One of my pit stop activities in my week-long leave is to ‘ikot’ (or ‘toki’) my beloved campus, UP Diliman. I even prepared for this trip that I dropped by to a hair fix salon the other day. I am excited to see the ‘dep’ or the Department of Computer Science and the familiar faces of the network.

I woke up early because I wanted to be among the firsts in the queue in the registrar. I had to settle my clearance. I had no time to accomplish supposedly the final task of a graduate. This is due to the fact that technically I already started working even before graduating. Also, I’m going to pay for my ticket for our alumni homecoming.

From SM North, the jeepney flew me to the campus. The fare is now ten pesos. Jerry, the present Cursor president, who is also in the same jeepney greeted me. I told him that I’m going to finish the clearance this day. He told me that my batchmates were around few days back for the same reason. ‘Uso ngayon ‘to’

I went to the registrar and searched for the clearance form. I knew I had to fly several meters to the cashier to pay my alumni due which costs three hundred pesos. So I did. I was surprised the route of ‘toki’ jeep has been somehow reversed. Should it be called ‘koti’ or ‘okit’, I don’t know.After the payment, I headed to the department to surprise myself more. Of course, the setup of furnitures was rearranged as expected. The department is now very quiet even two student assistants were in their area. I used to be computing on that student assistant area and the noise really echoed from chit chats with my batchmates marked our presence.

The faculty welcomed me and conversation started. I explained to them my work and differentiated it among my HP-UP batchmates’. Just to make it short, it all boils down that they (batchmates) escalate to us when help is needed. All of them asked me what happened to my dyed hair. My response was that several yuppies in Makati dyed their hair. I don’t want to be typecast as a call center agent and most importantly simply not to look like others. Similarly, I believe they do not like to look like me. Of course, the invitation for me to take masters is always opened up. The MSCS will be offered in Makati soon. ‘Akalain mo.’ If only DM shift would allow me to enroll, sigh. I talked with my best dudette, Riza and brought some memories back because of our common second degree friend. The teachers wanted for my confirmation of my attendance in 24. I’ll be on the homecoming for sure.

I observed the ‘dep’. Sir TJ was not there. I learned he’s now with ‘his’ company, Microsoft in his dream job I supposed. But several things remain – printers, disassembled computers, the printer, the ref, the round table and the brochures. These are the brochures for several events that are being working on by the faculty as their extra curricular. These are the extra curriculars that made my creativity known. I miss the old days.

Before I left the department, I took a copy of the department student newsletter, Parser. I thought I couldn’t have mine because it used to be a sold out. I also wanted to feel the comfort of sitting on the reddish floor of Engineering while answering my Outlook messages I left from work. There were exchanges of smiles happen among I and the people that passed by. Some already greeted me a happy birthday in advance. I asked them how did they know. Jerry told them.

I took the revived elevator of the Engineering way up for a fun ride with Sir Pio and his students then way down to Cursor tambayan. Well, I plan to go to ACM’s but it was only my thought that it was located on the previous grounds of CompSoc.

I left Melchor Hall. But I know that I will return. Someday.

I headed to university canteen for lunch. I opened my laptop to continue answering emails. Then, my work mates started calling me to escalate. Sigh, I just signaled my ‘contact-able’ presence after I replied to their emails.

I went to my favorite food shop in Katipunan, Cielo’s to buy doughnuts, the goodies which my whole family likes best.

I just had a good day before going to bed, my favorite destination this vacation.