My First UP Experience

I always wanted to go to UP for college. But when I got a response from dad saying "hindi ka marunong maglaba ng panty mo, sa Manila ka pa mag-aaral!" ten years ago, that urge remained a wish for me. No, don't get me wrong, I love my university.

I have a lot of failed trips to UP years back but when Levy and I were left with nowhere to go, we decided to drive around UP. Now I realized, it was a better way to spend the Araw ng Kagitingan than spending an hour or two watching "Date Night". OK, the Filipino in me is kicking in. :D

I did not realize that  I was already in the university until I asked Levy where we were. Apologies, I was used to a campus whose gates are tightly manned by baton-carrying creatures! I call it more of a community, rather than a campus. It seemed like inside UP was like an independent town who has her own lifestyle. I do not know, but there is an unknown factor which let me feel I am in a "free" community! I think it is because of the open air, wide roads with lots of trees (old trees I mean) giving up an aura of open environment! My dream ten years ago was alive once again, and I got envy to those students who happen to be independent at such an early age and manage to assure their parents that they can handle themselves away from home. Ah, that made me want to go back to school once again!

Let me give you my shots with the UP grounds while Levy and I were paving the roads a great school!

it's like a road in a province. hehe. 

i love how the trees spell out the age of the school.

i can't remember seeing the sunset from the grounds of my school.

was it because i'm always inside the library?!

i just love how i ended the afternoon and welcomed the night at UP!

levy told me that UP grounds used to be so green with grass...

but due to El Nino fever, everything is brown in there. :(

as a chocolate lover, i always wanted to go here and try out Chocolate Kiss

but since another branch is just across my new office, i did not bother to check out the original CK

a visit to UP won't be complete without getting a hand of Isaw ng UP!

the isaw community! 

nice cars were parked with groups of family and friends.

i regret not coming here with Erms, as this is one of her "to-dos" 

my first isaw held by Levy! 

served in a plastic cup to avoid street food bacteria contamination

isaw ng baboy and manok - my cup cost 35 php. i did not finish the pork though. 

paired with Mountain Dew at 27 php, it really was a cheap and yummy snack!

My other regret though, not getting a close encounter with the oblation statue!

I may be too old for the experience, but I really am thankful that I got the chance to experience UP! :)

Holy Week 2007 - 2009

UPDATED: Now, I remember what I did in 2008. :)

Holy Thursday and Good Friday are the longest legal holidays in the Philippines. Holidays would then mean a vacation and a break free for all of us, well, at least for me. :)

Year 2007 was a Boracay holiday with my All Star friends. Ah, that was one of the BEST escapades that I had in my life! You bet, Boracay was painted red all over when the All Star set foot on that paradise!

 :)

yes, I miss this body!

beach babes!

 with the All Star Cast!

Year 2008 was my first Holy Week with Levy. I do not know why we ended up looking for a place in Cavite (I personally does not like Cavite for some unknown reasons. :P) Befor we head out to that resort (which I already forgot the name!), we stopped and checked out Island Cove. 

 the BIG and WIDE fishpond. :P

 

the life-sized chess board!

The whole place was not appealing to us so we opted to head to the swimming pool resort we saw at the net. It was equally frustrating for us as we are not a big fan of man-made bodies of water. So there, we went home sad. :D

In year 2009, the year when Levy and I were so much into out of towns, grabbed a last minute roadtrip going to Munting Buhangin at Nasugbu, Batangas. Why there? Since it was a clock-beating decision, we can no longer find a resort who could accomodate us - only Munting Buhangin, in a tent!!! Gah, in that humble cove, with powdery sand, and abundant tents at the shore, it really was a sweet vacation!

 my green and blue mix-match!

 oh, did I say lobsters? Yum!

sunset watching by the beach, what a great way to end the afternoon!

and waking up with the beach just right in front of you!

glorious waves...

The best thing of going back to Manila on a Good Friday is the no-traffic drama of the wide roads! It was a relaxing comeback to the metro. And oh, seeing those colorful flowers and ornamental plants along the side streets of Tagaytay makes the experience even better!!!

 We are the king and queen of the road!

lovely, lovely flowers from Tagaytay!

 Don't judge me folks, it's just that I'm not too religious to strictly observe the traditional way of celebrating Holy Week. I need not to fast because I can do all away with those meats everyday!

I have my own faith. :)