Came across an article about my home-away-from-home for 4 years at UPLB. T'was a life-changing experience. My first taste of independence..And after 12 years in super conservative St. Scho this was my big step to freedom.
The UP Men's Residence Hall...or Men's Co-Ed Dorm.. (Mens na nga, coed pa?-you ask..)
Brief History: (http://www.uplb.edu.ph/admin/shd/dorms.html)
Men's Residence Hall was originally a one-building dormitory, which accommodates male students. However, due to the increasing population of male students because of the expansion of courses offered in the university, four buildings were added in 1968. In 1974, two buildings were converted to house the increasing female population. In 1982 to the present, three buildings were assigned to the female residents.
In the first semester of SY 2001-2002, a new policy was instituted to gradually transform the dormitory into a "Kalayaan" type (patterned after the dormitory in U.P. Diliman) that caters only to new freshmen. Upper classmen will be allowed to stay until they graduate. In 2004, Men's Residence Hall will be exclusively for new freshmen, which will only be allowed to stay for one year.
I shared Room 2103 with 3 upperclassmen who gave me a solid orientation on campus survival and the mysterious 'blue book'. I occupied the top bunk by the window, a comfortable rather confining space. I figured this was a surefire way to attract a Makiling ghost. Imagine the stories I would tell my chain-smoking friends.
Unfortunately I had no ghost stories to tell. I did find it disturbing to see a "bayawak" hanging out by my window & eventually decided to make this his home. Friendly neighborhood bayawak. Had to get used to the tuko that tuko'd-tuko'd-tuko'd all thru the night and was intentionally annoying the crap out of my freshman butt. Thank God for screened windows.
Not everything here is rural. This, by the way, is UP's home of biological sciences. Los Banos being a nature park of sorts probably breeds the biggest specie of millipedes in the RP. I detest slimy creepy crawling creatures and everything in larvae form. But just like the bayawak, they have an affinity for the cold moist cement wall near my cozy space. Imagine the horror of finding one creepy crawler getting cozy under my mattress. I had no recollection how I jumped from the top bunk 5 feet from the floor & ran out like a bra-less maniac.
But aside from all the nature-tripping...my stay at the dorm was an eye-opener. Yes I did line up for the shower like a big hollywood blockbuster movie. There was a water supply schedule that I had to organize along with your class schedule. I paid less than P200 a month for my rent including electricity for this (moi) spoiled brat's necessities: mini-component and mini-refrigerator. I was even voted Dorm Treasurer which happened to be the most boring extra-curricular experience of my life. I watched TV along with 30 other occupants under the mercy of the fratboy jerk with the remote. But I learned to make this my home away from home. My family - 3 girls and 637 others under the same roof.
2 comments:
hello i'm an incoming freshman at UPLB. i was wondering how many students are in one room and how are things around men's dorm like are you allowed to cook there, where to do the laundry, and other facilities.
I lived in the coed dorm in 1978. It was one of my unforgettable experience, I worked as a receptionist so I wouldn't use up my scholarship allowance on paying my rent. Shared a room with four other freshmen but my bed was the separate one. Really enjoyed the open house! Would never forget how my roommates and I shared whatever little we have before payday, usually eating supersweet corn. Learned to sleep with lights on because some wanted to study at midnight,study groups before exams, debut invitations (Cristina Ramos, the daughter of Gen. Fidel Ramos, lived next room), answering the intercom,the ghost, etc, etc. These are some of my fun memories at the Men's Dorm.
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