Mga Istoryang Sinauna: Calesa Ride

As every Thomasian knows, the University of Santo Tomas becomes an island during the rainy season. Alam ko naman yan -- I was (still am) just so darn stubborn. I used to live in a dormitory a block away from the university, para madali akong makauwi after classes, especially in the event of floods.

Minsan, classes were cancelled around 9 am kasi may bagyo yata or lumalakas ang ulan. However, it was my friend's 18th birthday and she invited us to her house for lunch. I think almost everyone in our section was there. Ayaw pa sana naming umalis kaso tumataas na ang tubig, but like ankle deep pa lang naman. My classmate, itago na lang natin sa pangalang Coco, was staying in a dormitory near mine so nagsabay kami pabalik. Kaso walang kaming masakyan. No jeepneys or cabs or trikes. Seriously, who in their right mind would leave their house? So naglakad kami ni Coco. Mahirap maglakad sa baha. Ang dami pa namang mga missing manhole covers. We mostly stayed sa gitna ng kalsada. Eventually, nakasakay kami ng cab, pero di pa nakakalayo, pinababa na kami ng taxi driver kasi malalim yun tubig and he decided to turn back. At least dun nya kami ibinaba sa may España. Balik na naman kami sa paglalakad. Ang bilis tumaas ng tubig. We left around 11:30, and around 12:30, mid-thigh na ang tubig. We didn't have any choice but to go on.

Pagdating namin sa isang kanto, eeeewwww, may lalaking umiihi!!! Nagtatakbo kami ni Coco palayo. Ang arte pa namin eh kung ano-ano na kayang dumi ang na-encounter namin before ang lalaking umiihi na yun? Hahahaha!

Ganyan ang hitsura namin. Hindi kami yan, hello, sepia!

Around 1 pm, may nakita kaming karitela! Yay! First time kong makasakay ng karitela. Excited kami. After a couple of kilometers, biglang, SWOOOSHHH! We were all thrown forward. Coco and I suddenly scrambled to recover our things and our bearing. The poor beast's knees gave way and he fell forward -- ALONG WITH US!!! Sabi ni mamang kutsero, "di pa kasi yan kumakain." Ay, kawawa naman. I don't remember why hindi napakain -- kung wala bang dalang pagkain si manong or ayaw nyang mabasa ang paa nya ng baha. Our valiant steed segued on. Ilang meters na lang malapit sa dorm ni Coco, nadapa na naman ang kabayo! Kapit na kapit kami sa loob. Nahatid na si Coco, ako naman. Thankfully, nakarating sa dorm ko nang hindi na nadadapa si dear horsey. I wanted to hug the horse. Anoba, hindi si mamang kutsero, binayaran naman namin sya. Si dear horsey lang.

Pagdating ko sa dorm, pinagalitan ako. Strict kasi dun, mga madre ang nag-o-operate nung dorm. Kesyo daw cancelled ang class pero di ako umuwi kaagad. Jeez. As if it wasn't enough na mukha akong basang sisiw, kailangan pa talagang sermonan ako. Haaayysss...

Lesson: Pag baha, umuwi kaagad.