Louie

I know I should be used to getting a new assignment. What's new right? I am always moving beats anyway. For some reason though, I thought I would be staying with my assigment this time.

On Thursday, my editor called to tell me that I would be covering the Department of Finance. Turns out, the newly-assigned reporter was serious about leaving the company if he was assigned to a business beat. I couldn't react on the phone since I was in a coverage at the time I was told about the changes. Running in my mind at the time were these thoughts: Why me? Why me when I just made a big mistake of stating a bank earned P6.9 billion in 2009 in an article I wrote last week when it only earned P6.09 billion? Why me when I have been submitting some of my articles at 6 p.m. when the deadline is at 5? Why am I being placed in what is called by some of my office mates "the prime beat"? Why? Why? Why?

I didn't really have the chance to ask my editor because right after telling me about the changes she said: "Stay calm ok? I am going help you." She must have read what I was thinking. And besides, I never would have had the courage to ask the question.

I am worried because I do not know if I can do it. I am scared because I might not get the work done the way it should be. Horrified that the editors may transform into monsters and haunt me even in my sleep. The reporter who was assigned to this beat (the one who was replaced by the guy I am replacing) is well, a good reporter, the type who would get the employee or reporter of the month if there was one in our company. He's really good at what he's doing. He asks the really important and useful questions and establishes good rapport with sources. He's the type who would still be talking about story ideas when when the entire office is celebrating its anniversary party. So why me? Why am I replacing him?

I feel really terrible about giving up the private banks assigment because, believe it or not, I have started to sort of like it. There are still so many things I can learn from covering that and it is not going to happen now.

The mature thing to do of course is to give it a try. As what my dad has said, they will not assign you there if they don't think you can do it. I will try and we'll see. For Super Junior, I must endure it. Ok. So what does this have to do with Super Junior? Well, they're coming to Manila and if we're one of the sponsors, I can get a discount on the tickets. If we're not one of the sponsors, I can volunteer to cover the press conference. Miya was able to do that for Kris Allen's visit and she says, I can probably do the same thing. But more than Super Junior, this is for myself too. For new things to learn. Go Louie!