UniFAST or The Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education is a government program in our country that provides financial aid for college students. Through UniFAST, college students, especially those from low-income households, can access subsidies and other financial support to pursue higher education without the heavy problem of finances. In our university, we are granted a total of 10,000 pesos per semester to help minimize the burden of academic expenses, especially for those who are in dire need of financial help. In previous years, the UniFAST grant was 60,000 pesos per semester or 120,000 a year, but the increase in grantees’ population forced the subsidy to lower down the grant to make sure everyone gets their share. In some universities, they get 13,500 pesos while some get lower depending on the total population of UniFAST grantees in the university. Regardless, I am still grateful to receive help because this amount of money is still a big help to us, especially that we are graduating students.
So we traveled to the city from the north which took us 4 hours before reaching the main campus which is located in Osmeña Blvd, Cebu City. I did not take photos when we were inside the campus because it was a chaotic and busy place that time — students running around, grantees putting their requirements into place, and us trying our best not to run out of time before the distribution ends, or else we would claim it next week, which for sure means another spend of money. But we successfully claimed it, and the girls were very happy to have the money. After claiming, some of us went to the bank to deposit their money into their accounts, and I also did mine. I left at least 3,000 pesos for our charge to the driver, who happened to be our friend’s father, and we had to pay him once we got home. The rest of the money, I spent to buy pasalubong for my family and for some girl’s day out in Ayala Mall.
Before we proceeded to Ayala, we stopped in a nearby karenderya to eat lunch since it was 1:00 that time and the girls got really hungry. It was a karenderya that sells botchi, isaw, and other fried foods that are popular also in Bogo City. I really love these kinds of foods which are almost alike to street foods such as kwek-kwek and fishball. We bought isaw, which is a chicken’s intestine deep fried, and paired it with poso rice. This pair is so good to eat, not expensive but sublime, especially if the sauce is a hot, spicy coconut vinegar. Just writing about this made me hungry now.
Then we went to Lapu-Lapu City Park to wait for the driver since he got into his own business for a while and asked us to wait at the park. The park was so quiet that time and the sun didn’t come out scorchingly, so we had a good stay during those hours.
The landscape of the park is nice and relaxing, with trees rising over the fences, sunlight peeping in between leaves, and good company.
These girls made our trip memorable, and I have been making memories with these friends since our first year in college. Being with them feels great and promising — that there are people who will be by your side in all milestones and rock bottoms you'll experience.
And also, one thing I like the most about the park is that it is very clean. No trash, no odor. I hope they maintain it until now just like when we were there.
This is us waiting for the driver again in the mall near the park.
Afterwards, the driver was able to pick us up at the outside area of the mall and we proceeded to Ayala to have a quick stroll and try new things there. First things first, we headed to the Arcade area of Ayala since they wanted to try the game zones there. I really don’t know how those things are called, so I named it game zones as the appearance suggests.
But we ended up just trying the Shining Crane, which is a prize machine full of toys, and of course, we didn’t get any of the toys because we lacked tactics.
And while my friends played on the machine, we took photos inside the arcade area. I enjoyed looking around also; there were plenty of game machines like Genie's Jewel, Zombie Splash, Wizard of Oz, and Ticket Coaster, most of which I’m not familiar with. I was not also interested in playing those because I was already tired and experiencing back pain by this time, so I just sat on the chair near the machines and took photos suddenly with my girls.
For the last stop in the arcade, we tried the Photo Seouling. We were preparing here and choosing our handy props for the photobooth. We took a mirror selfie because it is our girly tradition to do such a thing.
The photo went perfect. It captured our friendship and the connection that we have. It is so cute and cinematic. I kept some of the printed photos in my pocket until now while some are with my friends. It was a fun experience, choosing which pose is best and how you’ll put your smiles on the camera because every take matters — unless you want to waste what you paid.
Before leaving for home, as it was getting dark already and we had to travel from the city to the north, we ate at Mang Inasal so that we wouldn’t get hungry in the middle of the trip. We were so full of the chicken even if we did not order extra rice and enjoyed our quick dinner at the restaurant. Without further ado, we left the place, loaded in the car, the engine started, and the rest is history. That day reminded me how small blessings, shared with good friends, can turn into the kind of memories that stay warm in your heart for a long time.