Looking Back at a Place We Called Home

Yup, we are 85% done with unpacking all our boxes and have settled beautifully in our home here in New Manila...but before I completely move on, allow me to share my fond memories in a place I called HOME for the past 3 years.

"Unit 12C Tower 3, Governor's Place Condominium, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong"...this is our rehearsed and memorized dialogue whenever Saul and I order from McDo, KFC or Shakey's. It's a 34sqm studio unit but it had everything we needed : a place for the bed, a kitchen for our cooking utensils and appliances, a dining area that also served as our work area, a spacious bathroom, a few square meters for our TV and a view of busy Ortigas and Makati. We love it at Governor's Place. It was just a few kilometers away from Globe and Nestle, there was Cherry Foodarama that helped us keep within our grocery budgets, a Lavandera Ko laundromat just a few steps away, Megamall and Shangri-la Mall were an easy drive, Medical City was also just nearby...convenience and proximity plus safety was what made this place home.

Moving into Governor's Place was our first attempt (and might I say a successful one) to live independently from our parents. Our small family started out as just me and Saul then it extended to include Kudos, our lovable miniature daschund. When Nikki came into our lives, Unit 12C also embraced our baby into its small space but it was enough space to live happily. Then, seeing that Kudos was getting lonely given that we were so focused on our baby, we added Flower, a sweet and playful female mini daschund.

Now that Christmas is just around the corner, I can't help but remember the years that have gone that I would always find myself enjoying the firecracker display of SM Megamall from our small window. I love seeing the beautiful colors in the sky and I get enthralled by the BANG BANG BANGs.

I also miss the times when I could get off at work early and just walk down the garden lane of the condominium as the sun's light fades from the skies and I would just have thoughts of "Glad I'm home early." During the first year Kudos was with us, I would take walks with him in the garden area and just enjoy the quiet time.

When I think of Governor's Place, I also am reminded of the people who I crossed paths with : the security guards who knew us so well and assisted us at all times, the staff at the Lavandera Ko, the sales people at Babyland who helped me choose items for my baby, the people at Nail Care, the entire staff of the Governor's Place Administration, our neighbors who would sometimes call admin to complain about our barking pets...

When we go to office and get to pass by Shaw Boulevard, I am touched by the fact that the same guards who would guide our cars in and out of the condo and who would help fetch me a taxi when I commuted, would recognize our car pass by and wave at us.

I thank God for the gift of HOME in Governor's Place. I love that place and it will forever be a part of our lives.