the day I Captured Nemo

The three things I remember from the movie FINDING NEMO:

1. We live our lives as if we only got two options: We either stay in a comfortable zone where it is obviously safer or take the risk to go out where there is adventure. Most of the time for most of us, we choose the power to go out and tend to show everyone how brave we are.

Marlin: Nemo! You’re gonna get stuck out there and I’ll have to go get you before another fish does. Get back here! Get back here now! Stop! You make one more move, mister…

[Nemo lifts his fin]
Marlin : Don’t you lay a fin on that boat! Don’t you dare touch that boat! Don’t you…
[Nemo touches the boat]
Marlin : Nemo! 

2. Life, in one thing or another, never fails to surprise us with a lot of challenge. We have so many things to learn in order to survive and we can learn most of these as we venture. The movie said; when things get tough just keep on swimming. We are all like little nemo (perhaps big daddy Marlin) in this big wide world, it is indeed scary meeting different creatures along the way (mean creatures) We should not allow fear to stop us. We should never give up when life becomes scary.  
There will come a time we needed to go out, no matter how we resist not to (for those who preferred to stay in their comfort zone) Get motivated and be inspired by people around you to get life going.

Dory: Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you've gotta do?
Marlin: No I don't wanna know.
Dory: [singing] Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim. 

3. Our parents love us no matter how hard headed we are. 

Marlin:There, there, there. It's ok, Daddy's here, daddy's got you. I promise I will never let anything happen to you...Nemo. 

The movie showed the father’s fear for the safety of his children. Every family member I think has an instinct to provide and protect each other. We should not take this for granted. Don’t put yourself in so much trouble just because life is an adventure and because you know your family will protect you in the end. Just imagine the pain and the risk it will bring them. 
In addition, there are those who became rebel because they failed to realize that overly protective parent have no intention other than the safety of their children.

One thing I also noticed: 

We are sometimes like Marlin. We refuse to be challenged. Despite the lessons we learned from the past, we tend to be reluctant to face another that gets our way.  But lessons are nothing if we can't apply them in our real lives. knowing a thing is way different than doing it.

But here is my own version of finding Nemo adventure… 
(Traveling back in time years ago)

I found myself shouting “nemo!!!!... Nemo!!!!... Where are you my dear nemo?!?” *very desperate under the heat of the sun along the intertidal zone of Taklong Island* 
From time to time, a teenage boy named “Tata stephen” the young bankero to whom I trusted my life with while I'm in that island would say “Palitan mo na kasi ang study mo Nang, mas madaming Sea urchins... Sea stars...blah blah blah”. A brilliant suggestion. True. Finding nemo wasn’t easy. It’s like a “search for a one peso coin… a coin at the bottom of the not-so-deep intertidal zone”. 

 

At times, I agreed with Tata and was tempted to propose another topic for my special study. But I did not, because I was told by my adviser after my preliminary sampling “that’s a good sign Tim, I’m happy with the progress” after I told  him  I have seen only one clownfish… I’ve seen one little tiny clown fish after a day of boating/ a little diving/snorkeling around the Island.What a progressed!

 My special study  entitled “The species, composition, distribution and abundance of Clownfish along the Intertidal Zone of Taklong Island and Vicinity, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras" brought me to Taklong that year. Studying a community structure of a certain species back then was easy, to find nemo wasn't.

It wasn’t that fun but full of adventure. Aside from the main search was the threat of meeting Mr. Coral snake. We actually met one time and it was the funniest day I had in that Island. I hurriedly jumped back to the boat as fast as I can because of panic. I still can't imagine myself. I’m sorry for not presenting my self well, mister!

On our way to Taklong Island

 Motivated by the words “good sign and progress” *so sweet*, we made a lot of a total census until finally found them. And lucky enough to found just exactly like this one (I’m using a cheap, not to mention plastic made, underwater camera of avon [toinks!] so I never got a good picture for my own, sucks!):

So adorable! Mama Clownfish, Papa Clownfish, and Baby clownfish…isn’t a perfect picture of a family?

I captured one of the three, went back to UPV marine station with the rest of the Amphiprions that I got that day then had it measured and documented. While doing the record, I thought of the nemo I separated from its family. I felt guilty and felt sad for the two I left in the field. 

A lot of people were separated from their families for unwarranted reason. Like the nemo family, they were there living in harmony when I found them. They’ve done no harm to me but I disturbed their sanctuary.

I thought of the other two: What if they’ll transfer to another anemone because I already scared them. What if one of them gets their way to look after the one I captured? Not so realistic but well… I rushed myself to finish my documentations and headed my way to the field so I can bring the Amphiprions back to where exactly I got them. Losing a close family member is a truly devastating experience for most of us. I don't want to be the kind of person behind a tragic story.

I also realized the importance of spending quality time with family--to cherished each moment with them. Life, again and again, is full of surprises. We can never tell how precious a person is to us until gone. We don't have to wait for that moment. Most of the time, losing someone special to us is something beyond our control. So we really have to exert effort to make good memories with them.

Honestly, I have a lot of catching-ups and connecting to do here...

By the way, My Study was a success.  Thanks God.

Too Much

The colors we choose make statements about our personality. Colors represent what we feel. We wear bright colors when we are happy, we wear dark when we express grief, traditional wedding gowns are white because it signifies purity. It is as if by wearing colors we blend in and by blending in we feel we found a place for ourselves.

Color	Meaning
RED	warmth,love,anger,danger,boldness,excitement,speed,strength,energy,determination, desire,courage
ORANGE	cheerfulness,affordability,enthusiasm,stimulation creativity,aggression
YELLOW	attention-grabbing,comfort,liveliness,cowardliness,hunger,optimism,overwhelm, intellect
GREEN	durability,reliability,environmental,luxurious,optimism,well-being,nature,calm, relaxation,safety,honesty,optimism,harmony,freshness
BLUE	peace,professionalism,loyalty,reliability,honor,melancholia,boredom,coldness,depth, stability,professionalism, honor,trust
PURPLE	power,royalty,nobility,elegance,sophistication,artificial,luxury, mystery royalty, elegance,magic
GRAY	conservatism, traditionalism, intelligence, serious, dull, uninteresting
BROWN	relaxing,confident,casual,reassuring,nature,earthy,solid,reliable,genuine,endurance
BLACK	authoritative,powerful,Elegance,sophistication,formality,strength,depression,
WHITE	Cleanliness, purity, newness, virginity, peace, innocence, simplicity, sterility

http://changingminds.org

Colors are also said to influence our emotions, affect our mood, our actions and how we respond to various people. I should have leave my room made of palochina woods to influence my everyday life with its natural scent and fresh color. Stay simple. But it seems that apart from the individual colors we appreciate comes a notion that a monochromatic world makes no difference  to a boring world. 

Lifeless. 

 

I wanted a life and I wanted something that I could present to the world. I agreed to paint the room with different colors. Everything I actually did was an attempt to be happy...to be happier.

Remembering the day I (we) painted my (our) room with colours.

We colored the ceiling with green which signifies peace, the ideal real-world, it is said to offer some sense of renewal and self-control. We lined the room with purple which is calming to minds. We painted the wall with brown which says stability, reliability, and approachability. Part of the wall was painted with pink which is young in the hope it can bring us fun and excitement. 

We painted the room with colors that represent all the things we desire.

We painted the whole room like the way we wanted to add color to our relationship. Just like that, we failed to appreciate what we got because we occupied ourselves in wanting MORE. We kept ourselves busy by searching for greater things until we lost the great ones that we already had. 

It's not lifeless at all. It's the mere fact that we are not satisfied with what we got. As today’s trend in life is discontentment, we are inclined to want MORE…MORE…and MORE.

That Palochina woods were supposed to remind us the beauty of simplicity... until such time... we realized we can make it better (not a bad intention actually).  We went through a lot of cravings--searching--demanding--before we knew it, everything was gone.

I thought painting the room with different colors could change the people inside--us to become better. I thought painting the wall could add colors to our life as well. I was wrong.

 “We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

The trick is to simplify our life—to appreciate what we got. Let the colors bloom itself, don't dictate the destiny on what kind of color to apply in your life. Don't make life complicated by overlooking simple things.

Time travel: The Search for FUNGI at Negros Occidental

Negros Occidental, the Philippine’s major sugar producer is not all about sugar canes. Being the one who wanted to travel the world but has the desire to explore her own country first, Negros Island/Bacolod City is on my list. I heard a lot of good stuffs. (The truth is) I simply wanted to see a real land of sugar canes. Unfortunately, the first time I set my foot in that land was not for an adventurous nature trip but it turned out like one. We were there to collect FUNGI. Yes! FUNGI. 

Mycology class (2003-XXXXX)

Division of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines

Looking wasted...Why? because I was so excited that I  had fallen to sleep only an hour before the trip (it was my first time to travel to Negros Island). My friends had a hard time waking me up that morning...so i have to got up from bed, changed clothes, grabbed my bag and ran ourselves to the Ilo-ilo pier to catch a scheduled trip going to Bacolod City (no bathroom rituals) whew!

Who cares about an old man driving an old and worn out non-air-conditioned mini bus on a rough  and uphill road when you got a fascinating scenes along the way. That adds a travel worth remembering…a very usual experience when you travel to provinces where transportation is quite a problem. At first, I doubted if we can reach our destination (we did though). So there goes an adventure from Bacolod City to Negros Occidental—having a trip with a potential danger. 

Scenes along our way to Guintubdan Mountain Resort

Negros Occidental is a very old place—aside from the rough roads are the well-reserved Hispanic and ancestral houses, old churches, old buildings that echo the lifestyle of people century ago. Too bad we never had the chance to visit each place because and again we have a lot of fungi to collect.

A Perfect destination for nature enthusiasts: 

Location: Sitio Guintubdan, Bgy. Ara-al, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental

A tropical hideaway beneath a canopy of forest where you can enjoy the cold weather, fresh air, springs, waterfalls, giant trees, ferns, among others.

over night stay at Guintubdan resort with the rest of the class

We also visited The Quiet Place Farm Resort...

The Quiet Place Farm Resort,an agricultural estate in Bago City

For our eyes only:

• Mini gym and covered court
• boating on the lake
• biking through the paved path walks

Because the reasons why we visit Quiet place Farm resort was to collect samples of FUNGI. The place is where Ganoderma Lucidum is cultured owned by one of the UP Alumnus. 

We actually experienced to walk-through in a forest of tropical tree, passed by rice fields, passed through the rows of banana trees, we enjoyed garden filled with tropical blooms while collecting samples.

It was fun... 

Time travel: The Teddy bear I used to hurt

My childhood dreams...

When I grew up, I wanted a curly hair like that of “Goldilocks”.

When I grew up, I wanted to become a mermaid and swim the abyss of ocean.

When I grew up, I wanted to own a tree house.

When I grew up, I wanted to live the life of “Richie rich”

When I grew up, I wanted to write and draw as good as my sister. 

When I grew up, I wanted to become strong so I can lift the iron stand and also help my mother with other household chores.

and so on...

But there are two dreams that remain …

When I grew up, I wanted to travel the world.

When I grew up, I wanted to become Doctor Tim. 

I wanted to travel the world.

I can still remember that most of my elementary teachers used to ask us "What do you want to be when you grow up?" or “list the five things you wanted to do when you grow up”. Back then, I always knew what to write. Number one would always be “I want to travel the world” although I can’t stand to ride a jeepney back then because of motion sickness. I remember I even told my mother I wanted to go to Manila, but in one condition. I don’t want a ride. We will just walk! Crazy! Thanks God, motion sickness was long gone to me.

I wanted become a Doctor.

My 20-year old Teddy Bear, my mom got this as her award for being the "dealer of the month" of Tupperware

As I child, jobs such as doctors, lawyers, teachers and engineers are the professions to enter into minds so I've chosen to become a doctor. Mind set. I was also influenced by my mother who works in a district hospital as a nursing attendant. On some afternoons, since the hospital was just a walk away from our home, I was sometimes asked to bring her a dinner. I knew from those afternoons (of inhaling disinfectant, of listening to people cough and children cry, of seeing nurses on station preparing medicine for admitted patients) someday I’ll work as a medical practitioner too.

I’m sorry teddy for doing those to you.

My teddy bear became my first patient at home. I used to make a little cut in its forehead and back then pour in red ink (still stained until now). When the cut appears to be like of a real bloody wound I’ll stitch them using a sewing needle and thread. I sometimes apply lotion and creams too or apply Betadine solution.

I’m a grown up now. I went to medical school after I graduated college but it turns out, it’s not easy. I lose courage. I doubted myself as I study. The more I read, the more I feel I am not geared up.  I was hesitant if I could function effectively in life-and-death situations. I was in doubt if I can handle the responsibility of saving lives.

Little by little I was discouraged by my own fear. My mind burnt out.I became exhausted.

But then again, I knew my dreams. All I really need right now is to gain courage and be back in field.

Time Travel: Let there be light

Back in college, I was told that a fraternity member has a greater chance to get a high-paying job (so easily) than an"independent". Being a member is a “plus factor” on your resume because a lot of employers and successful man in town will soon become your brother and sister thus a greater chance to be employed. All you need is the skill to choose which fraternity to join in—the main denominator would always be “common interest”.  Choose a fraternity whose majority of the member shares a common interest with you.

I was never convinced.  How could that possibly be?  The media emphasized frat tradition in general—hazing, public humiliations, and a lot of tricks—which they rather refer as disciplinary actions to test the determination of an aspiring member. They have the most painful way to screen applicants. They perform the most risky way of training the member on how to value the brotherhood. To “be one of them” is a risk of life. Why should I join if I can be a woman of success without undergoing painful processes?  I was rather challenged to become the “independent”—because I simply don't need them.

So I swore not to join. Besides, I was never the kind of a “sis material”—a soon-to-be member connotes being popular, dynamic, and sociable. They have certain qualities I never had. Thus, I was never invited.

To make the story short, I wasn’t completely right. I was in a graduate school when I appreciate the life of a Frat-Man after I attended orientation program. Being a frat man wasn’t perfect, it has its own flaws but fraternity is not like what the media have shown the public.

Let me tell you…

The first four is about the obvious “Instant-all-you-got”

1.   Instant companions. It is quite an obvious fact that you will be provided with this kind of opportunity. “feeling-close system”—it will always appear that you have known each other for a long time despite the fact that you only met a minute ago. To become comfortable with people you have met for the first time is a great experience.

An hour after I survived :)

2.   Instant social life (expect get together, road trips, parties and a lot more). Life become social in nature, but that does not only imply drink and party alone. Everything serves a purpose.  Being social means allowing you to meet new people—a healthy way to live your life. A chance to get out from your comfort zone. 

3.   Instant popularity (the moment they’ll find out everyone will be asking you of HOW?!? WHY?!? WHEN?!? WHAT?!?) 

4.   Instant activities. Fraternities are customarily engaged in community services which is truly a noble thing to do. 

5.   The feeling that “I am being protected”. You will gain more confident because you know someone is there for you, someone will protect you, and most of all someone will support you no matter how crazy you are. Of course this comes with a consequence, frat will protect you in troubles but the moment they’ll find out it’s your fault then you’ll be subjected to a well-deserve disciplinary action. Why? because a brotherhood means helping you to become a better person.

Back off! I have brothers to protect me.. hehe

6.   A learning process is available. You will learn a lot inside the circle. Learning process doesn’t end up the moment you survived and the time you became an official member. Learning is spontaneous. A fraternity circle is like a little world. You’ll meet a lot of members from different walks of life and you will learn how to deal with them. It’s a must. Fraternity have policies and procedures to follow—living in a small world that prepares you to face   the great and real world. 

7.   A chance to excel. Yes. This is true. brotherhood stresses excellent because they have expectations for members. And the mere fact that you desire to become the fraternity’s asset is a good motivation to excel because you know someone is going to be proud of you aside from your biological family. 

8.   You will become a leader. Leadership is not an opportunity but an obligation. It is something that is readily available to all the members. Each member has equal chance to assume a role.

9.   You will learn how to work/interact well with others. This is possible while planning/organizing one of the events. To be inside a fraternity circle is a good practice on how to deal with other people.
 

10.  Experience a “home away from home” environment. Fraternity is not about friendship. It is more of a family. When you argue with members, you are obliged to compromise. The men and women you’ll be calling sis and brods will be the ones to provide guidance when you are struggling. Believe me, there will always be someone who will sacrifice their time just to be with you even in the middle of night especially when you are in trouble. There will be someone who will take care of you, someone who will open door of their houses for you. This common bond will be with you for your life.

Anyways, be responsible enough. Don't join just to show-off with friends and become popular. To become a member is a lifetime responsibility.

thanks for the warm welcome... got this roses from brods and sisses the day after I became a member.. feeling so wasted...

Time travel: The Crêpe I made in Boracay Island

 

I nearly forgot the name of the french restaurant I've visited back in 2009 somewhere along the beach front of Boracay Island. Prior to this, I have to search on-line, typed in "Crepe at boracay" knowing it serves crepes.

And so I remember Ti Braz, thanks to Google search engine for reminding me of my failing memory. I was actually there to pay my friend a visit, not to eat. Its not the usual food that could satisfy my hungry stomach and its not even the kind of place I'll hang out at.

The demonstration of this and that

Can I write something like "when the cat is away, the mouse will play"? I wrote it anyway.

Since her boss was out during my visit, no one reminded us that visitors are not allowed during working hours. There goes my friend, a very typical employee together with her very typical friend (that's me tolerated her).  Why so typical? A lot of employees are halfhearted nowadays, they only do good at work when someone is supervising. When there is none, they forget rules. "That is a typical employee is all about and a typical friend says this-->" Good thing I'm just a friend trying to have fun--I'm a little conscience free.

So....as I was really tempted to help her because she seemed to be having fun while working, she allowed me to enter to their "employee only" zone. She taught me and had given me one good chance to make my own yummy crepe free of charge *wink-wink*. Such a perfect treat, isn't it? :)

This is not my ordinary Pancake

Mango Crêpe with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce on Top

 I made one for myself (with a lot of help of course, my friend did the final touch) I only had the crepe done by spreading the prepared mixture onto a flat circular hot plate using a spatula. The making wasn't easy, I think it requires experience and skills (a lot of it) The idea is to distribute the mixture evenly until a very thin cake is achieve without tearing them off. The one I made wasn't perfect, what do you expect for a first timer?!? (now I'm being defensive for not making it right).

More than having a free mango crepe? It was really the the preparation that made it special. 

Operation Big Brother...

I can’t remember her name, how old she was that time, where exactly we’ve met but I remember her smile and I remember this was from her:

A fancy wristband I found inside my closet, maybe once the most precious wristlet for her but will forever be precious to me. Fancy it may look around her little wrist but the moment she transferred the bond to mine it became special that brought unsurpassed emotion. A gift made of sincerity and valued with sentiment. 

It was her pure heart who gave me the bond. I remember her saying “Don’t throw this away when you step out from this orphanage; promise me to keep this for this rubber band means a lot to me”. I was wordless that moment, bowled over to say the word “thank you”.  She spoke like it was the most expensive gift a child could offer.

It is a tradition of The Beta Sigma Fraternity and Ladies Corps to conduct “Operation Big Brother”  every December with its purpose not just to show people the good side of being a frat man but also to extend hands free of will—gift giving, foods, games-- just to make the orphans happy. That was the only OBB I attended.

The whole body agreed to visit “Kanlungan sa ER-MA Ministry Inc.” on 2008 somewhere in Laguna. I was hesitant to join the programme with a thought that it would just make sad children sadder by slapping them with a reality that they’re just an orphan contented with a small visit. I was wrong. 

Each kid has their own way to make themselves passionate to us. They never showed discontentment in life. I never heard them talking that they were abandoned by families, rejected by people, left behind by lifestyle.

They possess the power to make simple things priceless as simple as it seems. They can touch heart without knowing how and free from intention of changing one’s life. Life has not to be perfect to be wonderful.

They may be sad but they lift their own spirits not to be doomed in sadness. Inspiring isn’t it?  

At first, I thought that maybe these kids were just overwhelmed by the presents and the foods we prepared. But they weren’t. They were more interested to hear from us… of how good life is outside the orphanage… of how lucky we are with our lives. They were more excited to show to us what they’ve prepared. 

At the end, we we’re the one who was entertained. We were there to extend our hands, we never thought of those children can offer us more than we could.

Some other organizations were still on the list waiting for their turn to visit while we were there; scheduled with only limited time. The long list made me realized that at the end of our visit there will be another me to visit them, another us, and thousands of people like us that will make them forget about the moment we just have. 

I was wrong with that, again. I caught a young lady who wrote a letter to one of our co-member who was not able to come with us that year. So they can remember because they’re all real. That scene made me cry. I never thought they'll be that real, that they know how to cherish two-three hours of acquaintance.

The Kids have known Beta Sigma for quite some time, this visit was already anticipated and some of them were expecting for the same smile they’ve seen a year ago.

That instant, I thought not of the band around my wrist but the little hand that put them in. I was lucky to meet a child whose innocence touches my existence. 

U.P. Miag-ao

My memories flashing back since an old man grabbed my bag without my permission. I stayed calm even though he ran as fast as he can while I’m still paying for my cab. How I miss sweet moment like that where I don’t have to worry that a stranger will took advantage of me “Sa pula nga jeep ma’am, saka na to a” said him as he catches his breathe while pointing at the red jeepney that is about to leave going to Miag-ao. Indeed, I am going to visit Miag-ao once again. It’s been three years but it feels like yesterday.

Some remains the same. Passengers still complains on how fast the driver runs his jeep and how people puckered their brows every time there is new passengers even there seem to be no more seats for another. And it still surprised me on how wise they can always be to find one after all. Amazingly, each long seat designed for 8 people can actually occupy 10 or more. It’s funny that 7 years ago, I hated this kind of “Miag-ao jeep” scenario and now I actually love it.

I told the driver to drop me by the UPV Executive House. I should have said Barangay Mat-y so I can arrive at La Hacienda de Gwapa, officially known as Natonio’s Ladies Dormitory, as early as possible. During vacations or late afternoons, they don’t prioritize student thus they will go to the university after every one else’ places. I had chosen the longest route for me so I can still have a ride and can visit other Barangays again—we passed by places like Miag-ao Market, bay-bay Sur, gargarita, greenery Mart, Quezon, Noble beach, Ohms, Historical Church, Adoration Chapel where I spent my 15 mins everyday except for Sundays. Every place remains exactly the same except of course for some new establishments that has risen up.

Miag-ao has been the best place ever. My only anxiety back then lies on how to pull up my failing grades and my main priority is on how to get out alive with a Diploma. My concern is the academe and luxuries don’t matter. Although I can’t deny the fact that I did live in a very comfortable way. I was provided with my needs and my wants. My life was simple; when I’m depressed all I have to do is go to the city and treat my self with a cup of a sundae J and I can’t live a day without a bar of tofi-luk and a bag of chocolate nips. Afternoons was never complete without a cup of nescafe® coffee with a friend. I am very contented with every thing life could offer me.

In fact, life at the University is not at all fun, but challenging. Failure is part of everyday activities coupled by an effort to make one self better the next time around. It is where I learned that rebellion after an encounter with disappointments can never solve a problem, and that you have to make something to survive. I always considered myself a mediocre—unlike others, I supposed, I always needed an extra time to study in order for me pass a 3.0 unit lecture or my 2.0 unit of a laboratory class. My time is scheduled and every moment counts or else I’ll be having collection of a Singko on my transcript (5.0)—failed grades. I am the kind of student who learned along the process and will definitely make sure I learned when the semester ends. I was awarded once with “Improvement Award by a P.E. instructor. Well that doesn’t mean everything but it actually describes my quality—always willing to learn. I always believed that I was there to study and I’m not there to improve on whatever I got because I got nothing anyway.

 But I am not a faultless mediocre, I had my flaws and at times I was discouraged by failures. And most of the time I was jealous with the group of scholars belonging on the same block because they don’t have problems in rearranging their schedule. They’re the regular students and they were the one graduated on time. The division designed an outline for them on what subjects to be taken on a given semester. I, on the other hand, can sometimes enter a class not of my block. I can be a classmate of Mathematics, Psychology, broadcast Communication, Public Health, Chemistry majors of different levels. Regular students only got 14.0 units full load during the last semester, while I wrote a letter to the college secretary to allow me to enrol a 22.0 over loaded units. There were times I applied as an assessor during enrolment, sort of a student assistant, just to have a priority slots on subjects. Simple problems need a simple solution. I trained myself not to complicate things.

Going back, I was having a second thought if I made the right decision or I should have taken the Mat-y side instead. I almost made a call to a friend to asked if there is still a way going to La Hacienda from the Executive house. The Villa standing at the back of it confused me. I thought I was lost but the stepping stones—the one I hated before because it is widely spaced that you have to make a hop and a leap to one after the other—are an assurance that I am actually on the right way (picture on the right side is the same old path walks, no villa yet). La hacienda remains the same, the people taking care is still here. I always considered this place my home away from home. And I can still the spirit of being at home.

The first thing I did: I hurriedly went upstairs and headed myself to the rooftop. My favourite part of the dormitory—the place where I studied my lessons morning or night, mingled with my dorm mates, drunk our beers, lit a cigar, star gazed and among others. Rooftop is a place full of happy and sad memories. It is where we party and is the only place wherein we were free to shout our lungs out every time we hated the university.

Every corner of the dormitory has a special memory to put in the picture. There is the fire exit we used to climbed, the Salas where we slept at each time we lost our key or left it inside our room, the comfort rooms full of reminders regarding hygiene, the banging of the doors that annoyed us, the TV area where we spent times watching dramas, the dining area where you can eat big breakfast for 13php and lunch for 18php, the computer room where I sometimes spent my weekends. While checking the place, I was touched by the pictures hanging on the wall at the TV area—it is our pictures taken during the first acquaintance party. We were actually the first batch of residents.

The residents were good and I enjoyed their companies although during my 3rd year I decided to be alone and live downstairs in one of the private rooms. Little by little I lost connections with friends and focused myself on academics. It’s not that I wanted to but it is more of a need to be more serious. For three years that I spent in this dormitory I had made special connections with care takers and residents. I love this place. I love my memories here.

TV area of Natonio's Dormitory (La hacienda de Gwapa)

Honestly though, I never imagined that I could be thankful that I been here. I thought I was in hell during those times.