A LITTLE over a week ago, I got a notification on Twitter that certain @IMES mentioned me in a message. It went like this:
“@jetvalle I enjoy reading your column. Esp of the Hashtags. I am their No. 1 fan. I am also your fan. You always write about positive things in general and that’s what I always look for in newspapers. I love reading different newspapers and articles and one day I hope to become a writer just like you and the others I enjoy reading. More power to you and to the power of the pen!”
Thank you @IMES for sending me this tweet (it’s three tweets actually because the entire message was more than 140 characters), and for reading my column. And for reading the newspaper in general. They say newspaper writing is a dying profession, but it’s because of readers like you that we’re still given hope. It’s because of you we writers always do the best we can. It’s heartwarming, and humbling at the same time, that we’re able to touch people’s lives.
Thank you, too, for being a fan. Frankly, after many years of writing about stars and starlets, I’m still not comfortable with the idea of having fans. After all, my concept of being a fan is my being a rabid fan of the Hashtags, too.
Previously, it was John Prats, then Hero Angeles, then a PBB housemate or two. I will never get out of this realm of being a fan. When my “idols” grant me interviews, it never fails to unsettle me. When it comes to such situations, I’m first a fan, and second an interviewer of my idols. I know it’s improper but please allow me to be human sometimes.
@IMES, go ahead and pursue your dream of becoming a writer. Many may discourage you because of numerous reasons, like it won’t pay well (believe me, it’s kind of true—hahaha) but what would feed you will be your passion. You’re a fan of the Hashtags, but if you go on and hone your craft, those boys will reciprocate your love for them and they will be your fan, as well, because they also know a thing or two about working hard for your dreams.
So just keep holding on to your dream, work hard and be the best damn writer you could possibly be.
****
Coco Martin, Vice Ganda, Piolo Pascual, Judy Ann Santos, Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Melai Cantiveros, Karla Estrada, Jolina Magdangal, Bernadette Sembrano and a number of ABS-CBN artists are now promoting the network’s newest customer-loyalty program, called “Kapamilya, Thank You”.
Those who sign up for a Kapamilya, Thank You membership may earn points and get rewards, such as a meet and greet with an ABS-CBN star, tickets to Studio Tours and shows, like ASAP and It’s Showtime, freebies from the ABS-CBN Store, free access to ABS-CBN TVplus’s KBO and SKY Pay-Per-View, and free SMS, data or calls via ABS-CBNmobile.
To become a member, interested parties can register for free via thankyou.abs-cbn.com, and enroll the ABS-CBN and Sky Cable products and services they are currently subscribed to.
After registration, fans can start earning Thank You points through simple activities, like watching Kapamilya shows on TV or iWant TV, entering the hashtag of the day, paying their SkyCable bill, registering to ABS-CBN TVplus’s KBO and loading their ABS-CBN mobile SIM cards.
Accumulated Thank You points can be used to redeem gifts and other rewards members can choose from on the web site (thankyou.abs-cbn.com), like free tickets to ABS-CBN shows.
Alternatively, they may also choose to share the love and gratitude by donating their Thank You points to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya.
Meanwhile, fans who have existing accounts with any ABS-CBN web site, like iWant TV, can use their registered e-mail and password to sign up for Kapamilya, Thank You. Membership is valid as long as a user has been actively using his or her membership in the past six months.
ABS-CBN, a leading media and entertainment organization, now rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company, is the first among the TV networks to roll out a rewards program for its loyal customers.
- For more information, visit thankyou.abs-cbn.com.