September 24, 2008

Time in Laguna and Cavite

When I came here in Manila to look for work, I met up with my best friend Alpha. When she heard that I was in the city she invited me to stay with her one weekend and so I did. She works in a bank in Makati. I had an interview in the Makati area that Friday and after that I looked for the bank where she worked and just waited outside for her. I waited and waited outside until 6 o'clock because she still had to finish up some work. Anyway, I went with her and spent the weekend in their place in Laguna.

We took the van from Makati to Laguna. The whole trip took an hour I think. When we reached their house we already famished so we ate. Spent some time chatting with her siblings the it was off to sleep. That Saturday our route was Cavite where we went to church at the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP). It was there that once again I got to eat delicious vegetarian food. I guess I shouldn't forget to mention that we had our lunch for free since the cafeteria doesn't take payment during saturday. The students who eat there have their accounts in the caf. We went home around 5 o'clock in the afternoon because we also attended the afternoon service.

AUP is a very nice place. The air is so fresh and cool. They also have some very nice landscaping there too.
This is the church where we attended service that saturday.


This picture was taken near the church when we went walking around after lunch.










This one was a cute nook there. You can see a river below.


On Being Strong


I've been here in Manila for almost one month already. So far I'm getting the hang of living alone, away from my family. I feel that being independent is making me stronger, no not physically but psychologically and emotionally. I guess that is just natural since I have nobody to depend on but myself. Well that is what I'dike to think. And I like to think that there's already some difference in me, inside. It is also in my mind that there's no room to be afraid in this place where there's nobody to depend on. I have to be strong because there's only me to protect and comfort myself when all the doubts come flooding in.

How about you? Have you felt something like this before?


Image is courtesy of Pravsworld.

September 3, 2008

First Days

Well,for those of you got to read my sentimenatl notes down there, hope you didn't get bored...It was just one of those times that I needed to get off some steam. Anyway, I'm feeling so much better now. It's a new environment and a new routine for me here in Manila. Yesterday was my first day at the office. When I first came here, I was told that I would report to the ofice on the 16th of September, but then there was a change and was asked to report sooner, so here I am.

This is the first time that I will be living alone so it really is going to be a challenge for me. I do hope I can cope on my own. All my life I lived with my family and I have never really experienced what it's like to be really away from them, to be responsible for everything. Though I have also gone on vacations away from home, there is always this feeling of security that I will be going back home. So this time it's going to be so much different. I can only go home occasionally since it won't be financially practical for me to go back home regularly.

But this is a start and I do hope I can make it on my own here in the urban jungle...

Let's Converse for a Minute