SanMigResthouse

UP-IML student affiliates (SA) just recently had a weekend 'semstarter' at a resthouse located in San Miguel, Bulacan. The semstarter was actually planned as a semender by last semester's 198 people. Ironically, only Rose was present during the outing.

Most of the SAs went with Snap for a ride in his van. Dean was not confident in bringing his service so our group (Dean, Bryann, Gian and I) commuted. We have paid Php97 each for the bus fare (single trip); travel time was about 2hours. The Php350 contribution per person that we had agreed upon does not include transportation expenses. Our group was the first to arrive at the site since Snap's group stopped by to buy some groceries.

At first sight, we were a bit dismayed by the size of the pool. It looked a bit small from what we have been used to. After we had circled the whole place a bit, we went straight ahead into the pool while waiting for the others to arrive. The pool's depth was about 5ft and goes slightly deeper towards the center. Although the pool's length wasn't fit for doing laps, it did have enough space for some dip and swim.

The whole place wasn't really bad after all. Most private resorts/resthouses are simply defined by having a pool, cooking area and some room/s to sleep in overnight. For this San Miguel Resthouse, it even has a shaded deck over a small fish pond. The whole place have been well-maintained as evident with the trimmed lawn and the healthy orchids. We even got to eat indian mangoes for free, straight from its resident trees. I'd say it's a good place for private family/group outings.

The people present in the 'IML Outing' were basically the 'cool guys' and the current 198ers. No IML faculty (not counting Dean/Bryann) or probie SAs were present. I think the outing became more of a 'thesis sem starter' for the current 198ers, instead of the planned 'thanksgiving' semender for the previous 198ers 2nd sem 06-07.

All throughout the outing, all I did was eat, swim and play RISK. Risk is a board dice game (of global domination) brought by Snap. We played the whole night straight for about 7 hours (7pm-2am). After that major game (which I technically won after reading the manual the next day), pool bonding came next. While we wasted most of our night with Risk, Dean slept all throughout. The next day, I played again for about 3-4 hours. I guess this is where I was able to bond with the young 198ers (particularly those from ERG). In between games, there was eating and swimming.

We were tired at the end of the day. And it was good.