Last Updated on April 13, 2017 by Marie Bautista
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| A photo by Avian Quest: Mukha ng Baguio |
After living in our laid back Baguio
City for most of my older brother’s childhood, moving to Quezon City was quite
a shock. I kid you not. Wide gardens and hills with pine trees and
sunflowers were replaced by concrete roads and a garage too small only his car
can fit in. His son has to do some extra
effort to squeeze his bike in. The early
morning chirping of birds and the nighttime cricket songs were replaced by
blaring horns and car engines, and instead of a garden, he has a few sad
terracotta pots with wilting plants.
Inside, he claims that the place is too small that if he closes all
windows and opens his ref, he will have centralized air conditioner. But of course, he was kidding. His house was okay. Maybe, he just misses the
wide space he has back home, where shoes don’t make their way to the doorstep
(they have their own special shelf) and almost everything school and
work-related was done on the dining table.
City for most of my older brother’s childhood, moving to Quezon City was quite
a shock. I kid you not. Wide gardens and hills with pine trees and
sunflowers were replaced by concrete roads and a garage too small only his car
can fit in. His son has to do some extra
effort to squeeze his bike in. The early
morning chirping of birds and the nighttime cricket songs were replaced by
blaring horns and car engines, and instead of a garden, he has a few sad
terracotta pots with wilting plants.
Inside, he claims that the place is too small that if he closes all
windows and opens his ref, he will have centralized air conditioner. But of course, he was kidding. His house was okay. Maybe, he just misses the
wide space he has back home, where shoes don’t make their way to the doorstep
(they have their own special shelf) and almost everything school and
work-related was done on the dining table.
Moving from a spacious house to a
tight townhouse may be dreadful for some, but it was a total nightmare for
him. He finally did accept that small
spaces have their own brand of charm and practical appeal and was able to make
his house work for him by embarking on a DIY maximize-my-home-space project.
tight townhouse may be dreadful for some, but it was a total nightmare for
him. He finally did accept that small
spaces have their own brand of charm and practical appeal and was able to make
his house work for him by embarking on a DIY maximize-my-home-space project.
Another thing he can’t get over, though, is the
traffic and likewise, driving and maintaining a car in the metropolis! He tries
to keep his car in tiptop shape, but the heat, the grime and the flood (Manila
does go underwater most of the rainy season!).
Good thing he is a car enthusiast and usually has his car maintained at
automotive shops properly equipped with top of the line otc tools. Having your
vehicle properly maintained does go a long way and will save you a lot of
headaches later on. Be sure that you are
going to shops properly equipped with modern automotive tools, too. He does love to DIY (most guys are like that)
and he tinkers with his car on weekends. He has a whole bunch of automotive tools, too.
traffic and likewise, driving and maintaining a car in the metropolis! He tries
to keep his car in tiptop shape, but the heat, the grime and the flood (Manila
does go underwater most of the rainy season!).
Good thing he is a car enthusiast and usually has his car maintained at
automotive shops properly equipped with top of the line otc tools. Having your
vehicle properly maintained does go a long way and will save you a lot of
headaches later on. Be sure that you are
going to shops properly equipped with modern automotive tools, too. He does love to DIY (most guys are like that)
and he tinkers with his car on weekends. He has a whole bunch of automotive tools, too.
He has been in the metropolis for
quite a long time now, but he still loves to come home to Baguio to take in the
fresh air (which was way fresher when he left twenty years ago). The traffic isn’t as bad, though.
quite a long time now, but he still loves to come home to Baguio to take in the
fresh air (which was way fresher when he left twenty years ago). The traffic isn’t as bad, though.
There is no place like your childhood home. This applies at this situation you shared.
I think I could relate with your brother. Although I have lived in the city all my life, I wish I could have a home surrounded by nature just because I want to have a place where my kids could grow up in without inhaling air pollution.
I come from the "province" too. And even though I enjoy the perks of living in the metro, there are still days that I long for the rural life. 🙂 Simpler, happier life.
I can relate. After spending time in a quiet spacious place with a slower pace, City life is always jarring. Hope he'll adjust. 😉
I worked in Quezon City for two years, although I missed the malls, the divi, the quiapo because of its goods, hindi ko pa rin ipagpapalit and province life. I'm so thankful that after two years in Head Office I got transferred back in Mindanao.
If ever I've lived all my life in Baguio (which is just my ultimate dream after graciously enjoying and envying the place) I don't think I'll ever see myself living in another planet or Manila for that matter. The thing is, I'm from Cebu and it's a cool and laid-back province and one that city-life people like to reside in also so I'm good where I am now also.:-)
Nothing can replace the provincial life. Hope he is already able to adjust with life in Manila.
I agree. Aside from that, cost of living is higher than the province. I've been working in Quezon City for 2 years now and my life gets into it.
-anne lei
its really different sa province. the cost of living is a little bit lower compared if you're in the metro.
I live in the City and I cant wait to get the hell out of here! I need more freedom to do as I please in my own property where theres low crime rate. *le sigh.
xx,
klee
kisskissbyklee.blogspot.com
Living in the city is indeed hard compared if you are in the province. I have to admit here there are more opportunities, support groups, better hospitals and universities. But once you get older your soul longs for everything that is quite and simple. I do plan on living in the province once my kids have finished their studies and we are all financially and emotionally content.
Do you ever visit your brother's place too? Let me know ha, para we could meet naman…
The scenarios you've mentioned are true, hahaha! And living in the province is more appealing to me than in the metropolis.
living in city is difficult and expensive compared living in the province.. Rosemarie/Gven-Rose
Home is always where the heart is=)