I started writing when I was 8. My mom got me a journal where I could rant (prob so I won't be an annoying brat). I stopped writing for 8 years until the pen and then later on the keyboard called on me again. I blog because I like writing and that's just about it. Hope you get inspired though... Bite the apple!
When I was a child, my siblings would bring me with them to school. Both were enrolled in engineering courses at De La Salle University and were active in their organizations. I'd go with them to ensure they went home early (haha).
The flour game
I remember one visit so well. My sister had an org activity at the College Canteen. What I remember most from that day was a game where they had to find coins hidden in a pan full of flour. Ate explained that they disinfected the coins since the players had to find it with their mouth. It left a lasting impression on me and I had no doubt I'd eventually study at La Salle.
c1996 (?) Me and Tappy in the CR, haha
True enough, I eventually walked the same halls and ate at the College Canteen, ten years later. By this time both my siblings were already professionals and had their own families. Everything still looked the same by then, but eventually new buildings were built and the College Canteen was painted.
2011
The last time I visited a few years ago, I barely recognized some areas of the campus. The College Canteen was gone and the library moved to a new building. I'm sure a lot more changes have been made in the past few years.
My Dad graduated in Ateneo. He was very much loyal to his Alma Mater since he was also it's basketball superstar in high school (he also played in the college team even when he was still in high school).
Of course, he very much wanted all of us to study at the Ateneo, but our home was more than 20 kilometers away from Katipunan. Staying at a dorm was out of the question.
I asked my Dad once why we all ended up studying at DLSU. He also vetoed any request to study at UP. It wasn't only the proximity he said and told me it was Fr. Towers who advised them to send us to DLSU. Yes, Fr. Towers, the Jesuit priest who presided over my parents' wedding.
It was a practical advise since my Mom used to work at the HQ of PNB when it was still in Binondo. We all went to elementary and high school in Manila, so it wasn't a huge adjustment for us. Father Towers also said we'd be able to continue to have a Catholic education.
Ah, all's well that ends well. I ended up marrying an Atenean. Dad approved 🤗
Last year when I was visiting my alma mater I ended up joining a meeting via Google Hangout. My colleagues noticed that I was in a different location and asked where I was. I told them I was in my alma mater, seated under a tree.
After I finished my call I just sat there for awhile reminiscing. The campus looks so different now. The simple entrance (South Gate) we had when I was a student now has a huge lobby and a statue of St. La Salle. We used to flash our IDs back then to the guard, the student IDs now they just scan. They also have a body scanner now.
I usually enter through South Gate and walk through the La Salle building. I usually peer inside the "cafeteria" which we used to call "Aristo". I told hubby it used to be full of yummy, oil-filled, unhealthy food. They cleaned up the place and they offer healthier food now (whyyyy???). The first floor of the La Salle building hallway still looks the same. The walls are lined up with photos of graduates from the many decades ago. I remember finding my brother and sister's photo before, but I don't remember now which building it's on.
La Salle building hallway, 2019.
I had a lot of my classes in the main building throughout my undergraduate and grad school years. They have upgraded the classrooms and I know they completely changed one of the cases rooms (it now has Google technology in it hehe). The amphitheater area is still the same, what's different is that huge building beside it and the SPS building. That huge building now used to be the gym. The bookstore which used to be inside of the SPS building has been relocated to the big building. I still saw the cashier back in 2018, but she wasn't around anymore last year.
My thesismate, Jingo.
The chess plaza... I'm not sure if they still call it the chess plaza. The SJ walk which was known as the tambayan of the sushals is still there, but it feels so much different now. The field is gone and on it is a huge building where they host a lot of events. There's also a large open area for activities.
This is how it looks now. Miguel building seems so far away now from South Gate. I used to speed through the campus to get to my class. Now it takes 30 minutes for me to get there haha.
The biggest change for me is the College Canteen. It's gone! Well not technically. The canteen is still there, but in a very different format. My favorite spaketsup is gone forever. Gone are the many, many tables that lined up the canteen. That place was special to me because my Ate and Kuya used to bring me to La Salle when they had activities during weekends when they were a student. I always knew I would end up studying there when I grew up.
Last photo in 2011 at the College Canteen before it was demolished.
I was so happy that day under the tree. Hopefully this year I get to visit again.
Last Saturday I was once again forced to wake up early since we had to attend a parent-teacher forum at Miguel's school (which is also my alma mater). Anyway, after attending the forum Sweetie and I had to wait for Miguel to finish a meeting so I got the chance to take some photos of my favorite spots in campus.
The college canteen.
My favorite spot at the college canteen. I used to hang-out here every morning to eat spaketchup for breakfast.
Eventually when I joined the Malate Literary Folio I hung-out at the publications office, so I always passed the bookstore everyday. The cashier during my time is still the same cashier. She still ecognizes me sometimes.
This is behind the SPS building (Bro. Connon Hall). It wasn't there before, but I always passed by this area everyday.
The DLSU Chapel, a sanctuary for me.
This building wasn't around yet before. This was where the college gym was located.
St. La Salle Building. I used to have a lot of classes here. Also had some classes here when I was taking my MBA. One fond memory during course card distribution day was Rico Yan excitedly telling me that he was set to graduate already. He was inviting me to join him for lunch at the faculty room because he was bringing KFC fried chicken. That was the last time I saw him alive :(
Time flies so fast and now my kid's enrolled in the same school where I got my degrees. I'm getting old! Oh noes!
How time flies! Twenty five years ago I remember helicopters flying over our house every so often. Classes were suspended so I was just home listening to/reading the news and learning how to ride a bicycle. My Kuya went to EDSA and being only ten years old I had to stay put at home. One of our assignments was to put together a scrapbook of news clippings and put reactions about it. I hope I'd be able to find it somewhere. It would be interesting to see what I had to say about what was happening back then.
Wow! So much has happened in the past twenty-five years! Mabilis nga ang buhay! The past two weeks passed like a blur. I was so busy toiling. Working on things I hope would help many people. And I hope, like my Dad, that's something I'd be able to accomplish in my lifetime. I have bottomless optimism, so abangan.
It's also been an exhausting month for me, but I completely forgot about it when Miguel presented me this -
I had to dig around to find out what it really means and I found out from my thesismate in DLSU (who now handles their MCO) that the lanyard set was sent to "top passers" across all colleges. Awesome! Congratulations to my all-around, great-genius kid!
I did not realize it's been 4 days since I last made a post. I did not go on vacation, I was actually just home but was very busy working and taking care of other stuff during the holidays (what holiday? meron ba? LOL).
I attended two reunions though over the weekend (oh and another one last Tuesday night) and it's really funny how the same topics seem to be discussed in any type of reunion -
Topic #1 - "Uy antaba mo ngayon ah!" Yeah, weight is ALWAYS the first ice breaker in any reunion. Good thing my college friends did not realize that I actually gained 25 lbs. since I graduated.
Last time I saw most of these guys was ten years ago, most were at least 20 lbs. lighter then.
Topic #2 - "Bakit di ka pa kasal? Ano nangyari?" my Tita asked in a her malumanay voice. Arggghhh! And then my Dad quipped, "Napag-iwanan na yan ng panahon!" And for that my Dad got a huge kurot from me. I am the youngest in both sides of our clan and one of the two who are unmarried. My cousin though is in her late 30s and they've designated her to be the generation's spinster (we always have one).
On the other hand, among my college buddies, those who got married already are those who we never expected to marry and these were the guys who did not even have girlfriends back in college! At least there were no questions on, "Bakit di ka pa kasal?"
Instant family reunion after visiting the cemetery.
Topic #3 - The latest apo. The "elders" couldn't stop bragging about their grandchildren. My favorite tito won the payabangan contest this time because my cousin Tina just gave birth two months ago. I think my Dad was quite scared to quip about having a new grandchild, baka kasi umayon ako at last eh. LOL.
My Dad making pa-cute!
My college friends are starting to have kids as well. Ako naman ang pwede na gumimik ngayon! Ha-ha! The disadvantage though of having friends with kids is a longer Christmas list, but that's okay, basta girl because I love shopping for baby dresses.
Topic #4 - Trip down on memory lane. Funny antics from way back. Who's changed their sexual orientation. Who broke up with who. Scandalous old tsismis. And one thing that you should bring during reunions are old photos. My gawd! I couldn't imagine myself 25 lbs. lighter with an 18-inch waist line. Funny though how the most un-sentimental person was the one who actually had an album.
I almost fainted when Sweetie saw my old college photos! I had braces then!
OMG... me in braces! And really, really short hair!
Topic #5 - The SO interrogation. Good thing my relatives and friends are nice during first meetings. Patay si Sweetie sa sunod na meet-up. (Don't worry I won't tell you're from the other side of the fence. LOL. Lagot ako sa reunion niyo!). My cousin though was already starting to ask questions, "One year na ba kayo niyan?" I had ammunition though and asked her about her SO and where he was. Hihihi.
Ang serious naman ni Sweetie.
Ayan happy na siya... natawa sa itsura ko kasi noon... LOL.
Oh well, I guess that's how reunions usually go. Do you normally experience the same thing when attending reunions?
Oh, and don't laugh... both reunions were held at Max's Restaurant on different locations.
I've been listening to Christmas songs the past few weeks and here's my supposedly Sunday video (I got buried under clothes last night so I wasn't able to post it).
Translations: meron ba? - was there one? Uy antaba mo ngayon ah - Hey! You've grown fat! Bakit di ka pa kasal? Ano nangyari? - Why aren't you married yet? What happened? malumanay - soft voice kurot - pinch apo - grandchild payabangan - bragging tsismis - gossip baka kasi umayon ako at last eh - I might give a positive answer at last Ako naman ang pwede na gumimik ngayon! - I can go to gimmicks now! Patay si Sweetie sa sunod na meet-up. - Sweetie will be creamed in the next meet-up. Lagot ako sa reunion niyo! - I'll be creamed in your reunion! One year na ba kayo niyan? - Have you been together for a year already?
Photo Credits College friends by Brian Vallesteros and Kiko Enrile clan by Sweetie
But, La Salle Green! Oh yeah! This post goes to all Green Archers! De La Salle Philippines has launched it's new website where you can interact with fellow alumni or even current students! Makihalubilo through the forums, find old friends through the directory. What I'm looking forward to seeing is the blog section. Oh! Register and get a free delasalle.ph email as well (I wonder who's sponsoring it? Hihihihi).
And DLSP also launched the One La Salle fund campaign... DLSP is targeting 100,000 alumni to help "broaden access to quality education to 18,000 futures". So it's time to give back friends! You will not be where you are today without the education you got from DLSU (or any De La Salle school). Donate today! (Even non-La Sallians are welcome to donate!).
