I studied at one of the colleges in downtown Marawi City in the early nineties. During that time, the Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi City Campus was our nearest getaway—at least for my circle of friends from school.

MSU was just 10 minutes away, if I remember correctly. So, it was indeed the nearest place to escape when we needed to relax and forget about the rush of the day in the downtown area. We used to call MSU the “Uptown.”

When in Uptown (MSU), I felt different. But in a good way. There was no traffic, so you could reach the campus faster than you can now. There were no tricycles roaming around the campus, nor were there tri-cabs. Four-wheeled vehicles were few and far between. Almost everyone walked, getting their lungs worked out, sweating it out, and pumping their hearts to the beat of their breathing and pacing. There were fewer buildings and more space for the breeze to swirl. You could hear the birds chirping while walking around the campus, especially when you took the golf course route on your way down to the Colleges of Forestry and King Faisal. There was little to no noise pollution.

There were only a few restaurants and food places in and around the campus. We used to dine at just one spot in the commercial center—almost every time. Pizzas and grilled chicken. Ah, I’ll never forget the 5-peso empanada, bloated with fillings.

It was a serene feeling when at MSU. It felt like a vacation every time. (Funny how my friends and I would gather at the exact spot in MSU during those times, even though we lived in different locations downtown, without the mobile phone technology we have nowadays.) The cool breeze was just ecstatic as it touched your face. There were no audible distractions, nor any visual obstructions. I guess progress has its price.

However, as changes continue in our society and surroundings, don’t let it change how MSU made your day, your week, your months, and your years when you were there. The only constant in this world is “change,” but make your changes the best version of everything. You might see changes in MSU now, but sit in a place where you sat before, and it will bring you back the same warm or cool feeling you had the very first day MSU welcomed you—with arms (I mean, trees) wide open.

Photos by Sharifa Pandaca