By Jan Vicente B. Pekas
Living in a place that is quite a distance from the city, I had my fair share of both good and bad memories. The sight of the mountains in Marcos Highway is beautiful enough for both tourists and locals alike to take pictures of. But as a kid, looking at the same scenery all the time, beautiful as they may be, took its toll on me. The green color of vegetations on either side became tiring to look at. As a result, I developed a love for a different kind of jungle, an urban one. A place where skyscrapers dominated the skyline and a sea of cars travelled beneath them. As I continued to watch more movies, the more my love for big cities grew.
Yet as time went by, I continued to experience the heat and smoke a city has to offer, the same love was short lived. Turns out, I love an open sky more, and being spoiled by the clean air from home, I never knew how bad the smell can be in the city. Of course, the air near Marcos Highway is not always clean, you always have to look out for the trucks filled with chicken dung that cause a sour face on every nearby person they pass.
Though, as clean as the air might be, and as beautiful as the mountains are, traffic always sours both. I had countless days where I had been late to school due to a combination of traffic, distance, and late nights.
Even before the pandemic, commuting to the city had always been a hassle. Depending on your luck, a jeepney or bus will pick you up in just a matter of minutes. Sometimes, you’ll have to wait for 2 hours just for a ride.
Our home is a place filled with beauty and flaws. Even to this day, the influence of the city continues to spread. More and more homes are being put up around us. Commercial buildings are starting to pop up. And as the years go by, the more our small community starts to become more like a small town.
A home does not have to be limited by a single house. Even an entire community can be our home, a place where we belong, and one where we are accepted. Despite the flaws that come along when living here, it is still a place where many people call home.
The beauty of other places can be alluring. The tall buildings can be a magnet that attract innocent eyes. But there is no place like home. Some people leave for different reasons. But for the young, I hope we do not have to look at our homes from afar to truly appreciate their beauty. Because sometimes, it is hard to see the beauty of a painting when we cannot see the whole picture.**
