As we started our first day of school in college, many students arrived early. We wore T-shirts encoded with colors or designs based on the courses we were taking. All the freshmen gathered together to celebrate and be welcomed into their respective schools.
The college students gave us a warm welcome, full of surprises. After that, we set out to find our classrooms. We were surprised because it was so different from high school there were no sections anymore, just Room 1, Room 2, Room 8, and so on.
It took a long time to find our classrooms, and it was challenging for us because some students helped us find our rooms, but even they were confused due to recent changes. It took us an hour to find our classrooms because some students didn't know where they were.
Later on, after we finally found our rooms, the SSG president announced that they had prepared some activities for us to join and participate in, as part of the National Heroes Day celebration.
They organized a lot of activities to show respect and love for our heroes. Each course had its own booth or fair, and you could really see the hard work and effort that went into setting them up.
We wandered around and looked at each of the organizations or fairs they had created. When we entered the gymnasium, it was chilly and crowded with people. We found a place where we could sit and see the event without any obstructions.
We were amazed by their covered court because it was so cool inside, and we wondered how they maintained the atmosphere. When we looked up, we saw some tubes with small holes from which air was coming out. I’m not sure what they’re called, but it was impressive.
Many students were excited to see the performances. Each course cheered loudly as their course was called by the host. The gymnasium was filled with shouting and cheering.
As the event began, a group of people showed up with instruments and started playing. We were surprised because they were so good and unique.
We had never seen an event like this before.They also presented some traditional folk dances to highlight our culture and patriotism as Filipinos. The women wore long dresses representing Filipino women, and the men wore Barong Tagalog.
After that, they had some activities for us, including a game called "Bahay Bata Disco," where groups of three people were formed, with one assigned as the house and the others as children.
This game was challenging because it required interaction with others, and you couldn’t be shy. Everyone enjoyed the game, with most students laughing because some couldn’t find a "child," and some "children" couldn’t find their "home." In this game, you need to be alert and quick to form a house.
Elsewhere, students were playing bingo and having a lot of fun. Some were shouting because they were just one number away from winning. We decided to watch them instead of joining in because we were on a tight budget.
They also had a confession wall where you could write or express your thoughts and feelings. You were free to write and paste anything you wanted.
Additionally, the Philippine Navy was there, helping monitor the school and teaching students who had chosen ROTC.
This fair was called "Ehma," short for "Ehmazing Snacks." They were selling street foods like fish balls, tempura, kwek-kwek, and more. The food was delicious, especially the sauce. All day long, we celebrated National Heroes Day while also being welcomed into the school family.
We were really proud of them for having such a unique style of celebration. We can see how happy and excited they are as we welcome us. It was indeed a wonderful experience.