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The times you spend outside of your comfort zone are the times you get to realize how the latter matters to you.
Filipinos from various provinces around the country dream of working and living in the city, particularly in Metro Manila. Because they believe that the metro will solve their issues on financial instability. Because they believe that living in the metro can take their social status up a notch.
I bid goodbye to that dream when I said adios to my teenage years.
Gerlie and Dyan in the City
Friday, June 15, 2011 — Gerlie and I went to Divisoria to purchase the supplies we need for an event we’re organizing. The ‘event organizer/planner/coordinator’ tag had fully sank in me, in us. And I’m loving it.
First stop was Makati with JR for other commitments we have to fulfill for the My Hometown’s Finest Photo Contest. Then Gerlie and I headed to Divisoria. It was our first time going to Divi all the way from Makati. The previous visits I had, I have to travel from Recto na or Sampaloc so mas malapit.
Why I chose not to work/live/survive in the Great Jungle
I got the chance to live in Makati for 6 months. I was 19 years-old then, having an early share of hibernation to realign my life and determine the track that I really want to take. Okay, seryosong usapan ito.
I stayed with my uncle and his family, was a bum, but on second thought, not really. I tried applying for every call center there is in Makati. Got chances of passing the initial stages of application. But what I remember the most in that job hunt was the hunt itself.
Going around the busy streets at nakakalitong buildings around Makati was no joke. I felt that I was not yet prepared for that, but I managed to survive. The job hunt brought me to Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Taguig. I felt little and the world can eat me whole.
So why I dismissed the idea of working and living in the metro? Because I realized that nothing can ever beat home. It’s as simple as that.
Why I chose to stay here in Batangas
Going to places is one of the things I am so enthusiastic of. I love to explore new things, experience new culture, meet people. But in the end, there’s always something that pulls you back home.
Our Divisoria trip was an emotional adventure. We felt excited, scared, anxious, tired, doubtful, happy, fulfilled — all these and a few more in a span of two hours.
Ang dami naming tanong ni Gerlie as we squeezed our selves in and out of LRT and MRT trains. Much more when we walked along the streets of Divisoria. We were thinking how these people keep up with the demands of city life. If they have the choice, will they move to a more relaxed environment?
In a day, we saw the best and the worst of the city life. Experiencing both the overwhelming greatness of the corporate world and the downcast areas of the country’s shopping haven slash pugad ng mga snatchers, we now appreciate living here in Batangas a little bit more.
Anywhere you go, there’s danger, there are adversities, there are misfortunes. Anywhere you chose to live at, there’s success, there’s growth, there’s fulfillment. It’s just in the manner of how you embrace your life.
Sitting on the back seat on the way home that Friday afternoon with my eyes shut, I imagined myself living in the great jungle. Kaya ko naman. I mean, if I was able to survived 6 months in Makati when I was 19, why can’t I now that I’ve grown in age and experience?
It’s just that I chose not to. Lalayo pa ga ako kung pwede namang maging masaya, matagumpay, at maging kung ano ako dito sa Batangas? At syempre, nandito ang WOWBatangas eh. 🙂
