The bones began to gather flesh giving form to the body, as awareness sprang to wakefulness. Whereas the awareness of the world of books and tests was already running to its peak, this awareness of the world outside was just beginning. A spark was beginning to light up another angle — that school isn’t just a place for passing exams but a place where people exist and a place of learning – from books and most of all from people. It was a miniature of society where it is imperative to work in a group, to understand and be with people and to struggle with the ups and downs of life.
So began an awareness of the whole individuality of every person. A sensitivity of the bones and flesh emerged – of the thoughts and feelings of people. Time and again hands reached out and soon enough, bonds were formed. Friendships sprouted here and there between two, three, or a group of people. People ceased to exists as “all the same friend”. From one person to another, friendship held a unique meaning. To some, friendships began to enter the more daring stage of sharing innermost thoughts; friendships were beginning to develop into a more special kind of relationship overstepping the bounds of simply calling each other “friends”.

There too was an awareness of the world inside school which meant being deeply ingrained of the ways of Philippine Science. There seemed to be an acute sensitivity to every happening, every encounter. In this miniature of society, we searched for our niche as well as for ourselves. There were perennial questions of why’s and whereof’s in every experience. There was a constant search for meaning as individuals and as members of society. Searching went to various grounds – books, studies, sports, writing, singing, religious groups, the Student Alliance, the Batch Council, the SCO. The sense of involvement meant something for everyone.
A small need of some knowledge of the world outside school and academics also began to grow. From an awareness of the existence of McDonald’s and Merced and the Delta Theatre to an awareness of the cancer of Philippine society. Just as eating at McDonald’s or Merced and watching a movie at Delta became more frequent, rallies against the Marcos government also became a daily fare. At every two-hour break or vacant period,
“barkadas” would rush to the Registrar and ask for a permit to go to MeDonald’s or Pizza Hut. To the more daring, one-hour lunches would do plus a few minutes off a class after lunch. Just as there was a rush for galliva-ting, there were snap formations of groups brought together by a common preoccupation – rallying against the Marcos dictatorship, watching the snap elections ballots, burning effigies or simply discussing the issues.
Indeed, third year was a year of growing awareness which brought about a deeper perception of things, it was the year when things seemed to present themselves in a different light, when school began to exist, not in neutrality, but as a place of joy and pain, ups and downs, and when the ways of Philippine Science began to grow more deeply ingrained in us. It was a year of an acute awareness of time and space. Yes, it was in third year when Philippine Science began to seep deeply into our systems, to occupy a place forever.