Unexpected Adventures

TAGUM CITY, PHILIPPINES- I never thought I was going to cover the country’s largest annual youth sporting event, Palarong Pambansa. Two of my college friends and I were asked to cover for a prominent online news portal in the Philippines. A fresh college graduate, I have been in the waters of photojournalism ever since; the opportunity was priceless. Albeit giving out my contact details, the desk editor didn’t initially email me.

It was a Monday night, and my friend asked me to fill her in for the next day’s events. She was dead tired from the coverage. I wanted to understand her exhaustion, and so I went for it. That same night, I told my mother about it. She took it lightly and thought I wasn't serious

Morning came, and I was set for my travel. A 1 hour and 30 minute from Davao City, Tagum is quite far from where I live. Suddenly, my parents went berserk. They didn’t trust me with the whole travelling thing; they decided to take me there themselves.

The whole car ride was exhausting despite of me only sitting at the back seat. My parents, especially my mom, grilled me good. The bottle of frustration was slowly filling. Upon reaching the sports venue, I quickly stepped out of the car. In spite all these, I opened myself to a possibility of new experiences. Tagum City wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I have been it a couple of times, but the exhilaration of being in a different place always take over me. The sight of tall palm trees and new buildings made me look around fervently. The whole course of the day went, and I loved every minute of work.

Afternoon came, and it was time to go home. Tagum had a different sun. It was scorching even at 4 o’ clock pm. My mom suddenly bombarded me with phone calls telling me to go home. I picked up my bag and went to the pedicab station. She kept calling, and I began swearing along the sidewalk. Finally, I was able to get a pedicab. I even went mean with the driver. The bottle of frustration was filled to the brim, and I just cried. Hurriedly, I ran to the first bus I saw bound for Davao City. I desperately wanted to find a seat, and a miracle came. Vaughn, a colleague, was sitting alone next to an empty one. I shouted with happiness inside an apparently silent bus. Luckily, I wasn’t going home alone. With puffy eyes, I stepped inside my house still with frustration but with happiness, because my photos were published in national news. Tagum City taught me the struggles of being independent and working for passion.