ANYWAY

This weekend had really been a physical one for me – a welcome change from the intellectual stress I’m getting from doing cases for school. Last Sunday, I went swimming again with my bud in MASA Makati. The place is located beside the Makati and Garden on JP Rizal Extension, West Rembo. Its just a 25 minute MRT ride away from Cubao where I live. Unlike the first swimming we had in Amoranto, where people from all walks of life (or should I say all sidewalks of the urban shanties who I guess just had their first taste of chlorinated water for the week), our visit in MASA: was very visually appealing, clean and therapeutic.

The place can be compared to a decent resort in Laguna or Rizal – the façade is well maintained, the pool is blue (which tastes the ordinary drinking water by the way) and the locker and shower area is really decent! The normal rate for the unlimited use of the pool is 150 pesos. It’s kinda cheap considering the well maintained facilities. But if you’re a resident of Makati, the fee is just down to 50 pesos! Whoaa! On that moment, I really wished I was a Makati. Ang daming benefits! But of course, we tried to go around with the rule and asked if the gay dude manning cashier could grant us the discounted price. So with a few *wink* *wink*, we found ourselves paying just 100 pesos! Hehe..

So off we went to the pool area. The place is not crowded at all! I think there were only less than ten people swimming. Four of which, it seems, are students of an olympian looking half naked Chinese dude who shouts every now and then. We watched the students for a while and were so impressed on how fast and effortless they swim. Kayang kaya ko yun, I murmured. So after we wore our swimming cap and goggles, we plunged into the blue water. Aahh, very refreshing! But unlike the swimmers, I think I had four stops before reaching the other end of the pool. I was kinda frustrated. I was literally gasping for air as I swim! My bud also had difficulty breathing at first but it was soon before he swam like a pro! After a few tries, I finally managed to swim end to end non-stop. Compared to Amoranto , we lasted for two hours in the pool. Somehow our stamina improved as well as our swimming techniques. I considered it a good motivation also because the first time in Amoranto, I can’t even pull myself from the pool or even wear my briefs because of how exhausted I was for a 45 minute swimming.

After we swam, we felt ok and not as strained as before. This time, the experience was therapeutic. We agreed to do this every week so that we could at least reach 30% of the skills of the swimmers we saw. I just hope we could think of a way to go about the standard rate next time –perhaps making a fake yellow card ID to enjoy the special Makati rate. Hehe. Again I want to send my kudos to the Makati government for putting a facility like that of MASA. At least in a way, you know where the taxes in Makati go to.