I was in Pangasinan at the time, attending a once-in-a-lifetime family occasion — which happened to fall right in the middle of my internship period.

By then, most of my classmates and batchmates had already secured their companies to render hours. Me? I was savoring time with my family while also taking chances with companies that offered online interviews. Unfortunately, by the time I passed my applications, most slots were already taken.

That memory remains so vivid. I was scrolling through my partner’s Facebook feed (thanks to her) when I stumbled upon a post from the Daily Tribune. Suddenly, a thought struck me: “Why not try asking if they’re accepting interns?” So, I sent them a message.

It didn’t take long before I got a response — they asked me to come to their office for an interview. And so I did.

Here’s a funny side story: From Pangasinan, I traveled to Malolos just to drop off my things, then went straight to Makati for the interview. After that, I went all the way back to Malolos because I had class the next day. What a trip, right?

To keep the story short — I got accepted. I officially became an intern at Daily Tribune on 20 June 20, under the Production Team.

LET THE STORY BEGIN!

I started rendering my 300 internship hours the very next day. I became a coordinator and researcher for the shows — specifically Usapang OFW — where I was primarily tasked with finding OFWs who were seeking help. Later on, I also contacted diplomats on behalf of the show and the company for interviews.

It was challenging, but I enjoyed every moment of it. I was helping people, making meaningful connections, and uncovering real stories. It made me realize something important: public service is a path I truly want to pursue in the future.

During that time, I learned so much — how to thrive in a fast-paced environment, how to communicate more effectively, especially with diplomats and other professionals, how to secure contacts, and how to be braver, stronger, and more persistent until the job was done well at the end of each shift.

Little Dani, who once dreamed of working in a newsroom when she grew up, was beyond happy.

OH — THE WAVES TAKE ME BACK TO MAKATI!

After finishing my internship, I immediately shifted my focus to my thesis, which brought me to the coastal communities of Malolos, Bulacan.

But enough with the side stories.

Around October 2024, my immediate supervisor reached out with an offer to work part-time for Daily Tribune. And that’s where everything began to unfold once more.

I accepted the offer with the thought: “Opportunity is already coming to me — why would I turn away?”

By November 2024, I had officially begun my KaTribu journey.

It marked the start of a new chapter, filled with learning, growth, and transformation. I gained new skills I never thought I would. The girl who used to write scripts and stay in pre-production inside the academe was now running tech, operating cameras, and editing both graphics and video. I genuinely fell in love with learning new things.