Amidst the beginning of the rainy season, we also begin our first week feeling a bit blue.
Prior to our LIS181 Orientation, I have already applied for a position as an intern in Ayala Foundation's Filipinas Heritage Library. I have always wanted to work or at least experience working in this library since two years ago. I think it's time to tell you why.
Back in 2015, I was able to visit the Ayala Museum for the first time and for free due to the International Museum Day. Because of that, I was also able to enter the Filipinas Heritage Library for the first time. That time, I have just been accepted in the BLIS degree and I literally had no idea what to do but seeing this library, I kind of felt glad even when I didn't know it yet that I could possibly work here. I can't pinpoint exactly what made me like this place but in my mind, it was the quintessential library. The following year, in 2016, I came back again and I have been going there since.
Given the opportunity to possibly work here, I just knew I couldn't let it slide which is why I applied immediately even before the second semester was over. A few email correspondences later, I was finally accepted and received a text message from the Ayala Foundation HR.
THIS IS REALLY IT!
June 11, 2018 - Monday
Despite the terrible weather, we decided to push through with attending our orientation as classes for the City of Makati haven't been suspended yet. I was able to get in the internship program with another BLIS student, Jasmine Martinez. To provide context, Jasmine and I have been friends since we were assigned in the same section during our NSTP Volunteerism in the Quezon City Public Library which is why it was a surprise when I discovered we would be interning together.
As we exit the elevator we were greeted by one of the librarians of the FHL, Sir Simon De Leon - 2013 BLIS graduate and currently taking his masters. He toured us around the library and to our surprise, their services were on par with top-notch research libraries especially in terms of digitization and preservation. An even bigger surprise was that we would be starting today!
He made us choose which would take cataloging and which would take indexing. As I wasn't confident with my cataloging skills, I opted to take indexing and for the remainder of the day, I was indexing what seems to be an interesting collection of Carlos P. Romulo's awards and correspondences.
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| Makati strolling with Jasmine |
Before 2:00 PM, we headed down in order to attend the Ayala Foundation orientation which occurs at the 8th floor of a building two or three blocks from where the library is. Amidst the torrential rain, we braced for the strong winds in order to be on time and luckily, we were able to attend it on time. During this orientation, we learned ore about the history, mission, vision and goals of the Ayala Foundation. After signing some forms, we were toured around their office. It was a peculiar sight to see as everyone was smiling. They all seemed so nice and it was definitely a fun experience. During this time, I received a text from Sir Simon that we were allowed to go home because work has been suspended.
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| A stormy first day of internship |
We were shocked that we would be let early on what technically is our first day. After signing out, we went our separate ways and I headed to the bus station going home, still contemplating on what had just happened. I was relieved because it would be a holiday the next day, meaning I could take even an extremely short break.
The next day, I was even more excited to continue what was looking to be a great first week. I was really looking forward to continuing that week's task because it was very interesting to read into the life of a prominent figure.
For our second day, I continued indexing Romulo's files until I reached the second folder. It was that extensive that it took me almost a day and a half to finish the content of one folder. Just right before lunch, I was moved to the digital room where I was tasked to digitize donated WWII records. In my opinion, this was one of the most intriguing task I have ever done yet because as I was scanning papers, I was also able to read some of them such as correspondences between generals. It gave me an insight on how life was during that period.
I continued with the task until the end of my shift and I was quite happy I was able to finish at least half of the volume of the records I was scanning.
I was giddy knowing that it would already be the last day for the first week of my shift because of the holiday the next day. The only thing I can complain about is the travel. It seems like the time it takes to go from our home to the library always take nearly two and a half hours which is why I made it a promise to myself to leave earlier.
For the first half of my last day for the week, I continued with the scanning, learning more about the rich history of obscure locales during the Japanese occupation. I was able to learn about the cost of living during that time and how much some food item costed. It was quite an experience.
After lunch, we were toured around the museum and we were able to see many items of interest. I have already visited the museum twice for the past two years and not a lot has changed but it was still exciting. It made me remember the times I have visited the exhibits. When our touring concluded, we resumed our work and I decided to push my working time until 6PM just to get a feel on how easy (or difficult) it would be to go home at that time. In the end, I ended up realizing that it was better to go home early in order to rest earlier.
It was quite a tiring week but it has only just begun. The long hours of travel was worth it just for the experience.
The next day, I was even more excited to continue what was looking to be a great first week. I was really looking forward to continuing that week's task because it was very interesting to read into the life of a prominent figure.
June 13, 2018 - Wednesday
For our second day, I continued indexing Romulo's files until I reached the second folder. It was that extensive that it took me almost a day and a half to finish the content of one folder. Just right before lunch, I was moved to the digital room where I was tasked to digitize donated WWII records. In my opinion, this was one of the most intriguing task I have ever done yet because as I was scanning papers, I was also able to read some of them such as correspondences between generals. It gave me an insight on how life was during that period.
I continued with the task until the end of my shift and I was quite happy I was able to finish at least half of the volume of the records I was scanning.
I was giddy knowing that it would already be the last day for the first week of my shift because of the holiday the next day. The only thing I can complain about is the travel. It seems like the time it takes to go from our home to the library always take nearly two and a half hours which is why I made it a promise to myself to leave earlier.
June 14, 2018 - Thursday
For the first half of my last day for the week, I continued with the scanning, learning more about the rich history of obscure locales during the Japanese occupation. I was able to learn about the cost of living during that time and how much some food item costed. It was quite an experience.
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| A life of scanning! |
After lunch, we were toured around the museum and we were able to see many items of interest. I have already visited the museum twice for the past two years and not a lot has changed but it was still exciting. It made me remember the times I have visited the exhibits. When our touring concluded, we resumed our work and I decided to push my working time until 6PM just to get a feel on how easy (or difficult) it would be to go home at that time. In the end, I ended up realizing that it was better to go home early in order to rest earlier.
It was quite a tiring week but it has only just begun. The long hours of travel was worth it just for the experience.
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