One night in December 2007, I visited my 89 years old mother-in-law. I asked her, “do you still remember me?” “Yes, you are May” --- she answered with smiles. “You are always in my prayers,” she added. This is the worth of my visit!
Going back home, Ate Ving and Ate Fortune (both single and in their late 50’s) accompanied me to the tricycle terminal in Krus na Ligas. On our way we met Mana Sibing, the social worker, who helped many people in the community including me during giving birth to Borly. She looks elegant that I cannot help myself to ask how old is she now? She proudly answered, “74 hija”.
Then, our conversation turned into recalling of old people in the community. I learned that many of the old neighbors in their late 80’s have already died. Most of them were friends of my mother-in-law and co-workers of my late father-in-law.
Will I reach their age? I think silently. I am now on midlife at 46. But to one Chinese booklet translated to Filipino I read, midlife is at 80. What must be the reason they have relatively long life?
We lived in UP Diliman for 17 years while my son Borly is studying from kindergarten to university – 8 years in Diliman Preparatory School, 4 years in Philippine Science High School, and 5 years in UP College of Engineering. We built a small home in a vacant lot adjacent to the old house of my in-laws. Unfortunately, we have to cut some of the papaya tress to be able to build this home.
During the time of Carlos P. Romulo as the President of the University of the Philippines in 1963, housing project was provided to its faculties and employees inside the Diliman campus. My parents-in-law were among the original beneficiaries. When my father-in-law retired, the unit was applied for by my sister-in-law to be transferred under her name which was granted by UP since she too had been working there for quite long years.
According to my mother-in-law, they pay UP (P20) a month for occupying the 120 square meter one storey unit of the row houses project. It was called white house since the paint used in all units is white.
My first visit to this place was summer of 1981 when Doy introduced me to his family. It felt good to see different trees around the house – mango, kayomito (I don’t know why this is called star apple), avocado, santol, atis, coconut, papaya, and jackfruit aside from various flowering plants. Neighbors have their trees and plants, too.
Around 50 steps walk is about one-hectare public playground with beautiful landscape and numbers of see-saw, swing, and slide. Borly was able to play here many times during his grade school years. He had the opportunity to play with butterflies, dragonflies, birds and fishes without someone to watch him. On my way to work I can see him playing with other neighbor playmates --- no yaya.
Walking towards south is the next barangay called Krus na Ligas, a much older barangay than UP. This existed long before UP was created. It's amazing to see rice fields, vegetable garden and nipa huts in Quezon City during 1980’s. I remembered in 1984 Lakbayan (Lakad para sa Bayan) when the farmers from Northern Luzon took an overnight rest in the Sunken Garden, some residents of Krus na Ligas gave sacks of rice and vegetables for their dinner.
Here lies also the old church made of stones with growing mosses which is said to be a resting place of Katipuneros before they proceed to Pasong Tamo. On the other side is the old plaza and public elementary school where Doy took his basic education.
Back to barangay UP Campus, most of the employees go to work by bike, walk or P3.50 jeepney ride from UP Ikot. Most of their children are studying inside the campus since it is accessible, affordable and they said with quality. They can avail of 50 to 100% tuition fee discount depending on their income bracket, work track record and academic performance of their children.
Ate Ving gave-up the job opportunities in Makati and instead works inside the campus. She said because of lesser pressure in time, lesser pollution, avoidance of traffic and congestion, and much time to go on physical exercises, pursue higher education, and attend to house responsibilities and other social/spiritual gatherings.
One more important thing in this community is you can leave your washed clothes overnight hanging to dry in your front or backyard without fear of loosing them. And at least in one village the people know each other. The entire barangay is divided into villages (like A & B), pook – like Hernandez, Ricarte, Dagohoy, etc. and areas (1, 2, etc.).
The water and electrical services are sufficient. There were times when almost the entire Metro Manila do not have water supply and we still have water. If we have problems with electricity the service provider acts quickly even in the middle of the night. If we need repair at home we call the office of the university responsible for such kind of service. I think it is called the PPO- Physical Planning Office.
Perhaps, the community set-up has a great thing to do why people here live longer. But this was the generation before. Time has changed. And the place has changed, too. We no longer here but from time to time I still visit Nanay Tomasa and Ate Ving and I can see the changes. This will be Part 2 of this recall. I hope I can write it soon.
