1. Walk me through a day in the life of Ellen: a journalist in the most dangerous country to be one in.

Hindi naman "the most dangerous" ang Pilipinas. Next to Iraq lang.

There is no typical day for me because it depends on events to be covered. I do most of my work at home. Thanks to email, fax and cellphone.

First order of teh day, usually is check my e-mail and work on my blog.

I live in Las Piñas, away from the center of political acivities, so I organize my schedule in such a way that I don't waste my time and energy just for one meeting in Manila. There are days when I stay at home the whole day writing and making calls. But I usually go out Tuesdays because I have to be at ABS-CBN for "Strictly Politics" which airs live at ANC at 8 p.m.

I'm consultant for "Strictly Politics" hosted by Pia Hontiveros. I participate in deciding what topic to take up, guests and how the topic should be presented.

I also attend the Bulung-Pulungan sa Philippine Plaza, a luncheon forum, Tuesdays. From "Bulong" I do my column in Malaya before going to ABS-CBN.

As I said, on other days, it depends on events to be covered and meetings I have to attend. Like on Monday, I have to be at the Department of Justice for the second preliminary investigation of those charged with rebellion.

Although I do most of my writing at home, I need to go out to gather information and other materials for my column.

2. You cover Philippine politics. How do you keep yourself from going nuts?

By not being part of it. It's fascinating, actually. It's never boring. Politicians are colorful personalities. Like the old man Faustino Dy of Cagayan (?). I was part of the press corps that covered Fidel Ramos presidential campaign. When FVR visited him, he was having asthma attacks. He said he decided not to be a candidate that election because of his asthma. Besides he said, he has sons who are now into politics. He said something like, "My eldest is the governor, my second son, is a congressman, my third is a mayor." He was saying it like a father who would say, "My eldest is an engineer, my daughter is a doctor, my third is an architect." On his part, they have made elective office as a profession. Kina-career.

Come to think of it. That's happening all over the country.

Since politics translates to governance and public interest, I consider the time I spend learning what is happening in that area and writing about it, worthwhile. I would not feel the same if I were writing about high society goings -on.

3. Still a bit with journalism, I'm sure it wasn't what you wanted to be when you were a kid. If it is, then you'd be the first one I've ever met to say so. What did you want to be, and what happened on the way?

I grew up in a barrio in Antique without radio or newspapers.So, you are right, "journalism" was not in my childhood dreams. I don't remember what I wanted to be when I was busy playing patintero.

But I had always been curious about other people and I had always liked story telling, which is what basically journalism is. I'll send you the article "Why I went into journalism" which I did for Philippine Journalism Review.

4. Give it to me straight: five people no one should vote for next May and why.

1. john osmeña - kasuka-suka siya

2.kiko pangilinan (he was an accessory to the thwarting of the will of the people in the 2004 elections and he hasn't apologized for it.)

3. mikey arroyo

4. dado arroyo

5. iggy arroyo

(anybody who will help perpetuate Gloria Arroyo's regime of lies and thievery.)

My note: Any mayors?

5. What makes you a Filipino?

My being a fatalist. I believe that we are going to live not a day less or more than what God has planned for us.

My favorite passage in the Bible is the "Agony in the Garden", when Jesus, prior to his arrest, mock trial and crucifixion, prayed, "If it is possible, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but thine be done."

6. Do you collect anything? Knives? Vacuum cleaners? How'd you get started and where are you going with it?

I used to collect mugs.It started as a souvenir item in foreign coverages. But I've given most of them away because I don't have space.

Since my survival from cancer, I don't keep things that I don't need for the moment.

7. How big of a clown is Mike Arroyo? I'm Oprah, let it all out.

It's an insult to clowns to describe Mike Arroyo as one.

8. I like to bowl. Do you bowl? What could we possibly get together over?

Canal bowling lang ang alam ko. I love swimming. Good for my asthma too. Wala lang kaming swimming pool.

I love gardening. We have a nice garden in the province in Antique. I wish I can spend more time there.

My note: I love gardening too!

9. The four most exhilarating moments of your career. Make it go back as far as you can.

I don't know if "exhilarating" is the correct adjective but coverage that was most emotionally draining for me was the " Ormoc floods" tragedy. One scene I cannot forget was a mother and her daughter (about six years old) walking to the cemetery. The mother was holding her dead child. The daughter was pulling a wooden cart. Strapped to it was the corpse of a baby brother. The woman was not crying (naubos na siguro ang mga luha) but you can see the pain in her dry face. She was a picture of quiet strength amid tragedy.

On second thought, I can now look back to our early years in Malaya, when were the "mosquito press" during the Marcos regime as "exhilarating". We had no telephone (can you imagine a newspaper without a telephone). Every day that we complete an issue without being arrested was an major accomplishment.

That's why I value press freedom because I know how it is to be a journalist under a dictatorship. So many lives have been lost, so many careers have been destroyed, so many dreams have been crushed to regain the freedom we have now. We should not allow anybody to take it away again.

The foreign coverages that I did as a foreign affairs and Malacañang reporter were interesting and educational.

I find most enjoyable election campaign coverage. Very Filipino. The crowds, the color, the noise, the intrigues.

My note: Looks like you're in for it this election year.

10. I watch the Gilmore Girls: you have to watch TV for entertainment at some point. Which shows would those be?

I was an ardent fan of " Sex and the City." Now, it's "Desperate Housewives."

I followed "Pangako sa 'Yo" (Jericho Rosales, Kristine Hermosa, Eula Valdez, Jean Garcia) and Sarah Geronimo's "Bituin walan Ningning". Also Thalia's "Rosalinda' a few years back.

"Philippine Idol" has become exciting. I'm a fan of "American Idol" .

I'm Oprah Winfrey's fan.

I love watching movies.

My note: You totally surprised me here. All this while I thought you didn't have time for TV. But you even have the actors' names spot on.

Bonus question: Who's a bigger clown? Mike or Kit Tatad?

No comparison naman. As I said, it's an insult to the clowns to describe Mike Arroyo as one.

Thanks to Ellen.

Tags: Ellen+Tordesillas, Philippines, Malacanang, Mike+Arroyo, GMA, Sarah+Geronimo, Jericho+Rosales, Oprah+Winfrey, Kit+Tatad