@noisytoothie 5 November 2022

Manila Encounters (Part 1) I don't know where to start but let me tell one thing - ***I feel exhausted in the cities of Manila***. The moment we arrived, until we leave, everything I saw exhausted me. Just by looking makes me dizzy and tired. I can't find the peace I badly wanted, except at home. As I was getting ready for our trip to Manila, I imagined a lot of things - on how I want things to happen, on how I will enjoy every single second I'm there, and many more. I prepared my outfits and stuffs. But it always the **expect the unexpected** scenarios that welcomes me. The trip was smooth and we arrived safe. The tiredness I felt on the trip made me rest a bit more in my bed with the thought of making adventures as soon as I woke up. But all I can see was food on the table waiting for me, and a bed that wants me to come back as soon as I finished eating. I don't have the energy yet. But still decided to go out and explore more. I am not yet even outside the gate but I can already hear the loud horns of the different tricycle trying to get out the way. **NO ONE WANTS TO GIVE WAY!!!** I was so shocked because the province is not like this. The place where I grew up was a quite and peaceful place where all you can hear was the children's voices as they play hide-and-seek, tumbang preso, piko, and other native games I used to play. But what can we expect more? It's **province vs city.** It will always be the province as the quiet and peaceful place, and the city as the noisy and modernized place. I think I will need a lot of time coping with these kind of environment. I specifically stayed at Alabang Muntinlupa where my Aunty lives. That was my first time being there and I was like "culture shocked". I can definitely see how my living is different from theirs. But as I got familiar with the place, I eventually put myself into it. What I love the most there is the presence of the sea. It was just a half kilometer away so we can just walk to go there. It was fun walking since I got some companies. It was right after the Bagyong Paeng when we went there and I got a news that whenever there's a typhoon, milkfish will swarm in the shore or even in the flooded areas then the people will get it and sell in the market for a lower price. It was amazing back there! The sound of waves are so calming that you won't even think a typhoon just passed by.