Every person treasures a place of his own, a place where beautiful memories are embedded. Or it can be some area where an individual feels at ease. As for myself, there can be no place like this other than my home. I live in an apartment located in the suburbs of Manila. From afar, the house seems to be an old one because of its facade. But it really is ancient because my great grandfather was the first owner of the house. One can say that so much of history has been written there. It is a structure of two floors with walls painted white that have been darkened by time. Its rusty old fashioned gate is the one that welcomes the house's visitors.
             Upon entering the front gate, one will find a small garden filled with flowering plants. In the center of the garden, a grotto of our Lady is situated. This is one of my frequently visited areas in our house. Not that I love gardening but this place has some special aura that really keeps my spirits high. Whenever I have a problem or I feel sad, I just stay here and meditate. The serenity in the place eventually reminds me of calling to God for help. So what I really do in the garden is pray. Whatever occurs in the garden is just between God, our Lady, I and the garden itself. After an hour or more of enjoying the peaceful ambience of the region, I always feel rejuvenated. Coming from the garden is like getting a bath. It makes me feel fresh.
             Crossing the threshold of the house calls back the memories of my deceased grandmother who used to live with the family. Connected to her bedroom is a terrace that faces the backyard that has many trees in it, having the mango tree as the most prominent one. It is a little section of my grandmother's chamber that has three chairs and a table. The terrace is the coolest part of the house especially in the afternoons because the mango tree shades the veranda from direct sunlight. Furthermore, the wind can always be felt blowing in this area. ...