Back to School, Back to Manila

1.

Human Resources invited me to be part of their contingent of speakers in their company-recruitment-career talk held at DLSU yesterday (Monday). Naturally, I agreed! I haven't stepped on the good old Taft campus for about 5 years, and a lot has changed.

To get inside the campus, students tap their ID's to a sensor at the gate. The IDs, I think, are already chip-embedded since those barcode scanners which were being used during my college years at DLSU can't be seen anymore. Once a student taps his ID at the sensor, the monitor being manned by security displays on-screen the student's ID photo, name and college. Neat! It'll put our immigration system to shame.

Ever since I graduated, the campus has undergone a major facelift. Pebble Wash isn't there anymore, and some of the Chess Plaza tambayans were demolished to widen the walkways. The campus also looks fresher, mostly because they've raised the heights of the walkways and changed the material from G.I. sheets to some translucent plastic. The LS Main Hall now sports a wide-screen LCD TV.

At the Agno gate, there are now seven street-food vendors offering a very great variety of cheap food. Before, there was only one foodcart in that area.

The Beach parking area is now a major throughfare for student traffic. Wi-fi is available at some study halls. The Yunchengco building, the former Brother Alphonsous Gymnasium, looks very imposing once you get past the LS Main Hall.

And of course, who couldn't notice all those cute college girls. I just had to sit at one bench along the LS Catwalk and the SJ catwalk and do some people watching, under the pretense of course of reading the latest issue of "Ang Pahayagang Plaridel."

I also made a quick visit to the Engineering faculty room to renew old ties with my former professors. To my surprise, some of them are well-informed of how my career is going mainly through my youngest brother who's currently with the Council of Student Organizations.

Oh, and the career talk went well. I gave my testimonial speech after the Country Chairman gave his career talk and Gino delivered his speech. I answered a lot of questions about internship, CGPA, academics, extra-curricular activities, why-did-I-choose-my-current-company, technical and non-technical options in the company... those sort of stuff that soon-to-be college graduates are so keen on asking. And I am more than happy to oblige.

One last thing: familiar faces in the campus still know me, and call me, as my college name -- Stiff.

For me, that was really nostalgic.

-------------

2.

A quick sidetrip to Pasong Tamo brought me to MJ's office, and I treated her and the girls (Blos/Kat/Val) for coffee. It just occured to me then that I haven't really seen B-K-V dressed in their office clothes, and I was actually amazed at what I saw. You see, these 3 girls I get to interact with them mostly on my outdoor activities --- wall climbing, mountain climbing, etc... --- so I've only seen them in their 'rugged' beauty.

All I can say is "WOW". But I had a hard time reconciling Kat's surfer-chick look with her office attire, hahaha.

That's one of the things I miss in Manila. Dropping by at a friend's whereabouts for a quick chat, coffee, and a lot of laughing.

So girls, when are you coming over to visit?

----------------

3.

Dinner was with Ube, and she brought me to BUDDY's at Escriva Drive (not sure if it was still Escriva drive though). Something was so familiar with the place but I just couldn't point it out. But when I saw the menu, I realized that I knew what Buddy's was. It's that big restaurant in Lucban! It has the same look, feel and lighting. One of the reasons why Ube liked the place because the motif of the restaurant's furnishings are sunflowers.

Aside from Lucban fare, there's the standard Pinoy offerings. I had lechon kawali and chopsuey while Ube got her wish of pusit sisig. It was a casual dinner, and it was great to just eat and talk, then eat and talk some more.

It's been a long, long, long time since I had dinner at a restaurant in Manila.

---------------

4. [sidetrips/postscript]

a. Dropped by our house to pick up my barong. Ma and Pa had a surprise for me. My birthday is still a month away, but they handed me my birthday gift in advance. Nothing really fancy, but I was thankful for it. They know that I've a really busy schedule.

b. I had to make a stopover at a Shell station along D.Macapagal avenue to fill-up on gasoline. Coincidentally, Marj was on the filling station opposite me. Had a quick kamustahan and reminded me that Quito is still expecting me to make up for my absence at his New Year's Party.

c. On the way back to Tabangao, Bai and I decided to check out Padi's Point in Calamba and grab a beer each. Wala lang. Lakas talagang mag-trip hehe.