Good day, Hiveans! I hope you’re fine while reading my work. Sit back and enjoy.

This photo is edited in Canva. https://www.canva.com/design/DAGIB2fcrDY/fK75kcLGoR8juL09Kn9u2Q/edit

In line with this community, I tried to walk in our neighborhood. While walking I captured scenery using the phone of my husband. It was convenient for me since the pictures are directly saved in the Google Photos.

When phones and computers are not yet available in our town, this place every afternoon would be full of children playing different street games and Filipino games. The most common game I played during childhood was the “Patintero” or Block the Runner. This is a team game and though I’m weak as a member, my playmates need me to complete the members. They have no choice during that time. All I did was wait for the opportunity given by my group mates and I could pass freely. The game was competitive, but the important thing is you enjoyed it together with your playmates.

I’m also the princess of “Dampa Game” where you use a rubber band and your hand with air to reach the rubber band at the finish line. I had plenty of collections from when I was young. When marble was a trend, I also collected lots of it. I loved playing individual games and was competitive enough to win.

Here on this path, where I first learned to ride a bicycle. My brother who is younger with me for two years, was the one who trained me to ride. He was patient enough to teach me and I successfully learned how to ride a bicycle. I was in my first year of high school and my brother was in elementary. I realized teaching is not based on age but on capacity and skills. I’m very proud to share that the one who taught me to ride a bicycle was my younger brother.

It is also the same place where I practiced riding a motorcycle taught by my husband and I accomplished my task though I’m not brave enough to drive. The place is a good practice area since the road is cement and has a slope part. Another reason is the place has limited vehicle passing because it is just a barangay road.

Have you seen the 100 number written on the road?

The number means 100 meters. From the beginning where the path is already cemented until today, this area is used as the venue for running during the District Sports Meet. The number is visible because the District Sports Meet happened last December 2023.

The green ground of the church used to be our playground. Here we loved to catch grasshoppers.

I included the mango tree in the picture because this month is a season for mangoes.

Nowadays, the place is very peaceful. Children are not around even though it’s a summer break. The days are gone when the kids play under the sun. Most of them stay at home and play on their phones. It is so sad that children never experience street games. When you asked them, they were not familiar with it. I think they missed the happiness of being young and having the freedom to play outside.

My childhood years were full of experiences that no one can get.

Thank you for reaching this far. If you want to inspire, learn, and witness beautiful scenery, experiences, and places, do not forget to follow, upvote, and reblog my post to support and motivate me to write more. Thank you.

Writer: Maureen S. O.
*Photos owned by my husband: Paul Vincent M. O. *