Growing up in the South

I am a South baby. I have been all my life. I lived in this city since the time I learned how to crawl and as I was growing up I knew that I belong here. I kept dreaming of having someone special who also dwells south of the metropolis, so I wouldn't have to argue where to live once we decide to settle down, knowing I'm not one to raise a white flag. The southern air gives me a sense of belonging. This place is home.  I love how there are no railways, hence no loud trains, hence no colonies of rushing commuters forming a stampede to board the trains. People here go north to work so we move in the same direction morning and night, to and from work. I love the absence of the number coding scheme in the city and how there are no public buses in Sucat. Driving around requires less sweat than it seems. I love how you can go to bars in BF in a loose shirt and denim shorts but it still wouldn't feel "off", rather homey like we live in a town in suburbia where everyone knows each other and there is no issue being underdressed for the ocassion/location. Even the packs of hipsters along some streets don't make much of a big deal anymore because somehow they belong here too. I love how the malls are small but not as packed as the ones up north. I love it because you can always go to a coffee shop to read or write in depth and still have your own personal space. It's unlikely to get that up north where cafes have triple the customers-- in quantity and noise volume.

I studied college in Taft, Manila so unlike my southern high school friends, I did not have the privilege of having a dorm or condo unit to live in. It only took me an hour or so to travel to the university so I went home everyday. It was funny how we were outnumbered by our northern blockmates and we always prepared rebuttals for random arguments about how it's nicer to live in the south / north (in their case). I guess your preference carries biases starting from your point of origin, that is where you grew up. It is in our nature to grow a certain attachment to things and places, and definitely your greatest attachment would be with the place where you spent your pre-formative years.

I did not get a chance to frequent cities from Pasig to Quezon City until I accidentally (well, it was not expected) got a northern guy for a boyfriend recently. I got to appreciate it up there that I opened myself to working in that area. The cities are busy, but the roads are much wider. If either driving or commuting becomes too much I could just rent a place nearby. I was finally stepping out of my comfort zone realizing the jobs I really want are northern based. Ayala just doesn't have enough companies to choose from. I've always loved Makati because my parents have been operating their businesses there since before I was born, but I thought it was time I got out of my cocoon.

Apparently, the south has its way of pulling me back. I wasn't very lucky getting a job up north. I got into the retail industry (SM Supermalls in particular) this time as HR yet again, but got assigned in Sucat. I just got tossed back to my hometown. So here's where I will spend six days of my every week.

                      

In the meantime I will be in the admin office of the mall we labeled in high school as "SM Jologs". Funny, isn't it? How it all comes back to you?

Oh, 10-minute drive from home. The south just wouldn't let me go.