monitoring assignments

I feel like I am a grown man now. In the three weeks that this site has been hibernating, so much has happened. Milestones keep coming, starting with my first-ever project monitoring.

On August 28, I had my first project monitoring at RCBC Plaza in Makati to see "Harana." The Philippine Opera Company showcased the evolution of Philippine music with their operatic renditions of several classics, from indigenous to contemporary. It was a night full of creativity as they sang, danced, and narrated the history behind the richness of our country's music.

Another milestone was when I rode an airplane for the first time on September 4. It was my first experience with such a mode of transportation, and it was also my first out-of-town monitoring— in Mindanao! I was bound for General Santos City, coinciding with the celebration of the Tuna Festival. I went to the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University to monitor the National Artists in Architecture and Allied Arts Touring Exhibit and Lecture. Works by Leandro Locsin, Juan Nakpil, Ildefonso Santos, and Pablo Antonio were presented to students through pictures printed on tarpaulins, accompanied by the lecture. My schedule didn’t end there; my next stop was in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Immediately before the lecture concluded, I left for Davao del Sur. It was more than a two-hour bus ride from General Santos. I was excited but also a bit scared, as I had never traveled alone before. The fact that it was in Mindanao and my first trip made it even more daunting. Luckily, I was picked up from the bus terminal; otherwise, I would have been lost in a faraway place. I stayed at a training center by the beach for two nights. The fully air-conditioned room had two twin beds, a comfort room, and a shower, accommodating me perfectly. I went there to monitor the Sinab'badan Festival, a two-day festival of the Bagobo-Tagabawa at the Tibolo Cultural Village (near Kapatagan, the summer capital of Digos City, overlooking the peak of Mt. Apo). The festival featured various tribal groups from different barangays in Sta. Cruz, performing traditional and contemporary dances, singing chants, and showcasing colorful traditional costumes that highlighted their ethnicity and identity.

After the last day of the festival, I headed back to General Santos City. No, I wasn't trying to catch a plane; I still had one more project to monitor: the Gabi ng Kultura: Sayaw Sayawan, organized by the Dancesport Council of the Philippines. It was held at the Oval Plaza in General Santos City, where moves and grooves filled the air. Different dance groups from universities and offices in SOCCKSARGEN came to showcase their talents and perform. I loved it! Then, I returned to Manila the following day.

In the past three weeks, I have completed all my monitoring reports. Now, I'm preparing for another trip!