The Torch

𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱
By Chona Marie Yepes

‎College was supposed to be all about pressure, deadlines chasing me like shadows, academic works piling up like waves that never rest, and organization duties knocking at my door even before I could breathe. Akala ko ganito lang ang college life: school, then uwi. Repeat.

‎No colors. No detours. Just survival.

‎But then you came, my unexpected plot twist.

‎Sa gitna ng stress at problem sets, may mga taong marunong magpatawa. Sa gitna ng pagod, may mga kamay na hihila sa’yo palabas ng kwarto mo para magpahinga muna.

‎“Girl, san ka?”
‎“Bihis ka na, daanan ka namin.”
‎“Antagal mo, kanina pa kami dito.”
‎“Kadami mong time, ngayon mo pa naisipan mag-prepare? ”

‎And suddenly, the weight on my shoulders feels lighter.

‎Unplanned hangouts became my therapy. Grocery together na parang may sarili tayong cooking show. Learning to cook cinnamon rolls. Watching cinema kahit wala namang special occasion. Joy rides na walang destinasyon basta may tugtog, may tawanan, at may kwentuhan.

‎Sa billiards, cards, basketball, and frisbee, hindi lang laro ang nangyayari. Doon binabawi at inilalabas ang pagod at inis, doon tayo nagpapahinga at tumatawa. Doon nabubuo ang saya at mga simpleng moments natin.

‎Kapag nai-stress ako sa gawain, hindi ninyo ako hinahayaang malunod sa overthinking.

‎“Rest ka muna.”
‎“Sama ka sa amin.”
“Hintayin ka namin.”

‎And just like that, I learn that productivity is not just about finishing tasks; it’s also about knowing when to pause and live.

‎I never experienced these things before. First and second year ko, bahay and school lang ang mundo ko. Tahimik. Routine. Safe.

‎But now? Gala kahit saan depende sa trip ng barkada. Unplanned trips na may halong kaba kasi hindi nakapagpaalam o kaya’y late na makakauwi. Tawanan sa byahe kahit pagod na ang lahat. And the comfort of knowing na kahit magabihan, may maghahatid pauwi. Hatid-sundo, kahit saan. Safe. Valued.

‎Kahit halos lahat kayo lalaki at dalawa lang kaming babae, never naming naramdaman na out of place kami. Instead, princess treatment pa nga. Protected. Respected. Cared for.

‎You taught me that college is not just about grades and achievements. It’s about shared meals at any time. About whispered secrets before or during class and overnights. About praying together. About helping each other with school works: "Paki-sulat ng assignment ko,” “ako na magpapasa,” “nakagawa na ba lahat? ”

‎It’s about asking.

‎“San tayo?”
‎“Anong plano?”

‎And knowing that wherever it is, basta magkakasama tayo, it will be worth it.

‎Because of you, my college life is not boring. It is alive. It is loud with laughter. It is warm with presence. It is steady despite the pressure.

‎Sa gitna ng deadlines, may barkadang uuwian. Sa gitna ng stress, may mga taong pipiliing magpasaya sa’yo.

‎And for that, I am endlessly grateful.

𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐂𝐒𝐔 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲

In consonance with the declaration of the City Government of Cotabato, both classes and office transactions are hereby suspended effective immediately and will resume tomorrow if no further notice for extension by the concerned authorities.

For your information and guidance!

[𝗦𝗴𝗱.] 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗚. 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗻𝗮
𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗸𝗲

Due to safety concerns, Mayor Bruce Matabalao announced suspension of all levels of classes in both public and private school, as well as all works within the offices of the City Government of Cotabato via his official page on the morning of June 8.

Moreover, he encouraged the public to stay vigilant in case of aftershocks and wait for further instructions from concerned authorities.

Text | Zeina Ramirez