Coming to Los Baños

My sister called me last night and invited me to come to Laguna for a vacation. Being the ‘spur of the moment’ gal that I am, I immediately said yes and went on planning everything the fun stuff that me and my son should bring to Laguna. I am so missing the buko pie that I used to neglect when I was living there. Also, I am missing the blue lambanog that me and my barkadas used to share. I missed the university I have spent four years on, my experiences in Los Baños will never be forgotten. For one thing, it is where I have spent my messed up years. While there are the glory days, the place also bears witness to my shame… It is an irony that I am looking forward to coming to the place, and of all reason, to spend vacation. I long walk down the sidewalks that I used to thread to and from attending classes. I missed going for the jeepney rides which took me from the engineering department to the humanities building, my favorite building in the university.

I am looking forward to bringing my son to the university and show him were Mama used to study. I will bring him to the famous Oblation and freedom park. With any luck, I may bump into some old friends and once again relieve the years when we were in plain jeans, shirt and slippers, messing up everything in our lives, sharing problems that used to mean the end of our world, and introduce them to the only person who managed to straightened me up, my son.

It’s actually a nice place. It gave me the opportunity to make something out of my life, it actually did. I learned so many valuable things in that place. It’s like an old friend. Coming back to Laguna will definitely be filled with hellos and more time to spend on my writing… my sister promised to do the babysitting, all she had was two beautiful daughters and was longing for a son, just the perfect diversion for my active and energetic NJ (wink wink!)

Just wanted to share an exciting news.

Finally, I have enrolled myself under a college undergraduate program. Though this means tremendous adjustments in my daily routine, little sacrifices must be made to charge little by little towards reaching my ultimate goal…a college diploma. Don’t get me wrong, I have already earned 90% of the required units of my previous college course. However, I felt that I wasn’t fit and driven enough to finish the program. I feel grateful that I was given the chance to finally pursue what I really wanted to do…and that was writing.

Getting a job as a writer was one of the liberating experiences of my life. I never thought of having a career related to writing, not even in my plans. But fate led me to where I am, and I was grateful to have found were my passion lies. Getting the fundamental courses of what I professionally do today would really help me become more confident and effective in what I do. And I am thankful for the chance that I finally made time and effort to pursue what needs to be done.

It’s really difficult to come out of where you have become already comfortable. I’ve already secured a job and a relationship to make me complete. But my ambition of earning a diploma continues to haunt me. Or maybe, I just feel like education is still an unfinished business in my life. But what the heck! I am officially a student now. And that means long hours in Legazpi City and less at home…less with my growing little boy.

I am a bit worried that I might neglect my little boy. But my family (‘d grandpas and grandmas and titas) have already assured me of their assistance, if necessary. I really am lucky to have these people as my family. Always supportive. Always understanding. Anyways, I still have weekends, semestral breaks, Christmas break, vacation break, and holidays to make up, ayt?

Everything I do now is dedicated to Him. He is the force and inspiration in everything that MAMAY does. So what seems to be a problem…anxiety attacks maybe.

Moving on, I really am excited to go back to school. Learning that only 10% of the courses that I have already taken were credited, must I be disheartened? I just see it as a challenge. A fresh start where I can undo my past mistakes. So I’ll just give it a go, from start to finish. Fighting, struggling, and dreaming are the things that define life anyways.

At this point, nothing can stop a struggling, striving and thriving MAMAY anymore.