Semester Break: A Commendable One or Not?

          “All our life passes in this way: we seek rest by struggling against certain obstacles, and once they are overcome, rest proves intolerable because of the boredom it produces.” – Blaise Pascal.

            After a long wait, the Semester Break was finally over. I guess this is the right time to rebuild the broken equanimity (perhaps due to the recently concluded Issuance of Cards last 25 October) as we indulge to the Third Quarter of triumphs and failures. You all guys are excited, don’t you dare deny it. But before we finally move on, let us take a look back at the memories brought about by the recently concluded Semester Break. Were they commendable enough to reminisce or not? 

          Actually, the answer will really depend upon the person concerned. For me, absolutely it was a tedious one. I got nothing else to carry out at home aside from riding my bicycle early in the morning and store keeping the rest of my day. In fairness, my lackluster “Sembreak” had grown better-off this October 28 (Monday) as I, together with my family and relatives had a good time on my 15^th birth anniversary. Simple, yet exceptional; that’s how my birthday went on.

            It happened that I woke up late at around six in the morning that day. I wasn’t expecting for a profligate birthday blow-out, for I really don’t want to have such. So I got into the store and made my daily routine: checking yesterday’s sales and having sales inventory. It was Barangay Elections then, that’s why people started to get hectic with their plans and last-minute campaign. I don’t even have a time to ride on my bicycle, for everyone was truly occupied. Like what I’m doing before, I got into the church to express gratitude to the Lord Almighty for another year He has given me. 

            When I got home at nine, everyone in the house started to prepare for the parsimonious birthday celebration. I got a dozen sticks of barbecue, a couple of liters of ice cream, a circular basket of pancit bihon and of course, the cake. It was mealtime when my uncle and aunt together with my youngest cousin came along to have some good time with us. Everything seemed to be typical, of course with the exception of the foods that we shared which is usually on a birthday gathering only.

            After almost an hour of mealtime, my mom got into the precinct to cast her votes for the aspiring Barangay Chairmen and Councilors. When she got home, my dad and I proceeded. That was the time when I finally took a glance at the glamour of my previous institution after three years upon commencement exercises. After casting his votes, we got home and everything had become usual all over again.

            The subsequent days of my week-long holiday were filled with tediousness and boredom. Like my previous routine of activities, I rode on my bicycle in the morning and did some business matters the rest of the day. In order for me not to get totally jaded, I deposited my savings in the commercial bank on Tuesday (October 29) and went shopping every now and then. My mom will have the extensive list with me and right away, I went to the nearby grocery store. That goes every day, except on Wednesday (October 30). The reason why is that we, my dad and I were scheduled to have the annual maintenance of the sepulcher of my great grandparents in the Catholic Cemetery roughly a kilometer away from our vicinity. It was my first time to have with me the paint brush and started painting the walls and ceiling of the grave. I even polished the granite of the grave. It took us more or less a quarter of the day having the annual maintenance.

           When we got home at three in the afternoon, I just took a bath and went on shopping (because I can’t help myself not to get shopping on that particular day) once more. It was a short list after all, so I just seized up half an hour shopping. As I went down the tricycle, I instantaneously check the items and have it priced before putting them to a display.

            On the 31^st of October, instead of thinking about the Halloween attires, I just opened my piggy bank to count off my savings. In fact, that piggy bank was last opened on 2009: roughly four years from now. I counted every coins and found out that it was actually ₱ 12 000.00. I got no more time to have them deposited in the bank, for tomorrow is an official non-working holiday in observance of the All Saints’ Day. Better to keep it first in the cabin and have it deposited soon.

            On the All Saints’ Day (November 01), my dad and I went to the cemetery having a couple of sets of flowers and multihued candles with us at exactly half past one in the afternoon. As we got there, the scorching heat of the sun started to shatter. That particular moment was said to be the most tedious time of all. I forgot my earphones, nothing to seat on (for the bleacher was too hot) and the ambiance seemed to get even fetid as people continues to pass by our area. After nearly an hour, we decided to get out of the congested cemetery.

            Nevertheless, in spite of boredom which mesmerized my mind during this recent “Sembreak”, at least I had a remarkable birthday celebration even without her greeting me on my most precious day. Thanks to my family and relatives, for they made not just my birthday, but also the whole week a more meaningful one.