Overcast skies in Manila this morning.

/>Last night was pitched fucking black. We-- that is to say, myself and the sad few stuck in the Collegian press room past midnight doing the painstaking thankless work of providing UP students with up-to-date news and critical analysis of different issues for the day (or, you know, providing dorm students with free newspapers to wrap their bloody sanitary napkins in, whatever floats your boat)-- WE were in the business of outrunning the clock. The bulk of Features and Culture articles were still problematic, a few news articles haven't even been started (in their defense, that's because the news-worthy moment has yet to happen). The Graphics section couldn't start their illustrations for the articles because they had nothing to work on. Layout was on hold, as that's the very last step before the whole kaboodle is spirited off for printing.

Then the Philippine Collegian, the most prestigious campus publication in the country, hits UP. And every UP student who picks it up flips to the comics page, makes a derisive comment through their nose, and throws the newspaper away. But whatever, man, whatever. It's not as if we're in this for other people to read. We're obviously in this for the money.


Don't bother reading the small print. Collegian exams are happening any time, all the time. Bring 2 bluebooks, 1 ballpen and head for Vinzons Hall room 401.

Stayed until past midnight last Tuesday. Went home for sleep and a change of clothes then went back to Kule before lunch on Wednesday. Stayed until past three o'clock this morning. It's like I don't have academics and theater work to worry about. BUT WHERE WERE MY FUCKING WRITERS? This isn't fair, Floyd never did this (or I never did this to Floyd) when he was editor. Writers going missing and the section editor left to pick up their slack until the wee hours just so said writers can save face when the paper comes out. I could just let their unpolished work see print and snicker to myself when the rest of the UP community pokes fun at awkward phrasing and half-assed argumentation, but no. I had to have a conscience. Won't let go of that article until it's waterproof. At the end of the day, it's their bylines right on top of an article I basically wrote. :(

But fine, whatever. I'm done complaining.