Sunday, June 12, 2011

Photos down memory lane

I've just been back from some family responsibilities. I accompanied my 15 yr-old niece to take the review classes for the University's entrance exam next year. We were far from home and just stayed with some friends, where i also stayed while writing my dissertation a few years back. I took some days leave from the office and just roam around and compare the differences in sceneries during those student days and now. It was some walk down memory lane. I realized we need to just do that once-in-a while, just forget office and life responsibilities and just leisurely and lazily do what we want. Or maybe just do nothing at all. In this case i had fun taking photos and think of the 'good old days'.

These partner rows of royal palms (Roystonea sp.) were already maybe 50 yrs old, though some are replacement when typhoons blown some of them. These are University landmarks already, the university being erected in 1909.

An old Ficus elastica tree near the Biological Sciences Building. This witnessed a lot of student happenings in these grounds.

The above Ficus elastica with L-clockwise: main trunk, grown adventitious roots, hanging adventitious roots from top branches, massive root systems already protruding above ground.

Another lovely tree with pink flowers in summer. The fallen flowers are in lovely contrast with the green grasses. 

This tree was not yet conspicuous during those student days, now with its profuse yellow flowers, one will be enticed by the sweet fragrance when near the Biological Sciences building. I am not sure of its ID, but maybe it is a jasmine tree.

Since the university is at the foot of a mountain forest reserve, which is also a dormant volcano, humidity is very high in the area. This provides conditions good for agriculture, forestry and beautiful healthy plant growths leading to lush biodiversity. L-clockwise: Casia fistula in full bloom, 
Samanea saman in its unshaded splendor (century-old), oil palm, luxuriant Mussaenda 'Dona Trining', a philodendron unabashedly climbing a tree, and a palm trunk profusely harboring a lot of epiphytes, saprophytes, symbionts, etc.

Some more landmark plants. L-clockwise: the football-baseball-volleyball field, a wall of Indian trees to cover the tennis courts, the bougainvillea with white and red flowers in one plant (Bougainvillea 'Mary Palmer'), the much loved hibiscus representing lots of hybrids produced in the university, the golden shower symbolizing the university color- green and gold.


Left-clockwise: Mt. Makiling peaks slightly protruding above the tree tops as viewed near the SEARCA grounds, private dormitories outside the gate, newly added lights along the royal palms at mid-campus, Development Communications bldg, Humanities bldgs with additional chairs on its grounds, the Biological Sciences bldg with a big octopus tree beside it. 




University Library being more useful to students before the digital age and the WWW

Banners in the campus "Iskolar para sa Bayan" means the scholars are for the country! It is the foremost university in the country and partly subsidized by the government. Admission is very highly competitive and much coveted because of the quality of education but lower tuition fees.


...and i love this scene! Wouldn't you love walking barefoot on pink flowers on the green carpet!!!

I would like to link this post to Shadow Shot Sunday because of the last photo. Thanks to the host of this meme, Hey Hariet.




18 comments:

  1. While you were doing something really important, I was still chasing butterflies.

    Yes, I would love to walk barefooted on green carpet with pink petals.

    I've seen Shadow memes but have never participated. Thought you could link up since your last shot is spectacular.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those pictures bring back some memories for me too, Andrea. Does my memory deceive me or did there used to be an avenue of pili nut trees on the campus? Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You found shadows everywhere!


    SHADOWY DINNER

    A shadow, a shadow, a shadow you say?
    A shadow is coming to dinner today?

    Oh, what shall we feed it, and what will it eat?
    Just toss down a few rays of light at its feet,

    And watch its dark mouth gobble up every ray,
    But be sure, my friend, you don’t get in its way;

    Keep out of the light so it won’t gobble you.
    (If I were the hostess, that’s just what I’d do.)

    A shadow is easy to feed, so they say,
    So welcome your shadow to dinner today.


    © 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

    Shadows here and there

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi One - because of your suggestion i searched for the shadow meme and linked this post, however i am already at the end of the line as it is already Sunday afternoon.hehe. Thanks for the suggestion as well as appreciation for my shadow shot.

    Phil - hello, i am very glad you were able to drop by again. Yes Pili Drive is still there, this is the street towards IRRI where you visited last time. By the way, the jade vine you mentioned somehow in your long ago post, i also am not sure if my memory is correct or maybe it was another who mentioned that jadevine, but it is already flowering again.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have enjoyed the walk along with you down memory lane. Your uni is a very beautiful place. I think it is the old trees that gives it a very sentimental feeling. I'm sure it was a memorable moment for your niece too. Seeing the last photo makes me think that I'd certainly would enjoy sitting there under the large yum-yum(shady)tree and having a picnic or being in the same study group with you. Can you imagine how many conversations and secrets in how many generations the old trees must have witnessed as the students come and go through the ages?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely place to take snaps and just take a walk

    ReplyDelete
  7. How nice to be able to go back, remember old times, and leisurely walk around, drinking in the sights. I think you're right - sometimes it's good to just do that every now and then.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love these! Especially that last photo, it's magic! Thanks so much for joining in Shadow Shot Sunday :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad you linked up, but at No.76, you won't get many visits from there. Do remember to link up early in the future or continue to moan and envy...

    Reading AB's comment. She is sentimental... :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great pics of your alma mater. I've never set foot in UPLB so I have no idea how it looks. At least through your post I got to take a short glimpse inside.

    Are UP scholars suppose to render service or work in the Philippines for a determined number of years before they can venture abroad?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Magical Mystical Teacher - thanks for your visit, and your poem is provoking the soul!

    Capturedalive - am amused with your profile name. It is not dramatic anymore if you're captured dead! LOL. thanks.

    Holley Garden - going back through our past, reflecting what we should have done and not, rekindling the passion of young souls, etc, etc, is a great leveler in this chaotic world. I hope most of try it, not pressured by this world for a while, just like an efficient retreat!

    Hey Harriet - hey Hey, thanks for welcoming my first link. I will be joining again next time.

    One - i will be early next time and yes Autumn Belle is sentimental, me too!

    SR - it is my Alma Mater through and through, haha, i've been very loyal, graduated a few times there! Alumni are not obliged to serve the country, but it is ingrained in our hearts, so we oblige ourselves. Maybe i am overdoing it though! LOL. When you visit again i am inviting you to the garden show, and i can be your tourist guide to the Makiling Botanical Gardens and Mudspring or other areas nearby!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful landscape! The university has good gardeners!! Love the selection of plants also. I hope you have had a productive time there and will have good result for the dissertation and your niece's, her exam.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Stephanie - i finished dissertation long ago! haha, you did not read my text.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I know what you mean about a walk down memory lane - I'm just back from visiting my family in Ireland and visited the places were I too studied in the past.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You are getting really creative with your mosaic designs.This is a meaningful trip for you,and your post reflects that sentiment. Glad you had a chance to 'relive' your student days. Going back to the office after that break would leave you dreamy and in a better mood, I'm sure.
    Rosie

    ReplyDelete
  16. breaks in life are good for the soul. reminiscing gives you identity. thanks for leaving a comment on my edging post.

    ReplyDelete
  17. cool - glad you got to spend some free time strolling down memory lane! Looks like a beautiful campus.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories of college.

    ReplyDelete

Your comments inspire me to post more, and our conversations make life and gardening more meaningful.

However, Anonymous comments and personal back links give me problems, so i don't publish them. Anonymous + back links = SPAM = DELETE

Related Posts with Thumbnails