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

Less than a year pa lang since matanggap ako sa team, but I'm still undergoing training. Currently, I'm working with the Outreach team.

2. Ano ang iyong mga ginagawa bilang Ambassador?

I do check on a lot of Wattpad stories and profiles to see if they have the potential to be featured, as well as making sure their works are properly tagged as complete for more visibility. Apart from that, I also check the works for any flags that need to be raised.

3. Bakit mo napagdesisyunang maging Wattpad Ambassador?

Matagal ko na actually siyang iniisip, even before I came back to writing a few years ago. But before, hindi ko siya priority because I just wanted to write. Last year, I did challenge myself in a lot of ways, and isa na roon ang mag-apply sa Ambassadors program. It's stepping out of my comfort zone, and I also get to help and give back to the community that fostered my growth over the years.

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

Before I was immersed in the training, hindi ko talaga maintindihan why Wattpad works the way it does. I had a lot of questions. But when I found out how they do things, mas naintindihan ko 'yong rationale nila behind every decision, and I think that's the most rewarding part of it, but also has a bit of a challenge because I have to learn and unlearn things in quite a short period of time. Adapting to the system and process was also a challenge to me because I knew I had to work twice as hard because I was surrounded by professionals.

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

Usually, sa weekends ko talaga ginagawa ang mga tasks ko sa Ambassadors kasi mas free ako, and then I study and write during weekdays. But it's a bit hard when even weekends are occupied by my academic commitments. I just try my best to not let it overwhelm me.

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

I've learned a lot about inclusivity. I had fun watching videos about it and going through a short training. It made my initial training more interesting and insightful. And hopefully, I continue learning from the Ambassadors team.

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

The Outreach team and Ambassadors in general are all very approachable and kind. Kahit marami akong tinatanong, very responsive sila and they always teach me something. I also feel that the company cares a lot about the community and the people in it.

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

Throughout my initial training, I found a lot of interesting features about Wattpad, and also what lacked in my own stories that probably hinders the visibility of it. Mindful na rin ako sa sinusulat ko para mas community friendly and to make that I abide to the guidelines of the platform.

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

Definitely during my Content training with Tiana and her team. The tasks were fun and informative, but also very challenging. But I knew it was all to teach us with content and for us to get a grasp on how they do things.

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

Nung natapos ako sa training, definitely nagbago 'yong view ko sa platform. A lot of criticism comes from a point of view of not knowing something, so when I began working with the Ambassadors, it definitely changed the way I viewed the platform, and now whenever I would hear criticisms, I would try my best and explain it well to them.

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

Ambs, thank you so much for welcoming me and making me feel capable! I hope to be able to work with everyone for a long time. 

FIVE FUN FACTS / TRIVIA ABOUT YOU OR YOUR STORIES:

1. Misheard and Misled's setting was inspired by my alma mater.

2. I wrote The Love Agenda's premise overnight and published it the next day.

3. The Heartbreaker's Agenda was inspired by the 2004 teen romantic comedy film "A Cinderella Story" starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray.

4. I often write with music, particularly ones from VALLEY, The 1975, Kodaline, Bleachers, The Band Camino, Oh Wonder, and a bunch of K-Pop groups.

5. Growing up, I was fascinated with the Percy Jackson series and it was what started my love for reading. 

THEME: Magsulat ng kuwento na may tatlong elemento na babanggitin: Jeep. Fireworks. Magkahawak-kamay.

***

"Sorry, mahal, hindi yata tayo aabot."

Tumingin ako kay Nadia habang patagong magkahawak ang mga kamay namin sa ilalim ng bag ko. Naramdaman kong humigpit ang yapos niya nang marinig ang sinabi ko.

Dahil sa trabaho ko, mukhang hindi kami aabot sa pupuntahan namin dahil nasa gitna pa kami ng traffic at mukhang hindi umuusad kahit isang pulgada.

Lumingon siya sa gawi ko, at kahit sa tindi ng mga pulang ilaw na nanggagaling sa mga kotse at pumapasok sa loob ng jeep, hindi pa rin nito mapapantayan ang ganda niya. "Okay lang. May ilang minuto pa naman."

Ngumiti ako at hinawakan nang mabuti ang kamay niya, masaya na kasama ko siya sa pagsasara ng taon.

Nang huminto ang jeep malapit sa bukana ng pagdarausan ng fireworks display, agad akong bumaba para hindi na lumagpas, pero sa pagtapak ko sa semento, umihip ang malamig na hangin kasabay ng pangungulila ng mga kamay ko sa mainit niyang palad.

Oo nga pala, isang taon na rin nang mawala si Nadia. Isang taon magmula nang huli ko siyang makasama ulit, at isang taon magmula nang mangulila ako sa pagmamahal niya.

Magmula nang mawala siya, hinihiling ko na sana ay binigyan pa ako ng pagkakataon at oras para matupad lahat ng ipinangako ko sa kanya. Pero sadyang hindi umayon ang tadhana sa akin at binigyan lang ako ng maikling oras kasama siya.

"Umabot ako, mahal." Bumulong ako sa hangin at tumingin sa langit kung saan iba't ibang kulay mula sa mga paputok ang nagsilbing ilaw sa gabing madilim.

***