by: Ms. Veronica Creer
I woke up at exactly 4:30 in the morning, ate a bit of bread and a sip of coffee, took a bath for almost half an hour, dressed up and finally gone to take my ride to my beloved University. Ang PUP. It took me two hours to reach the first block of the campus, sat on a hollowed bench near the entrance. The first day of isCOOLar hunting had started.
Upon glancing at my fellow PUPian, I’ve realized one single thing, “are they the definition of a NERDY STUDENT who would sit in the most corner of the room, reading something that nobody could wish to interrupt?” well, let’s find it out.
I’ve seen one group of students, sitting two seats away from me. I’ve heard laughter, so I decided to move next to them to be familiar with what the laughter all about. Different ideas are coming out, great ideas in fact, great jokes as well. Once, I’ve heard them laugh at this one funny “banat” from a cute girl. GIRL: alam mo para kang PRINTER . . . the whole group was like. “huh?” GIRL: ang SLOOOOOOW!! *dead air* abruptly, they all laugh like hell.
I confess, even I had a great time listening at them. I just found myself laughing with them like a ghost, wordlessly, as if I was part of the group even in a solitary moment. However, this was just a sort of realization and a piece of reminder for me that these Iskolars ng Bayan were all students in their own way. Yes, they study hard but didn’t take things too seriously; they know how to make fun when things aren’t fine and they know how to stay COOL under enormous pressure. They just look effortless in a way but very much special inside, intelligent and witty enough to handle unusual situations in and out of our SINTANG PAARALAN.
NO isCOOLars ALONE
Thank God, it’s Friday. But unfortunately, the weather
wasn’t as fine as what I have expected. Benches were all damp from the previous
rain, including the one where I sat for the first time looking at every PUPian
who goes in and out of the campus. Everybody was busy with their umbrellas and
sweaters on, their faded jeans, abstract-printed shirts and slippers (yes, you
heard it right, slippers!). Some seems extremely repulsive on their feet full
of filthy stuffs from a long walk at Theresa. Some were irritated with their
wet pants, shirts, and bags. Some were so still, as if they have their
invisible umbrella and coat, not frightened to have cough and cold or something.
Some were almost curse the nature for what have been done to them early that
morning. Some were traumatized by what had happened last September, 2009
keeping their fingers cross yearning for the rain to stop and would utter
prayers like “Lord, ‘wag naman po sana bumaha!” , while others would say “hala!
Babaha nanaman neto, stranded nanaman! Tss..” (Flood isn’t a new and
astonishing story for us, anyway). Ironically, some were praying as well not
for the rain to stop, but wanted it to get worse, thus, the class will be
suspended, of course, to get rid of some terror professors, recitation, reports
or a major examination even in a single day. (Just so you know I’ve done this
countless times, YOU too, aren’t you? =D). This little scenario put a little
smile on my face and I knew it why.
Because of this natural dilemma, I decided to walk off
inside the main building; for everybody’s information, the PUP main building
has 6 floors, you can take the elevator if and only if, the snob operator will
allow you to, and the stairs (whether you want it or not) when you’re in the
mood or wanted free work out.
Finally, I saw lines of students seating comfortably on a
long wooden chair at the ground floor, some were telling what had happen to
them on their way to the campus. Some were eating their super late breakfast,
some were reading their notes alone and some were just seizing the moment looking
at the horizon (I'll bet, she’s memorizing something. Haha).
I kept on walking around the building, glancing at different
shades of people. As I walk along the corridors, canteens, rooms and lobbies, I
saw another group of friends sitting on the floor, eating and laughing and
teasing each other at the same time. I couldn’t help but smile, but I don’t
know what the exact reason was. Maybe because I was just overwhelmed by the
cold wind, or maybe because I got the chance to walk around to my beloved
University which I’ve never did before.
As I reach the last floor of the building, I sat in a metal
chair at the lobby. Not because I was tired and exhausted but because I wanted
to take the opportunity to look at the pictures I’ve taken from my friend’s
camera. The smile was still there, until I found out what the smile all about.
These iskolars ng bayan couldn’t live
alone, I mean, they were all gone in peers. From going to the Comfort Room,
buying foods, “tambay”, spending leisure hours together, even in studying, and
of course heading up home Yes, I’ve seen
students seating or walking alone, but rare. This was the scenario I loved the
most. Even I couldn’t go alone in the comfort room or canteen. I always wanted
to be with other’s company.(101 % sure, you too? Aren’t you?) I don’t want to
call as “weirdo” or someone who has her own world and time. We, iskolars ng bayan wanted peers, we
wanted FRIENDS. Am I right, isCOOLars? :)
08-28-11
So PUPian.
There are countless things that the
PUPians had in common. And this is just a simple realization that they are a
certified IsCOOLar ng Bayan.
You’re a PUPian if you can’t notice
the long walk at Theresa St. with variety of cheap accessories, school
supplies, foods and computer shops while chatting with your classmates, the
train’s railway that at times annoys you with its noise, you know where the
PYLON is located; the three concrete marble-made wall in front of the campus
that up until now, I still don’t now what it signifies.
You’re an IsCOOLar if you can use
gaylinggo, jejemon, English and Tagalog all at the same time. Example: ay! Oh
my gosh! Sorry powwsss kuya! Wit sadya ni wata, wit nasota ang pathway. Ayy!
Cutiebambam ni kuya! Beeeet! Translation: woa! Oh my gosh! Im so sorry bro.
It’s not my intention, I didn’t see my way. Oh! He’s so cute! I like himJ. See how smart these
human beings are? Conyos are too rare here, anyway.
Finally, you’re a certified PUPian
if you can locate different TAMBAYANS
during leisure hours. The linear park (the Pasig river’s extension), UNYON
(Charlie Del Rosario Bldg., different organization’s place), the benches in
front of the tennis court (the former walk of shame), benches around the open
field, the Obelisk (the longest concrete cigar ever according to some students),
lagoon (renovated as mini intramuros), different colleges’ areas and the
LIBRARY, where you can study and sleep peacefully. :)
09-22-11
Fed up no more!
I never
did any written piece aside from news articles for my journalism class way back
on Elementary and High School, never wrote diaries, never tried to share my
experiences by the most common ground for sharing experiences or ideas thru the
use of the internet-the online blogging, or at least on a whole-sheet of paper,
until I’ve made a decision to explore something different, something that would
make me quite busy and something that would show my personality even in a
simplest form of medium.
I’m
fond of reading different experiences of people whether from papers or online,
those simple yet lovable stories that someone could relate into. In short, tsismosa.
Upon
hearing the subject-On line Writing, I have already thought that this subject
will be having some sort of online activities that I would probably love for
the entire semester, and I was right, I will be having my first BLOG site. Yey!
<3
Frankly,
I’ve had a hard time writing these pieces, aside from the topics to be discussed
in every entry, choices of words, designs etc. ; the length of the article was
the worst I have encountered, because, I am very much talkative and wordy in
nature. I want words, I want stories and I want it limitless. However, simplicity
of words and ideas is the general rule in blogging, for the readers to
appreciate your articles and never get them fed up.
Nevertheless,
I really enjoyed blogging; the walk-offs, the photographs, the drafts, and the
final writing and most especially, the bonding with my friends. They helped me
sort this all out, from editing to wonderful suggestions, from a simple talk to
random thoughts that inspired me a lot from doing all the writings. I will
surely miss all of these. But this doesn’t end here, I will continue what I have
started, I’ll still do blogs for myself and this time, it will be endless.
Thank you Ma’am Angie for the patience and countless advises, we owe you a lot. J
10-06-11
Last entry.
No comments:
Post a Comment