#globalidentity

It has been exactly twenty-six days, two hours, and eleven minutes since I’ve officially moved to Metro Manila or “The Big City”, as we called it back home. And for me, home would forever be described as Cebu. I am a proud Bisaya, a proud Bisdak, and a proud probinsyano even if, ultimately, it was me who decided to move far, far away from everything I’ve ever known. But, to be quite honest, I thought that this would be much harder. 

I thought that the last brunch with my closest friends—who cheered me on at my highest and also stood by me at my lowest—would be more of a tear-jerker. I honestly thought that my stomach would drop from something other than the intense altitude the exact moment that the plane took off from Cebu. I certainly thought that the homesickness would kill me when my parents and my brother said their final goodbye to me. Yet, it didn’t. None of these things proved to be true even if they should’ve, and I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

I do miss everyone back home, obviously. I miss everything from the food to the close proximity of the beach to anywhere you were even if you were deep into Cebu’s latest urban development. However, I didn’t know if I was just repressing the crippling depression, or if I was just adjusting well.

Because I have gotten used to living here, on my own. In my more than three weeks here, I’ve pretty much memorized where everything is on campus. I have a vague sense of important places along Katipunan like the grocery, the bank, and even the best place to hang with friends.  I’ve also become more accustomed to living in a small dorm with an introvert roommate whereas I, myself, am an extrovert. I have even made new friends—good friends, in fact.

I’ve made friends with Manileños, although I initially thought that they would be the ones causing me grief during my four-year stay here; considering I was from the province. I really, really thought that they’d make fun of my deep accent, but so far, I’ve just gotten asked to bring some lechon the next time I go back home and even got some requests for me to give them a tour if they ever come to the “Queen City of the South”. I’ve also made friends with others who speak Bisaya from different provinces like Cagayan de Oro. And all of these friends of mine, including my quiet roommate, have kind of helped me in my transition to college and my transition from Cebu to Manila.

Even if it has only been a few weeks since I’ve arrived here, I’ve noticed little changes in myself. I noticed that I’d spoken the best Tagalog I ever have even if I had been taking Filipino as a core subject during my entire grade school and secondary school experience. My mother would even comment during our nightly video chats that my filler words were no longer Bisaya in origin but things like parang and naman. I also noticed that I had grown to be more responsible and independent compared to when I was still living with my parents, for I no longer had anyone to nag me on to do my chores or to do my homework but now I had to do things on my own prerogative. But overall, the most recent and the most noticeable adjustment in me was the fact that I was more open to opportunities to become a better person. Extroverts can be shy and I used to shy away from new things and new people until now. I could honestly say that I’ve recently come out of my shell and started making the most out of the many opportunities I can find here in the Ateneo. And I can honestly say that I’m better for it. It has made my decision to study here, and not in Cebu, even more worthwhile.

So, to conclude, I don’t particularly think that I’ve forgotten my roots, but rather, I’m doing my part to honor them by doing my best here. I still regularly contact my friends and family. I still speak in Bisaya when the opportunity presents itself. I still consider Cebu as my home but none of these have stopped me from excelling here academically, socially, and especially in anything that can help me in the future career-wise. 

Last week we went into the classrooms at Porta Mosana College and helped the students make videos to share with students in Japan. It was great to interact with the students again, see the different ideas they all have, and help the students put their ideas into action. We gained some good insight about the students, the curriculum, and the project so far after the classes. 

Read on to find out the feedback we’ve received!