Summer at Manila (Personal Essay)

I visited Manila when I was younger, maybe around the age of ten. I went during the height of the summer. I was in Manila for the entire summer with my mother. My mom used to work as a call center agent there at the time, so we lived in a flat. The flat had two floors. On the first floor there was a living room, a kitchen, bathroom and a washing area. On the second floor of the flat there are 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. After her shift she would come home and would occasionally buy me my favorite cake, a yema cake. During those 3 months of stay at manila, we would visit malls to browse or make purchases of clothing and other items. Though our trip to Enchanted Kingdom stands out as the most unforgettable. There were numerous rides, games, snacks, and souvenirs available.

But during those 3 months of stay, it wasn't always enjoyable. My mom works as a call center agent, so she gets home early in the morning from her job, which begins at night. And as a result, I would typically be left alone every night. I have gained a lot of knowledge from those evenings. I learned how to cook myself meals and taking care of the house. I would do our laundry if my mom didnt have time to do it, washing the dishes and securing the flat from intruders. I didn't have any sibling to accompany me because I was an only child. I should also mention that even since i was young i always find it difficult to make friends. And so ever since i was a young child i have learnt to amuse myself as a result. I would watch TV or series, learned how to draw, or construct toys from paper. And even though I didn't have many friends at that time. We had a dog named summer, and she fulfilled my longing for a companion.

In those three months i have gained some sort of independence. I learnt how to take care of myself, cook for myself, clean the house, do laundry, and most importantly, adapt to varied living situations. After what has happened over the last several months, I can state with confidence that I will be able to weather any storms life throws at me and survive. Despite the fact that it caused me to develop and grow up too quickly, at least as a young adult, I am intelligent and sensible enough to make my own judgments and not rely as much on other people.