Our Manila Trip

Jian Bolotaolo 

Grade 12 - Sartre 

In 2024, I traveled to Manila and began studying at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School. It was my first time stepping into a private school, and from the very beginning, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. I knew this experience would be unlike my old school, and I was curious about how it would change me.

The moment I entered the campus, everything felt different. The classrooms and even the hallways were cooled by air-conditioning, a small detail that seemed to symbolize the comfort and privilege of the place. My classmates all looked so beautiful and handsome, dressed neatly and confidently, and I sometimes felt like I was in another world. The school also had a music room filled with pianos and violins. The sound of those instruments filled the air with melodies that sparked my curiosity and made me eager to learn something new.

But what struck me the most was not the facilities it was the presence of the nuns. Two of my teachers were nuns, and they guided us not only in academics but also in faith and values. Sometimes, I would join them in their evening prayers from six to eight. Those moments of silence and devotion gave me joy, peace, and a sense of belonging. It felt like their prayers were guiding me, helping me find strength in the challenges of adapting to a new environment.

My days at St. Anthony were more than just lessons in a classroom. They were about discovering a different world, one filled with discipline, kindness, music, and faith. I learned to appreciate the blessings in front of me, to be grateful for new opportunities, and to find joy not just in comfort, but in prayer and reflection. That chapter of my journey in Manila became more than an academic experience it was a spiritual and personal growth that I will always carry with me.