my mind which enlightens or entertains me, I will write it. I love to have my pen and paper in my stuff. I am also interested in looking at everything around me, writing in my journal, watching TV, reading books, and browsing the Internet where I get inspiration and ideas in writing.

During my younger days, I am fond of reading fairy tales, history books and even my books in school. Until now, I still love reading books: from humorous books of Bob Ong to Alex Lacson's "12 Little Things That Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country" and even inspirational books like "Kokology" by Professor Isamu Saito.

I am interested in politics, TV shows, entertainment, travel, feature articles and personal essays. I am fond of writing essays but not skilled in writing poems. In addition, I want to experience writing a short story or a play.

I write when I have distinct ideas come into my mind that is interesting and I want to share it  to others. First, I write it on a paper, then encode it in a computer, edit or revise and print. After printing, I will share it first to my circle of friends and keep it in my folder. This is my routine and process in my writing skill.

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I  didn't expect to get compliments from other people because of writing. It was started in sixth grade, when our teacher is finding a representative for our section to join the essay writing contest about health and nutrition. Two of my classmates said that I am the one to join in the  contest. Although I don't have any idea what an essay is until I agree to participate for our section. When the contest starts, I found out that an essay is a form of writing which brought together groups of paragraphs from one topic. I just write anything about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and nutrition for kids. Until I got the third place in the said contest.

In high school, I still continue to achieve the dream but it stopped due to busy in studying. However, there are still written activities in some subjects in school. During our senior year in high school, my friends and I were able to submit an article to our school paper but we're failed to make it.

When I came to college, I was motivated to pursue the dream once again. In first year college, I joined the Essay Writing Contest during the National Language Week (Linggo ng Wika). I wrote an essay about our national language and how it evolves and used it in everyday life and its reflection in our culture, using Filipino language as a medium of communication. Therefore, I achieved my very first medal which I got the second place in the said contest. In my junior year in college, I also join in our campus publication. However, due to lack of funds, our articles were not published. It is also the first time when I hooked up to blogging through Friendster. I express my thoughts through blogs but it is hard to convince people because they judged your work by criticizing it.

During the time when I don't have a work, I'm always staying at home, spending time with my parents and in front of computer. Until I'm addicted to Facebook notes and Blogspot. I wrote some essays covers different topics including extraordinary experiences and views about current events. The most unforgettable thing happened to me during that time is when I become part of the Online Writing Contest in OfficiallyPhilippines.com. I wrote about Filipino food during summer entitled "Cool Pinoy Delicacies for Hot Summer." It was published in the said website where the contest held, in my Facebook and Blogspot account. Also, it requires online votes because it is a nationwide contest. In the end, I didn't win and I still continue to pursue my dream as a writer.

As of now, I am still writing with the help of paper, pen, television, computer, blogs, imagination and even imaginary friends. I am not yet a well-known writer. I'm still a neophyte in this field. Although it is just a beginning, I am eager to reach it for those who believe and support in this talent. Thanks for those people who believe in me. I cannot write this without your moral support. Most of all, I would like to extend my appreciation to Our Lord because You gave this skill that I have to share with other people. This is a humble beginning for a novice like me.


(This blog entry was translated with the help of Google Translate and revisions by the author. The original title is "Ang Aking Hilig sa Larangan ng Pagsusulat: Isang Pagsisimula")

Summer Getaway: Freelance Writing Workshop

The certificate I received from the workshop.

I have a different summer experience this year. Aside from the typical summer outings in beaches or mountains, having a Visita Iglesia or even staying in home with my family, this year is different. It was a summer getaway in Makati City where it is educational and relevant for aspiring writers like me.


I attended a two day workshop entitled "Jumpstart Your Freelance Writing Career 4.0" last April 30 until May 1, 2011 in Powerbooks, Greenbelt 4, Makati City. Before, I wanted to attend the preceding workshops and events of Writers Block but I missed it due to the location and lack of expenses to attend the events. This year, I was able to attend due to family support and I paid in the early-bird rate discount of the workshop. One day before the workshop, I was thinking that I would not attend this workshop because of financial expenses, transportation concerns where I am going to travel from Cavite to Makati plus the prediction of having a traffic jam in the Metro which I hate the most, and the jitters because I was intimidated and nervous at first.

However, when I made it to the workshop, everything was in good flow. I experienced a smooth-sailing trip from Cavite to Makati and I made it two hours early to the workshop (afraid of getting late in an appointment). My classmates in the workshop were very nice which allows us to exchange our ideas and experiences about writing. The facilitators of the workshop were so accommodating and knowledgeable. In other words, I feel comfortable in this event.

Therefore, the most important thing there is the investment and the long hours of travel, definitely WORTH IT! I learned a lot from the speakers, the topics and the activities in the workshop, I realized my strengths and weaknesses which contribute to my skills as a writer, I received a lot of giveaways and a certificate plus the soft copy of the topics discussed in the workshop, and I met new friends with the same interests in writing.

10 Things I Learned from the Workshop:

1. Freelance writing is not a RAKET!
2. Making a writing pitch is the first step to please your editor to publish your work. Be creative and technically concise about your pitch. In addition, critiquing our pitch by the speakers of the workshop is the most exciting part because I need to know the things that I need to improve.
3. Media ethics which helps importantly to become a disciplined writer.
4. The seven steps in creative process which is applicable not only to writers but also to other artists.
5. Dealing with writer's block. 
6. Different styles applicable in freelance writing. (I found out that travel and entertainment are my top 2 interests in writing).
7. Different writing techniques and the art of interviewing.
8. The Life SWOT where I learned to reflect on my strengths and weaknesses which contribute in writing skill and how it affect the threats and opportunities in freelance writing.
9. Writing is not easy. It takes a special skill to communicate with effectively and a write-up should be based on research and facts. 
10. Sharing your articles to your circle of friends.

Therefore, I would like to extend my appreciation to the speakers and founders of Writers Block Philippines Nikka Sarthou, Ana Santos and Nina Terol Zialcita for this great opportunity to handle a workshop for aspiring writers, to the guest speakers Tweet Sering and DJ Vince Golangco, to my family (especially my sister and my mom) who gave me financial and moral support to make it on this event, to my workshop classmates and new friends I met, keep up the good work to achieve our dream in writing (see you soon in the upcoming workshops of Writers Block), and most of all, to God thanks a lot for this wonderful opportunity that I achieved in order to improve my writing skills and I will share it to my friends and people who are willing to become a writer someday.

I would like to close this note by asking this question: after I made it on the workshop, is it the way to step out from being a personal blogger to a freelance writer? The most important thing running in my mind is keep on writing to achieve my dreams.

The freelance writing class of Jumpstart Your Freelance Writing Career 4.0 held at Powerbooks, Greenbelt 4, Makati City. (Source: Writers Block Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writersblock.ph)