27, 28, 29… as I wait for the traffic light to hit 30 to celebrate my third decade of existence, I briefly looked around the place. Taft. This is one of the best spots in this part of the University belt. From a coffee shop in a fairly old building, my view is the 180 of the Vito Cruz intersection, separating Pasay from Manila. Lights continue to flicker. The bustling sound of cars and passersby greys out my concept of time. I uttered, “wow, this place didn’t change at all.”
Rugged. Busy. Unapologetic. These are the words I’d use to describe Taft. From my college days up to when I started working, Taft became my home. For a considerable chunk of my life, I was in this place. In its sometimes-gut-wrenching streets, it witnessed so many triumphs and struggles.
MEMORY LANE
One particular event I could still recall to this day is the 2010 Salubong Bombing. Along with my block mates and friends, we witnessed how things transpired on that fateful day. We weren’t even there to support bar takers. We just happen to live in one of the buildings in the area. I remember staying inside a 7-eleven where a tall condominium building is now erected.
Then we felt a subtle shake on the ground, followed by loud stomps. As we look outside, we could see a throng of people running hastily in different directions. We didn’t know what was happening, but it was the first time I felt terrified. It was the first time I was in a situation where I could possibly die if I’m not paying enough attention. Of course, I wouldn’t forget my first day high as a liberated college student in the home of the Green Archers. But that’s ancient history, so we won’t go there.
Instead, let’s talk about Taft as a true haven for people from different walks of life.
AN UNPOLISHED GEM
The fact that Vito Cruz is still within the University Belt, the abundance of hope and curiosity in this place is evident. This could be the reason why many young professionals chose to live in the area. Some, even after college, stayed, including me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but maybe something has to be said about being surrounded by young hopefuls powering through college.
Maybe it’s how they remind us of how we were then and how they are now. In times of uncertainty and unanswered questions, the sight of students and people hustling in the busy streets of Taft can teach us humility. For me, the place is a reminder of humble beginnings. Some unpolished gems started in Taft. They sweat, cried, and weathered a lot of storms. Some opened their senses and realized their potentials while in this place.
Taft will always have a special place in my heart. Despite the lack of aesthetics and flashy spots, the place is a true gem that continues to captivate hundreds of thousands of people. It was my home. It was where most of my dreams were made – a humble place that managed to nurture past, present, and future leaders and economic drivers. One of them was my neighbor, the newly-minted Olympic Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. All that aside, Taft was the place that taught me life lessons I would never learn elsewhere.
When I left Taft last year after 15 years of living in the area, it felt like I graduated again. I left some things in Taft and carried with me some. Moving from one building to another taught me this: We don’t always have to take everything with us. Sometimes, we need to make a decision to leave some things or people behind, especially when they no longer do us any good. But should I find the need to remind myself about my “why’s” in life, Taft is where I’ll go. We all have Tafts in our lives. When you feel like you’re losing your direction, go back to your own Taft; who knows? You might get more than just answers.
