I live in a compound that sits right beside the Ateneo de Davao High School campus. I’m up early for my flight to Manila — actually, I’ve been up for an hour already. From last night till this early morning, I’d been hearing rambunctious noises over at the campus. Kids. Must’ve spent the night there for a school activity.
If my folks could’ve heard them, they would’ve thrown a fit. My folks, I mean. But I didn’t mind. Hearing them chat and hoot and guffaw and go about their antics made me recollect my own time in high school (which wasn’t all that long ago… or so I try to convince myself).
Some years ago, one of the students threw a plastic bag over our common wall and into our backyard. We thought it was trash, but something was moving inside! It was a cat, the poor thing. My sister, who was still living with us that time, was so furious. But I was secretly amused. Kids.
I never did anything like that back in high school, although I had my share of pranks here and there. I was the one who covered for my more mischievous friends. Although on rare occasions I did turn them in, just for good measure of credibility with the powers that were.
And even then, we were already living beside the same campus. (And we were often late!) That means I’ve been living here for… well, some considerable time now. 
In my teens, Matina used to be an idyllic location, with large swaths of unused residential lands, a few shops in some street corners, and not much else. Just houses mostly. But now, it has become a bustling neighborhood, and has almost turned into a commercial district. A number of houses have been turned into restaurants and stores now, especially those near St. Paul Parish.
And the high school and grade school — boy! — they’re overflowing to the brim! Back then, we were only five sections of 30-40 students each. Now, they say the first-year level has 20+ sections with at least 40 students in each! And you can hear they’re that many. (Is it because Davao’s population has ballooned that much? Or is this a sign of commercialism in education…?)
Some of my relatives in the compound are musing about moving out and selling… but it can’t be done unless all of us agree. You see, it’s a walled property with eleven lots, and I guess the value of each won’t amount to much unless they’re all disposed of together. Besides, it would be rather strange to have non-relatives living (or operating a shop or something) in the compound with us.
It would be sad if we moved out, after almost two decades here (that’s an aggregate number for all my relatives here, so don’t try guessing my age! hehehe). But then, this place is so huge! Thing is, I don’t think we’ll ever agree as one on this issue. Also, one of my aunts is only now having her house built. So that’s that.
Like I said, I don’t really mind the noise. Hearing those kids on the other side of the wall keeps me feeling young.
Oh boy… is this what they call emo blogging?? 
helow po!! pwede po ba pa exchange links??? I have added you na sa blog ko before pa. sana po ma add nyo rin ako.
http://didyouknow.blogsome.com.. Maraming Salamat Po!!! God Bless!
Oh boy… is this what they call emo blogging??
—
yes.
and shut it- you live in a nice area.
I just saw this blog while bloghopping.
It could have been the CAT officers training. They (those who are in training) spent a week (I guess) in school for their “survival camp”
No, I guess this is what they call sentimental blogging. To be an emo blogger, you’ll probably have to cut your wrist and spill some blood on this post. Lol. No offense to the emo culture; but I guess they’re already used to it by now. Haha.
Hey, is this the school near MTS? It’s been a while since I’ve been to Davao. And to tell you, your place is really amazing. I love everything about Davao. The place, the people, the atmosphere . .
I haven’t been to Davao during school days. Hopefully, by the time I’m done with school, I’ll be able to take a visit and see what it’s like there during school days.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to come back there during the summer. And hopefully, by then, I’ll be able to have a decent digital camera already so that I can write about how I see Davao.
Hi Marion! Your writing about Davao would be very welcome indeed. I see you have a blog about Mindanao. I hope you’ll join the Mindanao Bloggers Community — pls check out http://www.mindanaobloggers.com. :)
Blogie, thanks for the invite. I already saw mindanaobloggers a couple of days ago. That’s where I found your blog. But I miss the ‘register’ part. Thanks! Now I’m part of the community.
Anyway, yes, I started a blog about Mindanao almost 2 months ago. It’s actually meant to be for a school project, but I decided to extend it beyond the school limits. Looks like I needed that nudge from school to start blogging. (And a good timing for the coming summit.)
Thanks for checking it out. :)
And thank you for welcoming me in writing about Davao. Again, I say your place is truly amazing. Davao is one of those places in the map wherein a writer has all the raw materials (and apparently, even in excess) needed for him/her to write about anything. And I literally meant that.
Are you one of the guys who came up with the idea of mindanaoblogger? Thank you guys building the community! For a short while there, I thought I was alone in this sentiment. Just goes to show I’m still too young in this world.
Yes, you might say I convened the Mindanao Bloggers Community. :)
Hey it’s never too young to have your own ideas, Marion. Good luck with your blogging — I hope you don’t stop!
See you at MBS3! To register, pls go to http://www.mbscdo.com
Thanks!
I don’t wanna swallow my words when the time comes, but as of now, I have no plans in stopping. :)
And same here, I hope you guys don’t stop what you’re doing. You really have good posts. It keeps me connected with places other than my own.
And yes, I’ve already pre-registered for the event. I guess I’ll see you guys there then!
hey, i was searching for blog posts about davao when i chanced upon this post. i was at ADDU from the early 80′s till i was sent to manila (mid 80′s) and lived at molave and kalamansi streets which was a fifteen minute brisk walk from school. i had no idea that the school has grown that much. goodness, it seems like the good fathers have decided to mass produce.
i have a vague memory of the adjacent houses. as far as i can recall, the floirendos lived at the corner and a high school classmate of mine (superables) lived a few doors down. we used to have the backfield and the frontfield. it used to be that if one is about to engage in a fistfight (kuno), the student would challenge his opponent to do it at the backfield. do you recall sightings of mr. floirendo’s chopper? it used to land at the backfield.
Hahaha!! We have the same memories! Construction of the houses in our compound was started in the early 80s, if I’m not mistaken — it’s after the backfield.