The first wordpress blog i ever made. This is entitled “Promdi Adventure” since it all happens during a probinsyana trip to Manila as a stranger of the big city. To start with, I just want to thank Mr. Roland de Jesus for the kindness he had shown to me from the very beginning. The moment I received the acceptance letter way back in the year 2004, I had the feeling of so much joy and happiness that I could continue my studies. I truly felt that Mr. Roland de Jesus is a kind-hearted man who reviewed my application and sent it to the Board of Directors in Washington for final decision. He is a gift from God and i know that He heard my prayers when I badly needed help to finish my education. During my years in college, I honestly wished to meet Sir Roland, Ma’am Maureen, Ma’am Martha and Ma’am Daisy. This is my year of fulfillment as I already met Sir Roland last March 24 and 25 at La Roca. I even almost cried (but pretended not to…”) as I shook his hand in greeting. At last, I met the person who helped me realized my dream. I am so grateful that he and his wife were so very kind to us. I truly care for them, the PCVs, the PSAAs and the rest of the supporters. Someday, I’m going to meet Ma’am Maureen who is the benefactor of my scholarship.It was my first time to attend for the assembly. If it wasn’t because of Sir Roland’s help to arrange for our fare, we could have not joined the assembly. When Aries informed me about the date, I did not hesitate to refuse as it is what I was longing for. I did not mind the distance to travel, the grades of my first to fourth year ICT class, the unfinished layout of the graduation booklet of our school and the thousand pages to print prior to the graduation day. My co-teachers were asking if I can really come back on the 26th and print everything for the graduation day on the 28th, but I assured them in an optimistic way that I can do it. I supposed to print it ahead before my trip but unluckily the ranking of the graduating honors was delayed. Thanks to Aries who always reminded me of the plane ticket and to Sir who tried to pay for the booking two times. I apologize for that and thanks for the effort.Thursday, March 22, I was still in Basay printing the Diploma at 5pm. I still had more than a hundred to print so I decided to bring the printer in order to catch the last trip to Bayawan City and to Dumaguete City. At that night, I printed all the Diploma until 3am.March 23, our departure day to Manila but I woke up early to look for a cutting serviceso that the Diploma would look nice before submitting it to the Superintendent of the Department of Education for signature. So busy with my assignments, Jody messaged me that she was already at the airport! It’s already 11am and our flight was 12:30pm. It was already my rushed hour – was not able to buy pasalubongs and forgot to bring the ”tarpaulin” i printed for Aries to be used on the venue.The flight was nice though I’m afraid because it was my second time to fly for Manila and we don’t have anyone to pick us at the airport. I don’t know the gate of the airport wherein I could find jeeps and taxis. All i could see was parked cars. I don’t know where the NSEW was. I was just confident at first because I thought that the taxi rate inside the airport premise was the same with those outside the gate. But to my surprise when I asked the girl who waited for taxi passengers at the terminal door, she said that the taxi fare for EDSA-Cubao was 900 pesos. It was so expensive. I called my friend who is from Negros and currently working in Makati and asked her about how to get a ride to Cubao. And so she told us where we should go for the gate. “Walk and walk until you reach the edge of the highway. Ride a taxi to MRT-Taft and ride MRT to EDSA-Cubao”. I was so scared yet tried to be firm with my feelings as not to scare Jody also who is her first time to ride the plane and to be in Manila. Her mother trusted me so I should not fail her. I had a strange feeling. I haven’t been to MRT. I only saw it on TV. I don’t know how to get there. But thanks to my friend and to Aries who were always there to call and text me for the instructions. I thank God for the taxi at the gate who claimed 200 pesos for the fare from the airport to the MRT-Taft though actually it’s less than a hundred only.The instructions were clear, “walk to the stairs, fast and keep the wallet for pick-pockets, be firm, do not show that you are from the province, be smart, follow the people going to the train, keep on asking but to the right person”. Thank God, we made it. We paid only 14 pesos each for the fare. We got the MRT-Card. We immitate the people going in and out on how they used the card (smiles”). Through asking, we were able to ride the train. Now, how should we go down? And how should we know that it’s already at the Cubao station? Alas! The train stopped and announced the name of the station. We checked the MRT-card. It has a map of every station. So everytime it stopped, we glanced at the map. And we felt a relief as we followed the map of where we were heading to. Right! We were going to Cubao station where Aries met us. We took our dinner there. Bought some stuff. My luggage was getting heavier than before we were in Dumaguete. Without my knowing, we needed to climb the skyways before reaching the bus stop for Laguna. Thanks to Aries and to Derick who helped me with my bag.We arrived safely at La Roca Resort in Laguna. I really love the place. We were led by the guard to the farthest house. It’s a big one and fully-furnished. Four of us slept there with peace, joy and comfort.March 24, was the arrival of my most-awaited guest (Sir Roland de Jesus), the UPians and some of the alumni. We ate, we talked and we were happy. I felt the brotherhood when we went with Aries and Derick to the market to buy foods for the next day. It’s bonding time. At night, we took a swim at the pool which I refused at first for I didn’t know it’s a hot spring.”) Aries, Karl, Christian, Derick, Michelle, Jody and I enjoyed so much.March 25, we woke up early to help for the breakfast. It was enjoyable to be with Karl, Michelle and Jody at the kitchen. After hours, PCVs arrived and then Sir Hans. Sir Roland with his beautiful and kind wife also arrived. We chatted, ate delicious foods, we laughed, we shared and we took pictures together.
At 5pm, we departed from the place with so many memories to cherish with Sir Roland, the PCVs and the PSAAs. Our ways were separated. Joylene Puogon’s group was with the Negros group on the bus going to Magallanes. Aries and the rest was with the other PUV.As we arrived in Magallanes, there was another challenge. My friend who stayed at ShawBoulevard messaged me that she can’t go with us to look for the hotel in Pasay because of an urgent on-call duty at the call center. We don’t know where to go. I didn’t book for the hotel earlier coz of our agreement that she’ll go with us. But thanks to Joylene’s brother who led us the way to the hotel. To make the story short, Jody and I slept there. The next day, my friend was our tour guide in Pasay City and to the airport.We had a delayed flight in the afternoon. Supposedly the arrival in Dumaguete was 4.15PM but we landed 4:45PM because of the weather. I was in a hurry for Basay so I just dropped some of my things at my brothers’ boarding house in Dumaguete and went to the terminal for an almost 3-hour trip to Bayawan City. Bus for Basay is until 5:30 PM only. My brother-in-law used his motorbike so I could reach my destination. Finally, I arrived at 9:30PM and started my sleepless nights in school until the graduation day.Indeed! My experience in the assembly was so good and brought me new ideas on how to face the challenging world as a PSAA. Thanks for all the support during our college days and until that we are already an alumnus of the PCAFPD scholarship.My special thanks to Ma’am Maureen Joan Carroll for the scholarship she granted to me. I hope to meet her in the near future.Once again, a bunch of thanks to Sir Roland de Jesus with his wife for being there with us. We are grateful for the kindness you have shared to us.
https://jgestrellado.wordpress.com/
At 5pm, we departed from the place with so many memories to cherish with Sir Roland, the PCVs and the PSAAs. Our ways were separated. Joylene Puogon’s group was with the Negros group on the bus going to Magallanes. Aries and the rest was with the other PUV.As we arrived in Magallanes, there was another challenge. My friend who stayed at ShawBoulevard messaged me that she can’t go with us to look for the hotel in Pasay because of an urgent on-call duty at the call center. We don’t know where to go. I didn’t book for the hotel earlier coz of our agreement that she’ll go with us. But thanks to Joylene’s brother who led us the way to the hotel. To make the story short, Jody and I slept there. The next day, my friend was our tour guide in Pasay City and to the airport.We had a delayed flight in the afternoon. Supposedly the arrival in Dumaguete was 4.15PM but we landed 4:45PM because of the weather. I was in a hurry for Basay so I just dropped some of my things at my brothers’ boarding house in Dumaguete and went to the terminal for an almost 3-hour trip to Bayawan City. Bus for Basay is until 5:30 PM only. My brother-in-law used his motorbike so I could reach my destination. Finally, I arrived at 9:30PM and started my sleepless nights in school until the graduation day.Indeed! My experience in the assembly was so good and brought me new ideas on how to face the challenging world as a PSAA. Thanks for all the support during our college days and until that we are already an alumnus of the PCAFPD scholarship.My special thanks to Ma’am Maureen Joan Carroll for the scholarship she granted to me. I hope to meet her in the near future.Once again, a bunch of thanks to Sir Roland de Jesus with his wife for being there with us. We are grateful for the kindness you have shared to us.
https://jgestrellado.wordpress.com/