By Zach Cruz

Of the 200 days in the school year, there can only be a few where the whole Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) community gets its well-deserved break from the rigorous and stressful work and academic life in the ASHS—an example being the recent week-long mid-semestral break, which presented itself as an opportunity for us to catch up on z’s (or schoolwork, for those who love to procrastinate…).

The mid-sem break came two months after students had first made their marks on their second home: the ASHS campus. After piles of paperwork stacked up on study tables, megabytes of handouts, hundreds of pages of lecture notes, and two pens’ worth of ink, this mid-semestral break was (hopefully) able to provide students with days of endless fun, sleep, rest, revitalization, and reflection on everything that has transpired so far in their senior high experience. 

Given the diversity of people on campus, we must have our own ways on how to attain that perfect rest and relaxation, be it through doing or picking up hobbies, practicing talents, chilling in bed, or traveling to other places. We devised our own ways to make the most of our breaks. 

Some may say they spent it in a whole different country—or even on the other side of the world, while others would say they spent it returning back to their hometowns, reliving the countryside life. Perhaps some of us stayed at home, watching TV while lying down on the sofa and sleeping 24/7. Or, maybe you were among those who—despite the mid-semestral break—continued to burn the midnight oil in anticipation of the dreaded college entrance examinations (CETs). Given all the possibilities of spending a week-long break, saan nga ba umabot ang mid-semestral break mo? 

Let’s dive down on some things our fellow students did to catch up on rest and revitalize before waging yet another war against academics and work.

All Aboard, Abroad! 

No mid-semestral break will be complete without seeing Instagram stories of people chilling out in a cafe in Paris, France, or rather swimming on the crystal-clear shores of Bali, Indonesia. You would be surprised to see them randomly on the other side of the world, and of course—being the buraot that we are—we would spam them with comments or messages begging for pasalubong or souvenirs—trinkets from their journeys that could be in the form of keychains, toys, or food.

The mid-semestral break was an opportunity to explore the world as a means of taking a break from walking around the busy corridors of the ASHS. Hence, one of the usual things students and their families did was spend those nine days out of the country!

It may be in Thailand, where there is a perfect mix of temples, city life, and nature (and delicious mango sticky rice); or in the land of the rising Sun, Japan—where skyscrapers and cities glow neon in the night, and where traditionality fuses with the new and modern age. Some may also consider flying a long, grueling flight to Europe, where they will be greeted with eye-catching architecture and age-old history in every nook and cranny. Nonetheless, no matter where the place is, it is still equally exciting to explore different places and experience different traditions, cuisines, societies, and cultures.

Domestic-bound

Cities, beaches, natural sceneries, cuisines, traditions, cultures, and historical places—the Philippines boasts it all! Despite all the excitement that comes with flying abroad, there are many who chose to explore the Philippines instead—a country that is as vibrant, if not more, as any other country in the world.

Known as a country that features hundreds of different cultures and varieties, you can never go wrong with exploring different places in the Philippines to get that feeling of a change in environment. Everywhere you go, it is a given that you will be facing new people, new food, new places, and new customs—you will be greeted with the smiles of locals who are glad to have you as a visitor in their communities. You may be in a very different place, but it still has the same old Filipino touch.

Depending on one’s preferences, there is always a place for that in the Philippines. In Boracay, you can bask in the Sun’s shine and glory as you tread along its powdery, white sands and immerse yourself in its cool, crystal-clear waters. If you are not the type to enjoy heat and tropical environments, maybe you are the Baguio type of person—the Summer Capital of the Philippines, where the fresh, cold breeze revitalizes your airways and refreshes your mind from the stress of studying. Otherwise, if you are someone who adores urban scenery and cityscapes, maybe Manila is the place for you.

Our country is diverse in terms of places to see and things to experience, hence why many choose to explore a different corner of the Philippines when given the chance. After all, it’s fun to see the different cultures in your own country—it opens your eyes to the fact that we are still united despite our differences.

No Place Like Home

What better way to revitalize than a staycation, right? For some, home is the best place to be—it is where comfort and family lie. It is the hub of nostalgia: from the food, the smell, and the people who live with you. Usually, families stay for semestral breaks to celebrate their departed loved ones during All Souls’ Day, where they spend some parts of their day near the graves of their loved ones, remembering the lives they lived.

While staying home may sound like a mundane approach to spending a nine-day long vacation, it takes a creative and thrill-seeking mind to get the most out of one’s home. From cuisine, activities, and rest, it’s your home, and your rules. And staying home does not necessitate just staying home. Some went out with friends and family, bonded with them in shopping malls, or had road trips.

You could whip out a homemade dish with your parents, or perhaps discover a new hobby. Or as mentioned, some also opted to spend days going out on galas with their friends, window-shopping new clothes to beg money from their parents for. Staying home also means sleeping in the same, comfy bed you’ve known and familiarized your body with for years. Perhaps some opted to give their rooms a make-over, or even give themselves make-overs to feel fresh as they come back to the ASHS.

Burning the Midnight Oil

A tragedy, really—studying during the mid-sem break? Might as well not call it a break, then. 

For seniors especially, studying during the mid-semestral break was somewhat inevitable, given that the Ateneo College Entrance Test was nearing. Given this, instead of exploring a different side of the country or the world, some studious individuals choose to stay at home and prepare for upcoming examinations or other academic work. Saan kaya umabot ang mid-sem break nila? In review centers, most likely.

While it may seem like a killjoy, studying during the break ensured peak productivity and focus on one’s tasks. Given that activities in school were forbidden from being assigned or passed during the course of the mid-semestral break, anyone had the freedom to study anything they wanted and not worry about juggling between schoolwork and reviews for the time being. This may be the reason why some students, most especially seniors, fueled their minds with knowledge during the break.

Saan Umabot?

In the end, this week-long break will only be a fever dream as we once again roam the busy corridors of our beloved ASHS. Our memories spent in the places we’ve explored and with the people we cherish would surely stay in our memories.

There may be many more places left unspoken in this article—many stories left hidden in the dark, waiting to be experienced by us. Well, just because school is back does not mean it is the end of the world; after a month, we will be able to make more memories and explore more places during the Christmas holidays.

Who knows, you may be the next person who would be riding a plane en route to Paris, or maybe you’ll opt for some countryside exploration this time around. Maybe, you’ll spend the upcoming holidays at the warmth of your home with your family and loved ones. And hopefully, our seniors would get a real taste of a break as CETs season comes to an end. But for now, it’s back to school—the final destination of our mid-semestral break journeys. Hanggang doon na lang muna.