1. Ilang taon ka nang Wattpad Ambassador at saang team ka kabilang? 

I've recently turned two this November 2020 and I'm working in the Engagement team, both on the International team and the PH team. 

2. Ano ang iyong mga ginagawa bilang Ambassador? 

Marami. I'm not sure how much I can say in a public interview, pero I work mainly on the international side of things. I am an English profile lead and marami rin akong pinagtatrabahuhang English profiles din, mainly concerning Fantasy, Poetry, and Undiscovered Stories. 

When leading an English profile kasi, halos lahat na ng pagiging engagent ay magagawa mo na rin, like vetting stories for feature a RL, hosting writing contests on your profile, profile maintenance duties, planning and judging contests, article writing, at marami pang iba. 

I'm also the Microteam Lead for the International Ambassadors Newsletter team along with my partner, Nen (@Winterlove63). In my time spent in the Ambassadors, nagkaroon din ako ng mga iba't ibang exciting experiences like judging the Open Novella Contest for two years at naging part ng admin team for one. Recently, I judged a big contest sa Wattpad, din. 

3. Bakit mo napagdesisyunang maging Wattpad Ambassador? 

I'm in for the opportunities to help. Wala namang nagsabi sa akin kung ano yung ambassadors and way back nung napadpad ako sa forums at nakita ko yung mga moderators, I decided to seek information. Dun ko nakita yung Ambassadors program. I applied, got in, and soon, I'm already two years old. It's really a good stepping stone in my career (not that I've got one) and a really good way to boost your resume especially in the volunteerism area. Overall, it's a good experience avenue and really, it's fun. 

4. Ano ang pinakamasaya at pinakamahirap na parte sa pagiging Ambassador? 

Ang pinakamasaya siguro is....everything. I treat every job as an opportunity to learn and have fun. Na-eenjoy ko talaga yung working with the documents, keeping track of things happening, and overall, engaging with the community. Malaking comfort yun sa akin kapag bumebenta yung mga contests namin sa international side and yeah, I'm an engagement, through and through. Masaya ako to manage things and to help people reach their full potential and I can't have done that without being in the program. 

Pinakamahirap siguro is that you have to deal with timezones when you're in the international team. Kaya kapag nagmamadali ka na to get a job done or to chase a deadline, minsan nagkakaproblema sa delay ng messages dahil dun. Another is having to manage a team to work under you and making the profile, or the microteam, or the contest, or just about anything prosper. Medyo nakakastress siya pero keri lang. I take it in strides and practice a bit of patience and gratitude. 

5. Paano mo napagsasabay ang pagiging ambassador at mga pinagkakaabalahan mo sa labas ng Wattpad? 

Honestly, mahirap siya since it's taking up most of my weekends that I should be spending writing. Minsan, nasasacrifice mo na rin yung braincells mo na dapat ay ginagamit mo sa pagsusulat pero ganun talaga. 

Time management is the key all throughout the experience and siguro, having a nice work-life-writing balance. Set a specific time kung kailan ka lang gagawa ng amb duties and try to mentally prepare for that. It's also okay and even encouraged to take some time away sa team lalo na kapag dumadami na yung mga dapat gawin. No rush naman halos lahat ng mga trabaho sa isang profile so yeah, time management lang talaga. Hindi rin naman ganun kabigat yung requirement na hours so keri lang. 

6. Ano ang pinakamagandang aral na natutunan mo sa pagiging ambassador? 

Hmm. Siguro yung pagiging team player. Having to work in a profile and eventually leading one takes a LOT of people skills and communication skills. Kailangan mong maparating yung gusto mong sabihin in a professional and coherent way and I think the program trained me well for that. Dito lang talaga ako gumaling mag-English kasi yun talaga yung main mode of communication lalo na sa international team. 

The program also taught me patience, kindness, and compassion. Overall, nabogyan ako ng chance to practice leadership skills and natutuwa ako that Gav and Dan really gave me that opportunity dahil super, super useful siya in real life. 

7. Ano ang iyong masasabi sa culture at working environment ng Wattpad Ambassadors? 

Chill, inclusive, and equal. Hindi rin siya toxic which is something so rare in any working environment anywhere in the world. Lahat kasi dito ay may equal opportunities and anyone could be hired to do the job. Really, props to Gav for keeping and reiterating a non-toxic environment for us ambs to work in. It really makes the job easier and more fun. 

8. Paano nakatutulong ang iyong pagiging ambassador bilang isang manunulat o mambabasá?

It helped me hone my skills as a writer by exposing me to great (and not-so-great) content. Nakita ko how one technique can make a story and how the same thing can break another. Na-expose ako sa iba't-ibang pananaw ng mga authors and that kind of made me see a bigger and more colorful picture ng ating mundong ginagalawan. It exposed me to various unique writing styles and nakatulong sa akin to develop and find my own voice. My experiences in the ambs certainly helped me be able to provide constructive feedback sa mga new writers inside and outside of the program. 

It helped me deal with a community (kahit hindi ko sila readers lol) and that skill is really, really important if you're looking to build a base in the writing world. Another thing is that I was able to make good friends sa program din and they eventually became my readers (dalawa lang sila. Wag kayong ano). So yeah, with a community and an exposure to great stories, what could stop me? xD 

9. Maaari mo bang ibahagi sa amin ang isa sa hindi mo makalilimutang karanasan mula nang ika'y maging isang Ambassador? 

That would be when I planned the first collaboration contest of the International Fantasy Team of profiles and it's a success. Looking back, ang tanging naiisip ko lang ay: grabe. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako naka-survive planning with the various international fantasy profiles leads while keeping track of things and ensuring the contest runs at a smooth pace until finish. It's really a ride and I couldn't have pulled it off without Cass and all the others. Spearheading that contest was really my defining moment as an engagent and yeah, I'm up to do it again next year. Winks. 

Another thing I like to recount is siguro yung experiences ko bilang judge ng sandamakmak na contest at yung pagvevet ng stories for RLs. Seeing the feeling of accomplishment and pride kapag may mga nagte-thank you sa message board ng mga profile sends me a bit of joy dahil kahit papaano, I was able to make their day even though they didn't know it. This feeling is heavier and more prominent whenever I judge big contests like ONC and seeing how the people are so happy when they clear a round or win the top five. Hindi ko alam. Just seeing the happiness and them succeeding in their writing career and knowing you played a smol part in that is just the best fulfillment ever. Worth it lahat ng hours spent on reading and judging once you do that. I just can't help but wonder kelan kaya siya mangyayari sa akin. HAHAHAHA. Jk jk. xD 

10. Bilang isang Ambassador, paano mo hina-handle ang kritisismo ng ibang Wattpaders sa ating ginagawa para sa buong community? 

Believe me, people complain about anything. Nag-lulurk ako sa mga public Wattpad writing servers and I know everything they're complaining against. As an amb, kailangan mong malaman when is the right time to speak and when is it better to shut up. 

Whenever I hear complaints, I always take a step back and assess whether it's in my power to reveal things to ease that complaint. If I don't know anything, I just lurk and let the conversation ride its course. If I know something about it, I always ask if I'm allowed to share and if I get the green light, that's the only time I will. I think it's always a good protocol to follow every time na makakarining tayo ng mga undesirable things about the program and about the site in general. Tread on everything with care and always, always be kind. 

11. Maaari ka bang magbigay ng mensahe sa lahat ng Ambassadors o payo sa mga nais mapabilang sa atin sa hinaharap? 

Be ready to get overwhelmed but with that feeling comes growth. Keep striving for growth. Always. And nasabi ko na rin sa taas—time management is the key. 

Isa pa siguro is communicate. Mapepwersa ka to do just that once you join the team. Arm yourself with energy, enthusiasm, at iyong English skills dahil mapapasabak ka talaga lalo na kapag you decide to work in the international team like me. Be responsive to your leads and immediate bosses dahil pramis, na-aapreciate namin yun. xD 

Lastly, think about what you can do and not about what you gain. That's a very nice work ethic everywhere and I think that leads to a healthier attitude in how you approach work and volunteerism. So yeah, take it from your old person. lol.

1. E-book o physical book? 

I still prefer physical book pero dahil broke gaming tayo, nasanay na rin ako sa e-book. So...both? Pwede ba yun? Haha. 

2. Tea o coffee? 

Tea, def. May hyperacidity ako kaya bawal ng kape. xD 

3. Mahal mo o mahal ka? 

One thing you should know: I'm an aro-ace. So...I guess that explains a lot of things. Lol. Pero in an ideal romantic situation, mas pipiliin ko siguro yung mahal ako. Siguro, in the long run, matututunan ko rin siyang mahalin. Haha. Pero again, in an ideal setting. 

4. Edward o Jacob? 

Not really a Twilight Saga fan so...neither? Omg, ang boring kong interviewhin. HAHAHAHA. 

5. Jollibee o McDo? 

Jollibee. That's it. 

6. Dine-in o delivery? 

Delivery. Hassle lumabas and nakakatulong ka pa sa mga drivers to earn a living. 

7. Forest o beach? 

Quoting Anakin Skywalker: I don't like sand. It's coarse and it gets everywhere. So, forest. 

8. Tacos o wings? 

Wings. Not a fan of tacos. 

9. Tulog sa kanan o sa kaliwang bahagi ng kama? 

Kung saang side ang available sa akin. Hindi naman ako picky and I can usually settle kung saan comfortable ang lahat. 

10. Pusa o aso? 

 Pusa. Always. 

11. Sitcom o drama? 

Wala pa akong sitcom na napapanood in full so I'll go with drama. Also, it depends on what kind of drama. I'm pretty open with the things I consume pero meron talagang mga tropes, plotline, or premise na basta na lang ay nope. So yeah, I think ganun din sa sitcom. Depends on a lot of aspects to be able to tell a decent story.