Captured

Most likely when you are born and raised in the metropolitan Manila, you think you can never see yourself at another place in the country anymore. But what if one day—let’s say, the day after your high school graduation—your dad drops the bomb on you: “Hey Kiddo…you’re going to Dumaguete to study.”

What?

Dumaguete? What in the name of Batman have you ever done wrong? Dude, their so-called malls close at 7pm. And they have lunch breaks! The so-called malls close during lunch time! What the fuuuuuudge. I so pity you. :(

So anyway, you start complaining, looking at the the paper bags full of dresses and shoes you happily accomplished after one whole day of shopping at Greenbelt. Being the bratty daughter that you are, tears start streaming down your face. You know that whatever you do, once you board that plane to Negros, there was no more enjoying of the material things the metropolis has to offer.

You thought it was going to be such a My Super Sweet 16: Exiled kind of horrid experience.

But to your surprise, it wasn’t.

Over the years, you have come to realize that there are tons of things a person can do in Dumaguete City that no one can ever do anywhere else after all. And you actually weren’t being sarcastic when you said that. You were pointing out what makes Dumaguete unique—with all its unpredictable pedicab drivers, its ukay-ukays, its restaurants that close during Sundays.

You still don’t stop whining so much. But you have to admit that you have learned to love the City of Gentle People.

Yes, you’ve been captured by its serenity. Its simplicity. Its beauty.

And that’s the reason why for the nth time, you so can’t wait to go back. :)




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