As mentioned in a previous post, I have joined a workshop by one of GMA's headwriter RJ Nuevas. He and his drove of writers had 'workshoppers' sifted through a diagnostic examination--one I did not take (a fact which haunted me until the last days of the workshop).
From a group of 50 aspirants emerged 16 survivors. Yes, survivors seems apt as on the 1st day, the writers warned us that it's a fight to the damn Darwinian finish. "Oo, isa-isa kayong malalagas. Natural selction" says RJ.
Hah...DAY1...I just came back from Batanes in all my tanned and bruised glory. The trip ate up most of my decent clothes, leaving me no choice but to don a short pa-sweet dress. Wrong directions and 15 minutes past the call time, Xi and I found ourselves scampering through the streets of Fort Bonifacio, Amazing Race-style. We arrived half an hour late, flooded in sweat, carrying shady reputations
That first day had us all on our toes. It was inspiring and challenging...yet foreboding, very political, and cut-throat all at the same time. The message was clear: This is a competition. No room for idiots, so shape up or ship out.
Every Saturday, 16 of us crammed ourselves in one living room to learn to write. Ego's clashed, ideas outdid themselves, actual voices rose, literary voices soared. Everyone strived to hear a "Brilliant" rating and dreaded a "Nah it's not working" verdict.
Isa-isang nagpakilala ang lahat. And then slowly, the space which was once too humid with the number of occupants started turning cold--natural selection was kicking in. Less students meant more challenging assignments. It also meant post-workshop dinners and drunken merriment that had the group bonding. Saturdays at that fateful living room became such a habit that the workshop was constantly extended, we didn't want to let go of each other apparently.
4 months after, 16 survivors were down to 9--6 of which were granted slots in the Network's institute, but all 9 definitely friends under the banner of the batch labeled...
The BRILLIANTS