From Behind the Scenes: The Jessica Soho Experience

I'll try hard to write without too much gushing. I've always been a fan of Ms. Jessica Soho and now I love her even more.

You see, we were assigned to welcome her in our event. She came with no entourage. No huss or fuss. And being the big time celebrity/ TV news anchor that she is, I appreciate how she was very graceful and accommodating when people flock her for a photo opportunity.

One time she said in the nicest, respectful way to hurry with the photo op as she doesn't want to delay the program.

I love her speech and how she captured the audience with what she's saying. Of course the content of the speech is for another story (and I think we have an article coming out about that). She stayed the entire awarding ceremony when most huge personalities and celebrities sneak out due to their hectic schedule. Actually she was supposed to sneak out, but she decided to stay even if the program got a little over time. She did not stay for lunch, but I watched how she secretly handed money to one of the guys from GMA TV Network (her home network) so they can eat ahead of her and will not get hungry. Despite being on stage and on spotlight, she made sure her staff is taken care of.

I noticed how she pleasantly accommodated all the photo opportunity request even if it's causing a delay in her schedule.

I watched how she talked with the lady elevator operator, making her at ease like she's just like everyone else and not a major TV News anchor. I witnessed her magic into making people at ease, all in less than a minute.

I noticed how, as we were passing by the huge crowd, people were actually happy to see her. People waving their hands saying "Hi Maám Jessica!"and how she acknowledges them with a smile and a nod.

We got to the point where we really have to go through the shoulder to shoulder crowd, and I, in my instinct as her "lady guard of the moment" asked the people "excuse me po..." and she told me that it's alright. That It's okay (translation: no need to do that, as I try to part the crowd like Moses parted the red sea) just because she's coming through.

I took up Mass Communication in college but did not pursue the career of being a TV documentary scriptwriter. I wanted to work for a magazine instead. But seeing how Jessica is, I wonder what it would be like to be mentored by her.