Got another rejection from the job I applied for. To be fair, I wasn’t fit for the role advertised but I was frank in my cover letter when I said I sent my application for other future roles that they may have like a sub-editor for Asia or a Southeast Asia correspondent. But apparently it ruined my chance for any position with them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I spent the whole of Wednesday putting together my application for the faculty position (tenure track) at my undergrad college. The notice was sent to me on the same day I have told friends and family that my job has become out of whack.

It was a rushed affair. I wasn’t able the append the e-copy of the book where I contributed (I wrote one chapter) more than 20 years ago. I forgot to include other certifications I had because I couldn’t find them. The ones I was able to attach are the evidence I attended a “crash course MBA” at AIM, my civil service exam result, and the certificates that showed I was invited to lecture/became a guest speaker. My Greek-letter sister (who is also from the same departament that was hiring) said those are proofs that I am an expert in my field so that will count.

Although a lot of friends in the industry told me I am already a shoo-in for that position given my experience (and also previous teaching stint at my grad school), it’s not an assurance that I will get a higher position than assistant professor 1. I didn’t produce any academic papers because — damn it! — I barely even had any headspace for that as a journalist who is constantly in the field, busy managing people, traveling for work, busy managing my household, building a house, etc.

I also do not have any PhD.

I do not have time to pursue that. I don’t think it makes sense for me to pursue that now at age 46. 🫠

Academe values these more than practical experience in the field. My expertise in journalism doesn’t count that much. That’s how skewed the world of academe is. They would rather have journalism professors with zero journalism experience to teach journalism to undergrads than real journalists who had been in the trenches but lack PhDs.🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m technically still employed but all of us (most of those I know anyway) are looking for other jobs. It’s a sinking ship because the guy who acquired us 6 years ago is a greedy bastard. I think he is only 25 basis points away from credit default.

Anyway, I attended a forum organized by my former trade organization… Well, just to network. Since I said I am open to consulting work and other writing gigs, I may get potential projects soon.

My experience last Monday accompanying my mom to her check up with her surgeon was a bit harrowing. We made my one-year-old car swim in the streets of Manila.

The rains were unforgiving for western Philippines because of the habagat (southwest monsoon). Eastern China and Chiba in Japan aren’t faring any better.

Pacific Ocean is very busy and messy these days with four to five active systems happening at the same time.