AN ORDINARY DAY

The University of the Philippines high school in Cebu celebrated its Family Day last Sunday, February 26, 2007.

A week before the big day was a very tiring and stressful week because the school also celebrated its Science and Technology week. There was only a very limited time in practicing the Field Demonstration because everyone was busy with his or her Science Exhibits. The tents were decorated the day before the Family Day.

During the big day, the program started with a holy mass from 8:00- 9:00 in the morning because it was a Sunday. But not all families joined the holy mass because some of them are non-Catholics. After the mass was the Field-Demonstration, which was the high light of the occasion.

After all the dancing, there was a soccer game between the freshies and the sophies. The freshies won the game with a score of 1-0. After I watched the game, I went back to our tent and when I was on my way to the tent, I saw a store inside the campus that was selling dairy products. I bought a milky bar and when I tasted it, I was addicted to it and bought more bars. I finished 5 bars and still I was not contented but the store ran out of my favorite chocolate flavor so I stopped buying.

When it was time for lunch, all gathered in the table and prayed. It was time to eat but I do not have utensils because not one member of my family came. They were all busy because it was a Sunday. But it’s just fine, I understand my parents. I was so thankful to John Paul’s mom because she lend me the utensils I needed. I ate together with my friends. This was my first Family Day that I did not eat with my family.

After I was done eating, I was very thirsty but I was thankful again because my girl friend’s mother gave me a drink. After I drank, I rested for a while and the program in the afternoon started. A lot of games are to be played by students, parents and teachers in the program. I did not join any because for me, those games were boring. They do not have any ball games so I went to the covered court and played my own game. I played basketball the whole afternoon. I did not listen to the winners of the raffle tickets. I just stayed and played in the basketball court the whole afternoon.

I played with my friends and some alumni and outsiders or should I say visitors. I did not notice that it was almost 3:30 in the afternoon so when I look at the watch, I hurriedly went back to the tent and saw my girlfriend packing up their things and told me that they would go home because the family day has ended. I thought my girlfriend was mad at me because I played the whole afternoon without her permission but she just smiled and told me were just fine.

So I changed my clothes, packed my things and said goodbye to my girlfriend and her family. For me, it was just a very ordinary day. I did not feel the spirit of the family day unlike the past 3 years. Maybe it’s because of the Sci-Tech week that gave us a very little time to prepare for the big day or maybe it’s just because my family wasn’t there with me.