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| Sandstorm aftermath. |
It really pains me recalling the ordeal
we had along with other 10 bloggers who commission to cover the Sandstorm
Electronic Experience last Nov 22 and 23, at Southcrest beach resort in San
Juan, Batangas. With our plus one companion I decided to push thru with the
invites from The Big Difference Communications of Cherry Bustamante-Burwell, thinking it will be a fun activity, this is after a not so
nice experience at the The Vyne Bar in BGC, a week before the so called music
fest, also arrange by Bustamante with Sandstorm producer.
On the day of the event, we waited for 4
hours at the DLTB bus station at Taft avenue before departure, upon arrival we were surprise that the
welcoming committee seems not expecting us to be there, they were not
inform of our arrival, nevertheless they accommodate us and the rest are ugly
history to recall how we survive the 15 hour at the beach, from the Villa
accommodation to the food ration in a plastic bag that was serve to us.
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| Our food supply for breakfast |
Come morning, we struggle to look for
breakfast and the information of how are we going to disembark from the place,
the water at the Villa is at on-off situation, that each of us must pee
somewhere in order for our room not to smell bad. The tent mention as
alternative accommodation is also nowhere to be found either.
Until I was given a chance to talk, to
the ones invites us to be there, I demanded right away that we want to go home
and stop the agony. I even foretell how one of the organizers lambasts Cherry
and her way of dealing with them, it’s like we are in the middle of crossfire
of this two unorganized people we knew at that time.
With due all respect to Burwell, she did
open the line right away to patch up everything, even promise us that he and Jacob
So, the producer are willing to make up to all of us, and I guess buried to the
sand what happen, but what Burwell didn’t realize along with her group that we
don’t trust her anymore, that we are in trauma in dealing with her, it’s not
what we want to augment our feelings. Her group in our thread of
conversation even demand us to be “Professional”, and say what we want and not
to voice out load our feelings in some forums since they are just there waiting
for our response to whatever offer we may wish to accept.
What surprise me to this controversy, is the
accusation that I stole a mason jar because I was seen wrapping it up, that
scenario happen in one of the event of Bustamante wherein I cannot see the
connection why it has to be brought up to this Sandstorm brouhaha. I regret not getting it so their claim can be
valid, however I feel like it’s a faultfinding thing maybe to discredit me personally.
We did a series of consultations from my
former colleagues in Media to long time bloggers we know, even to some
establish PR group we are close with, some told us to demand money in exchange
of our stories, some suggest to sit down and come up with another out of town
free expense travel of all the people
involved in this drama. Yes there is also a suggestion that we just request a
one night party and a lot of freebies. Other advise us to demand for a public apology
sign and publish. I even ask same questions to Cherry’s group but only two
bravely answer and advise us what to do best. And majority told us just to
write what happen and not deal with this PR group anymore nor demand anything.
The true Typhoon of this Sandstorm 2014
is our experience, that typhoon not only
lies in our mind but in our hearts, that experience cannot be bribe nor replace
by any events invites, or material gifts in case. At the end of the day we
value that it’s our obligations as bloggers to share real and true stories,
what we feel, and how we cope up with it. Of course we don’t want war, but we are
hoping they will realize that we are just telling “our own stories”. It’s not
our intention either to destroy people to the fullest of their future, but as
the saying goes “Truth will always prevail”.
What The Big Differences Communications
and Cherry must understand is that saying sorry is not always an excuse to let
a situation die down on its natural way, remember there should be an ownership, and of course the sincerity above all, and not passing the ball to someone
because he is the one who promise the heaven and earth. Time is the best healer, all wounds will be
healed in due time and not by pressuring us to speak our mind immediately and
laid our demands. Like a typhoon, it will subside and melt in the ocean at a
given time and space.
As for the Sandstorm, I believe in the
project that’s why I gamble to witness it, but the foundation of putting it up
from objectives to its goal must be properly laid, I even suggest to make it a
festival of Filipino Disc Jockey in competition, who know’ s it could be the
Oscar of Dj’s in the country. Comprehensive study and getting good people with
good background in the events fields must be a key to make it successful.
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