the first Fudan Filipino Day

appened last June 25, 2010.

The first Fudan Filipino Day was the brainchild of some of my GBF-mates Ben, Jay-R, Christine and some more. With the consent of everyone else as well as long hours and practice and planning, we were all able to hold this event with much success.

Ever since I came to Shanghai, my classmates have always been asking me what the Philippines is like. And we say, the Philippines is a beautiful place, with much beautiful places and beaches especially. Usually, we would end this conversation by saying "you should come visit the Philippines." Thus, we feel that we are not only GBF scholars here in Fudan but also walking promoters of the Philippines. So that, the turnout of foreign students in the Filipino Day was way more than what we expected.

During the day, we had programs, games, and FOOD!! I especially love the Kontragapi performance, the games when the foreigners were playing it, and most especially the food provided by Luneta, the only Filipino restaurant you can find here in Shanghai. Needless to say, these things I mentioned were also the top sellers among our foreigner friends and classmates! They also probably liked the Tinikling as a lot joined and tried the dance when they were invited and of course who can ever forget the raffle where one Chinese local won a roundtrip ticket courtesy of Cebu Pacific to the Philippines. Lucky you, I say.

When the program and raffle draw was over with, that was when we decided to insert a little "merienda" time. Knowing that most foreigners were also in this for the food, we worried much on whether some would still stay for the games. So we had a back up plan - that worst comes to worst, we would be the ones to play the games instead. But they stayed and played. And played they did. Two even volunteered to hold the bamboo sticks for the pabitin. Yes, we had to modify some of the games because the GuangHua people were, maarteh!! But it's okay.

When all was done and over with, we all cleaned up the place and started our dreadful walk home. I say dreadful because, it was really dreadful! Imagine being tired and walking that 40-minute walk to the dorm during this hot, humid weather! This, they say is the China July weather. So I was tired upon reaching the dorm. Of course some people such as Anton and Desi were even more tired because they carried the stuff all the way back home. Don't blame me, I tried to help!

So at night, I felt like I just wanted to rest. Plus, it rained. That's how unpredictable the weather is nowadays. So I didn't feel like going to the dinner they organized in Momoya. But since when I called Eds she said everyone was going, I decided to brave the rains and my laziness and go. So we walked and when I reached Momoya, not everyone was there!! Coz some fell asleep and some just had other plans. So I just ate, it's Momoya after all.

But even after I ate, I still felt tired and not in the mood for it all. Good thing Prim asked if I wanted to get Coco. So I went with him buy Coco even when it was raining. Coz after buying I decided to go walk home alone. Why? coz I just really didn't feel like joining them anymore. I later found out that the people in my table also went home ahead of the pack. I kinda knew it if you ask me.

But the Filipino Day was truly an event to be remembered. For foreigners, for Filipinos, for everyone.