This is last Saturday's adventure. *Sayang, di ako makapag-transfer ng pics sa computer.*
Before. I spent the night at our office in Quezon City - my Travel Earth comrades are my "house mates" every Friday, before a scheduled tour. I was not able to watch
Attic Cat with them; I wanted to examine Zar's brochures about Manila. Zar and I went up early - ten o'clock, maybe? - but instead of reading about tomorrow's destinations we ended up updating each other on happenings since we convened last. The news were not as fresh, but SMS is just too narrow for juicy details
Frank, our boss, also dropped by for a short talk.
It's lights-out by eleven, but we can't sleep. We're not in the mood to study, either, so we talked some more. I have no idea exactly what time I drifted to sleep - it must've been after midnight. I set an earlier alarm so that we can review before packing up. I woke up at 1:30 in the morning - the alarm was supposed to rouse us thirty minutes later, but the smell of breakfast Ate Mila was preparing downstairs can penetrate even the most beautiful of dreams. Freshly cooked rice, plus hotdogs, eggs and corned beef... whoa, it's just too hard to resist!
I took a bath while Zar still lounged on the bed. After stuffing my things in my backpack, I started to read, but gave up pretty easily. I watched the moon instead; I was mesmerized. By 4:00am (or 4:30?) we picked up the packed meals for the other guides and headed to the door. There was a taxi parked near the office, and we could've boarded it, but the driver was quite argumentative - drunk? - and we couldn't find another taxi in the area so we walked all the way to the main road and rode a jeep towards Muñoz, where our pick-up buses, and some guides, were waiting. The coordinators and the guides went on separate ways - we're touring three schools for the day, 44 buses in all.
During. This is my third tour, but it's the first time that I would actually handle a bus on my own. I was assigned to Bus 7 of Comembo Elementary School, a public school in Makati. Our itinerary for the day are the following:
1. DOST (Bicutan, Taguig) - Philippine Science Heritage Center; Technology Applications and Promotions Institute
2. Philippine Air Force Museum (Pasay)
3. Nayong Pilipino (Parañaque)
4. Meralco Museum and Archives (Ortigas, Pasig)
5. Intramuros / WOW Philippines (Manila)
I handled grade three pupils. I thought it'd be easy enough. I was wrong.
My talk needn't be too informative, yes, but I must think of ways to entertain them. That's what I am here for, right? But these are hyper-active kids. And what do third graders of this generation like to hear, anyways?
I delivered corny jokes:
Kunwari nananaginip ka. Nananaginip kang may humahabol sa 'yo. Syempre ayaw mo yun, di ba. Takot na takot ka na. Maaabutan ka na nya! Ano ang gagawin mo para di ka maabutan ng humahabol sa 'yo? *Isip naman sila*
Eh di gumising ka! Bwahaha!
We played guessing games:
Anong apelyido ang merong walong letter A? *Isip uli sila*
Eh di OCHO-A!!! Bwahaha!
Magbigay nga kayo ng pangalan ng isda na dalawang beses inuulit yung pantig? *Taas sila ng kamay, nagbigay ng sagot tulad ng sapsap, lapulapu, mayamaya, etc.*
Eh yung tatlong beses inuulit, meron ba kayong alam? *Isip uli sila*
Sirit na? Eh di 555!!! Bwahaha!
And I sang. Yes, I did. Would you believe that??? I couldn't believe it myself... I almost told them that I only look like Sarah Geronimo, but we don't share the same golden voice.. hehe
Alam nyo ba yung "Tong-tong-tong Pakitong-kitong"? *Opo!*
Opo? O sige, kakantahin natin yun ngayon. Pero gagawin nating kakaiba. Alam nyo yung A, E, I, O, U di ba? *Opo!*
OK!!! So pag kinanta natin yun, gagamitan natin ng A, E, I, O, U!!!! Ready na ba??? *Ready na po!!!*
One, two, three...!
Tang-tang-tang-tang pakatang-katang
Alamanga sa dagat
Malaka at masarap
Maharap mahala
Sapagkat nangangagat...!
O, E naman! Pero lakasan nyo ha! Para namang kulang kayo sa Sangkap Pinoy nyan eh! OK, let's sing...!
We sang until we finished the vowels. I talked nonstop from Makati to Taguig. No wonder I was exhausted by the time we reached DOST.
One good thing, though: When I'm with the children I watch my language (of course!). Surprisingly, it's easy enough to do - although if you know me personally I am sure you'd find that hard to believe... hehe
The Air Force Museum was interesting; I also liked the Meralco Museum. It's my first time to see these places. Actually, the whole itinerary is new to me, with the exception of DOST and Nayong Pilipino, which was part of the package during my first two tours.
We ate lunch at Nayong Pilipino. I was worried - a student approached me and told me she couldn't find her younger sister, who's also included in my head count before we left the school. We checked the bus - nada. We roamed the whole park, only to find the missing girl back in the vehicle (well, thank God for that!).
Eman saw me walking hand-in-hand with the little girl. He laughed and teased me, "Tour guide na tour guide ah...!"
There's nothing like the feel of a small hand in yours - a gesture of respect and full trust.
At Intramuros, I let them roam instead of touring them in a single group. They wanted to do completely different things - some wanted to shop for souvenirs, some wanted to take a ride in the calesa, some just wanted to run around. Instead of tiring them walking around the park (which was what I originally intended to do, because I wanted to show them the landmarks there), I set up a meeting place where we'd assemble thirty minutes later.
Another student approached me to find a sibling. This time it's the child I accompanied in Nayong Pilipino who was missing! When we finally found her, I told the sisters: "Wag na nga kayong maghiwalay! PAKPAKPAK!!!" We laughed and took pictures instead.
The children wanted to go to Luneta before finally going home, but the teachers decided to go home early. It's not advisable anyway, because Bro. Mike Velarde will celebrate his birthday at the Quirino Grandstand and thousands of El Shaddai members flocked the park.
It was a tiring day, but I was happy because when I dropped them off at their school, I heard some of them singing our version of "Tong-tong-tong...", and some are repeating my delivery of "Saaam..." (a relaxing "exercise" that I taught them on the way home... I first heard this one from Jonathan
)
*God, I love this job.*
After. We left Makati at 8pm. It was early and I think Frank had plans of eating out, but Zar and I had an appointment with some friends and it's still a long way from there to our friend's place - Angono, Rizal... haha!
I finally got home at the first hour of August 21... so I was away from home for almost two days. I still managed to visit my Tabulas and reply to comments left by visitors. I was too tired to compose anything, though.
Well, I must say that tour-guiding satisfies my thirst for history and travel. And the nice part is, I am given the chance to share what I know with the next generation.
"Inosente... hinipo sa unang beses... Inoseeeente..." 
Tangina mo Froi... MUWAAHH!!! Labyu... TSUP!!! 
You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!
You are pure, moral, and adaptable. You tend to blend into your surroundings. Shy on the outside, you're outspoken to your friends. You believe that you live a virtuous life... and you tend to judge others with a harsh eye. As a result, people tend to crave your approval.
You are dreamy, peaceful, and young at heart. Optimistic and caring, you tend to see the best in people. You tend to be always smiling - and making others smile. You are shy and intelligent... and a very hard worker. You're also funny, but many people don't see your funny side. Your subtle dry humor leaves your close friends in stitches.
