The Spotlight

Unsurprising fact: I've always been shy. Even painfully so when I was little. I hated being the center of attention. I was never one who would initiate conversation. Even the thought of approaching someone scared me. Today, I am just awkward and quiet for the most part, but the shyness is still there.

So, when we, the Speculiars girls got an email from ANC Shoptalk asking us to be a part of the show, my heart did a cartwheel, but my stomach didn't celebrate at all. Cameras and shy people just don't mix-- especially large TV cameras. To add to my anxiety, we found out they need only one of us to be on the live show. Yes, live show. And so, guess who was the only one left without a valid (and convenient! Hmm...) excuse not to be on the show?

Well, for the next few days, I did all I could to calm myself down, which wasn't much. I even joked that we ought to have a backup girl in case I fainted from nervousness. (I was half serious.) But really, it was more important to focus on the bigger picture here, which, of course, was the fact that Speculiars was gonna be on TV! This is something none of us even dreamed of when we started the group. We just wanted to make things, have fun and share them to people. Anyway, to make the long story short: The Day came. I was so nervous. I survived and even had fun in the end.


Pre-show jitters calmed by good company & a muffin :)

With Fran, Iori & Yas a.k.a. Fran's little antlers. Pergy overslept and couldn't make it. Haha!

Awaiting our turn. The studio was an organized chaos! Everyone was nice. There were multiple platforms to accommodate and present each guest, but ours was a shared one so we had to scramble in between commercial breaks to set up the table.

Peek-a-boo!

Our logo looking very telegenic

Our turn has come!

We shared the spotlight with Mary of Takatak Project. Apir!

Then, it went by more quickly than I thought. I'm sure some of the nervousness showed on camera, but I was proud that I didn't stutter nor faint. It helped to know that my friends were right there, silently cheering and suppressing all urges to jump up and down. This is my after-the-show-whew-it's-over smile of relief

With host Ria Tanjuatco-Trillo, and Mary Velmonte
(All photos courtesy of Fran Alvarez)

If there's anything I learned from this, it's that opportunities like this will pop up when we least expect it, and I can't be a nervous wreck every time. I just have to remind myself that there is nothing to be afraid of.. Easier said than done, of course, but I'm working on it. :)

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