My EPH Calendar of Memories
"Life is a never-ending adventure that is filled with memorable events and incomparable experiences. Unfortunately, most of the significant moments in life are left fleeting. As a result, people tend to count on memories and the practice of storytelling to somehow keep them alive even for a while. And right now, I’d like to share to all of you one of the greatest moments in my life which has something to do with my stay in Essays.ph, formerly known as Pinoywriterz."
Essays.ph (EPH) is deemed to be the leading online writing community in the Philippines. It enables thousands of freelance web writers to express their thoughts or opinions regarding various topics and earn a certain income in return. In fact, I have been writing for the said community for more than a year already. And that long period of time allowed me to gain lots of memorable moments and experiences. So, let me now take you to my very own EPH calendar of memories and discover my inimitable adventure in EPH.
June, 2008: Wanted: Good Paying Job
After graduation, I really thought that job hunting would be a very easy task to do and thus, I have decided to take first at least a one month break before strutting my feet and look for a job. Alas, I thought wrong! I had a hard time looking for a good paying job since the opportunities here in the province are undeniably limited. I actually landed on a local call center and took training in there but to no avail. Hence, I’ve decided to seek other opportunities through the Internet and search for an online job wherein I can work right at the comfort of my home. Luckily, I stumbled upon the post of Pinoywriterz in a particular site stating that they are in need of writers. I scanned the post and immediately submitted my resume with a little message on the side saying that I am very much interested to be one of their writers.
July, 2008: Hired!
It was one typical day of July 10, 2008 while I was riding a jeepney going to our local call center for my calibration when I surprisingly received an SMS from Mr. Paul Agabin informing me that I am officially part of the Pinoywriterz community and that I need to visit the forums and create my own account there. And so, when I got home that day, I instantly turned on the computer, checked my email, and logged into the forums. I was so happy to found out that I was already part of the Blue team and that I could start grabbing assignments in the cyberoffice. But it was actually July 16, 2008 when I first grabbed an assignment.
August, 2008: Goodbye Pinoywriterz! Hello Essays.ph!
This was the time when a lot of changes had happened to the cyberoffice. The name Pinoywriterz was changed to Essays.ph (EPH) and the cyberoffice became more appealing with plenty of forum options to use. The ordinary groupings were also changed into Green and Red team. As a result, I was transferred to the Green team. And shockingly, the number of writers also increased in ten times. It was like the less than 100 writers before became more than 1000 writers in less than no time. Isn’t that so great?
September, 2008: New Found Friends
After a month of stay in EPH, I already gained several friends. It was really awesome to discover that there are also other Bicolanos (people hailed from Bicol) in EPH. I’ve met twinkle, d0ndawnita, mayan, and Karamazov. Our simple acquaintances in the forums specifically in the Cafeteria (now, Writer’s Lounge) bloomed into a good kind of friendship. And so, we all decided to meet personally on the night of September 11, 2008. Honestly speaking, I was nervous at that time for I barely know any of them. But the nervousness turned into happiness when we started talking and joking around. I really had a great time having a date with them. (I love them all!)
October, 2008: Announcement: Treat No Trick – Halloween Card Making Event
In the middle part of October, Sir Paul announced that there would be a “Treat No Trick – Halloween Card Making Event” wherein writers are obliged to write their own original horror stories. I was actually not fond of joining contests in EPH like the story telling and translation game contest and so, I really don’t know if what made me decide to give it a shot with the “Treat No Trick” event. Nonetheless, I’ve exerted much effort that time in coming up with my own horror story for various reasons such as because it was my first time to join an EPH contest, it was my first time to write a creepy or horror story, and it was also my first time to use PowerPoint in making a card. Fortunately, I’ve finished my work on time and submitted it in the way that I knew how since I really do not know if how on earth can I make my card appear on the thread.
November, 2008: Go Mighty Blue!
It was November 25, 2008 when I was transferred to the Blue team. I didn’t know how and I also didn’t know why. I just woke up that day and discovered that there was already an online manual for the Blue team members. I actually thought that it was just a regular new announcement from Sir Paul, Ma’am Sheila, or Sir Neil. Until, writermaecy (one of the most wonderful writers in EPH whom I’ve met) sent me a message congratulating me that I was already part of the Blue team. I was really so happy that time because I never expected that someone like me who is not a certified writer since a kid can be an elite writer as well. This metamorphosis actually made me realized that everything can be possible in the will of God. Being part of the Blue team is fun. I got access to three assignment sections (Blue, Green, and Red). But I must say that it is not as easy as that. It became somewhat stressful for me since I was really worried for I knew that there would be a lot of expectations that would go my way. And I certainly hate expectations since I was in school!
December, 2008: Merry Christmas!
December is without a doubt the most awaited month in almost all parts of the globe even on the EPH cyberoffice. EPH writers became so busy writing for assignments to acquire tons of bonuses. Most of them were also busy preparing for the EPH Christmas Party. Sad to say, I was not able to attend the party due to the fact that I am here in Bicol. But it was still just fine with me as long as they had fun in the party. The least thing which I could do that time was to wait for the Christmas day since there would be oodles of surprises and changes happening on that day according to Sir Paul. So, on December 25, 2008, when the clock struck 12 in the midnight, I immediately turned on my computer and logged in to the forums. I was really surprised with the new look of the cyberoffice with Santa on his sleigh and a lot of snow. It was really cool! But what surprised me most was the announcement of the “Treat No Trick – Halloween Card Making Event” winners. Guess what? I won the contest! I knew that it was not the best story in the said event for my other co-writers had also come up with extraordinary creepy stories. I actually do not know if what made the jury decide to make me a winner. Nevertheless, it was the jury’s decision and not my own decision, for sure.
January, 2009: Serious Mode
The EPH cyberoffice already bid farewell to Santa and snow when New Year came. Its ambiance became on a serious mode. Frankly speaking, it was January when I began contemplating if being part of the Blue team and being the winner of the “Treat No Trick” event had good outcomes. I felt anxious and pressured. Even so, I still continued writing for the sake of earning more points.
March, 2009: I’m tired!
I started getting tired of writing. It was as if there was nothing essential coming into my mind every time I was writing a set of assignment. I had a difficult time acquiring significant ideas (it was writer’s block, I guess). Thus, more revisions came which lessen my self-confidence and morale. I became somehow inactive in getting assignments.
April, 2009: I’m back!
It was April, 2009 when I was kicked out of the Blue team and I was back in the Green team. This was maybe the result of my indolence in writing. Well, it was just okay with me because that was what I really wanted to somehow lessen the pressure and stress which I felt.
July, 2009: Happy Anniversary!
July 10, 2009 was my first year anniversary in EPH. I actually celebrated it silently. But along with my silent celebration was a promise to myself that I would try to bring back the old me in writing and that I would try my very best also to come up with good outputs with no revisions needed. And do you know if what was EPH gift for me on my one year stay in the community? I was transferred to the Red team. I actually do not know if being part of the Red team has good or bad signs. But I certainly do not care because for me, there’s nothing consequential in being on a Red team. I was just transferred to another team for a new ambiance, I guess.
August, 2009: No Revisions!
I was very happy during this period of time since I have got no message coming from the editors saying that I need to revise any of my outputs. I just do hope that this would be a start of a better writing experience again in EPH for me. And aside from that, I also gained two additional Bicolano friends namely, graceoliveros and mavic.
Indeed, I had a lot of memorable experiences and moments with EPH. I will always treasure all of these stuffs and keep it to my calendar of memories for the rest of my life. I just hope, wish, and pray that I would still be part of EPH even if I get along in years.
