Hello everyone!
End of the year. End of the #winterchallenge and this is my one and only entry. This is not even a proper entry. It's so difficult to join a #winterchallenge when you're from a place of long and bright sunny days. Anyway, my 2024 has been nothing but challenge after challenge. Since I already poured out my negativity in my previous post, let me share something neutral.
I won't promise this will be the last time that I will capitalize the trauma that happened to me, but you don't have to worry about me because I'm already okay (at least for now). It's just that when talk about these places, there's always an attached memory or feeling. That's why I rarely post when I'm down or sad because it will bleed out in the post. Let me just say that when it feels too much, you can always reach out to people who cares for you. I'm just glad I found a lot, both online and offline.
When you say Ayala Center Cebu or Cebu Business Park, it's one of the premier business and commercial districts that can rival Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Makati City, or any development centers in the country. For me, it's more than just any shopping district because it's probably the only place where we hang out after exams during our college days. It's also the place where I withdrew my allowance from my scholarship every first Monday of the month. I always felt I knew the place like the back of my hand, but recent developments were at a pace that there's always something new every month.
When I said to @thestrollingmind that I was sad for no reason, she immediately invited me to run with her at Ayala. I was reluctant at first, but she was relentless. She wanted to drag me out of my hellhole. I then gave in, but I said I won't be running with her. Instead, I'll just wear something decent and just walk around the area. Before I'll forget, let me just say that this was back in September. Back when I was struggling with self-inflicted pain.
As we arrived in the area, I felt so out of place. A lot of people were in their running gear. I realized that fun runs might be the newest dating site in Cebu.
We started to walk shortly after sunset and the blue hour vibe is all over the place, but after a few minutes, the sky then eventually became dark. As we were walking, we talked about my apparent sadness for no reason. It was a good thing I agreed to go out of my house and do something new or be in a different environment. As we continued walking and talking, I can't help but notice that the place felt like a convergence of a lot of people from all walks of life. From students to running enthusiasts, it was brimming with movement.
It was so therapeutic to just stroll around without aim or agenda. It was just pure walking and emptying the mind from unnecessary worries of the things that might not happen.
After a few turns and laps at Negros and Bantayan Roads, we decided to go to Samar Loop and towards Ayala Center. I can't help but think about those people who thought Cebu is a rural place. Imagine there are still people in Manila who ask if Cebu has malls and skyscrapers. Remember that the Philippines is the Top 11 country with the most skyscrapers in the world. In terms of malls, the Philippines has this mall culture. It has more malls than public parks, which is sad to think about, but I find it funny that there still people who thought we live in a third world country. We just have a corrupt government and I don't know how will we able to solve that, but we are a developing country.
Before I veer off to a different conversation, here are the photos taken somewhere in Samar Loop:
I was thinking that these places might be unrecognizable in the next 10-15 years. Considering the level of development Cebu has in the recent years, it's not far-fetched to think that we might be looking at towering buildings in the future. I entered one of the subdivisions in Kasambagan and it's in between Ayala and IT Park and felt like I was transported to a different country.
We then decided to have dinner at Ayala Center Cebu after that short walk. It was short, but it was exactly what I needed at that time to have some clarity.
I guess that's all for this post. Happy New Year, everyone! See you all in this space in 2025 and may you all have prosperous year. As for me, I don't want to ask anything for this new year except for my sister to be fully okay and to be on clinical remission the soonest. May we all get what we long for!
Kim Ybañez
Welcome to Kim's small corner in Hive. He is a chemical engineer by profession but a blogger by passion. He is a wanderlust and an adventure seeker. Join his quests as he visits remote destinations, climbs mountains, tries new and exotic dishes, and explores his country (The Philippines). He's also a trying-hard photographer, so stay tuned as he shares his photos and his thought process while creating them.
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