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By Noreen Sy (freshmen from a from prestigious Catholic school in Mendiola, twilight fan, and Juan Directioner forever!)
College life is such a culture shock for me, as I start my first year in a prestigous school located in the city of Manila. It is also my first time to pass by this city, and indeed this is different from where I grew up like Makati and Bonifacio Global City. Back in high school and the early years, I got used with having mom or dad driving me to school or probably once I also experienced "serbis" or school bus (well it does not look like a bus because its just a delivery van with the black and yellow and the name of my school and sometimes "manong" would also include passengers from other schools but its ok).
After graduating high school, my parents told me that I need to explore the world more. Which I am willing to do since I am coming of age. I should learn to know more about the city more than Bonifacio High Street and Serendra. They told me that experiencing the world by my own will be my best teacher. The experiences I will encounter will be much better than our trips to Disneyland and Universal Studios.
And though on the first week in college which is situated in a street called Mendiola, my dad usually drives me to school but later told me that I have to learn to get home commuting.
Commuting. Its a new experience.
This would be such a enriching lesson to be streetsmart. And one Friday, Dad told me that he won't pick me up so I would learn to commute. He does not worry because he knew I will come home with my friend and neighbor, Federick. He is really cute, he brings me flowers almost everyday for the past months, and he helps me in my chores. He also gives me gifts and listen to my rants in life. He is indeed my Best Friend Forever. Though I wonder why when I told him " You're the best guy friend a woman could ever have and I want to stay this way forever!", he became sad, I guess might have some serious illness which would kill him soon. Please heaven forbid no! He is my Best Friend Forever and ever!
Fred (short for Frederick) is also taking the same course as I am, and after class we walked the sidewalk which showed me a different and colorful world. There were a lot of people in the street. It looked so lawless as people crossed the street and not on pedestrian lanes. The sidewalk also revealed to me a street market with fans, bags, street food, and even prayer books calling out the name of Saint Jude. It was Thursday then, and I was told that there is Novena at the Shrine a few hundred meters away from school.
The Mendiola street looks like a warzone with a lot of people, jeepneys, and double parked vehicles. It was chaos in harmony, and it was indeed an eye opener. And as we reached the corner where there was also a ruckus of all kinds of vehicles. And the sea of people swarming over them. Then it started to rain, luckily Fred had an umbrella handy. We shared the shield from the intensifying rain. To make sure I don't get wet, he wrapped his arms around me and whispered "I Love You", then I replied "I Love You too friend, I wish you good health I want us to stay friends until eternity," and he was stung by my statement, I think he knew that I know about his condition.
He then called out a Bus with the name G Liner filled with graffiti on the side. And the bus was already full, but a man came out, which I think was the bus aide, he then shouted "TAYTAY TAYTAY! PASOK NA!" which shocked me at first but when Fred is bringing me closer to the bus, I went with the flow (of people) who was swarming to get inside the already filled bus. I was getting crushed while boarding but still a great friend indeed, Fred held me close so I won't be harmed.
The bus looked very different from that ones I boarded before. I only rode the bus two times, one in HongKong and the other in New York both for our vacations. This will be my third time but make me excited what is in store for me. I saw a TV playing low quality DVD copies of movies that just recently released, It was Magic Mike. Channing Tatum is my ultimate celeb crush and I have not seen the movie yet, but I am seeing this now for free!
Even though, the bus is so packed with students, workers, and probably farmers (beacuse of their outfit), a guy offered me his seat by he window which I accepted. It was such chivalry just like Fred would do for me. He is also cute by the way like Fred, I think I may also find love here.
As the bus moves a centimeter per minute, and the rain gets heavier, I tried to look and observe the people in the bus. Such diversity I discovered in here, from students, to senior citizens, to farmers, and office workers. I also kept an open ear with the things they are saying.
"Para po."
"Bayad ho."
"Senior."
"Estudyante."
New Language
When I heard these lines, I was amazed. These words were very new to me. Fred said he would take care of the fare. I watched him to observe what will I do in the future, "Sa Sogo po, sa V. Mapa, dalawa, estudyante" he said. The bus conductor gave a smile and Fred then handed the money to the him and traded with tickets. He had probably hundreds of tickets on his hand like it grew out of his arm.
The journey was slow, but better than being out of the rain, plus I can also watch Magic Mike with the obscene parts shown without pixelation or censorship which everyone can see even children on the bus. But as more people get into the bus beyond its capacity, I can hardly see a glimpse of the screen, so I just looked out of the window.
Despite the falling rain, I could see the many sights of Manila City, the wet public with and without umbrellas, the unique architecture that is made from different materials, the endless number of hole-in-the-wall convenience stores and also flood... Oh no!
It was depressing to see the flood waters getting higher, I feel so tired even just sitting for about an hour now. With each scene I see on the street, I had a lot realizations. I felt I attained Nirvana despite my predicament. As the bus moves slowly, it also becomes less crowded with people getting off the bus wherever they decide, everywhere is a bus stop. At some point, Fred was able to sit beside me telling me that we are near our stop but sadly the cute gentleman also left too, looks like love got off.
It was still a struggle to get off the crowded bus, but still in my nirvana stage, I patiently and carefully tried to get out of the bus. Which made me realize a lot of things in life. Funny that I have learned so much in life by riding a G Liner Bus, it made me realize many things like life is better with a best friend beside you, and also get discounted fare when saying the magic promo code "estudyante".
We got off to what he told the conductor, it was near the Sogo hotel. As we got off, and the bus rolled to its destination, I looked to Fred in the eye and said, "Now, where will we go?". He smiled and taking my hand he led me to the gate with a guard waiting and said "Good Afternoon, welcome to LRT 2"
Wow! Another adventure, this time by train!
Another year of the most watched event of the UAAP! Here is my take on the recetly concluded UAAP Cheerdance Competition!.JPG)