Sunrise at Laguna Lake

As soon as Friday cross its way to the weekend my mind quickly rushes to a nearby lakefront in my hometown. Just past the charming Mercado del Lago's floating food park lies a 7-kilometer stretch of a highway overlooking the third largest fresh water lake in the Southeast Asian coastline. At the crack of dawn the sunrise hour peeking over the Laguna Lake magically turns the supporting lanes into a parkland of bikers, runners, and a host of sightseers enjoying their early morning stroll. Between runs, I always fall to the latter. I couldn't count the numerous starting points marked on the course as I find myself wrapped inside the rural greens in the city.

My whole being is intertwined with the outdoors. The enduring stillness of the breathing forms and the distinct sound in the air is a prelude that always pulls me in. Just sitting by the waterside, the lush corners along the lakeshore are filled with the sights of goats grazing freely. I can't imagine of a more intimate encounter than watching them in their own place of sanctuary. Shimmying across the open sky, a family of birds perhaps in search of a nesting spot, somehow, perched their way on a beautiful floating garden— a flutter of wings as if beckoning to play with the pond keepers. Staring out at the horizon, it feels surreal to be spoiled with that dreamy southern charm even at the heart of living in a city.

Oddly enough, this poses a time capsule of the 90's era before my eyes, casting a blissful narrative of an utterly golden time in history— an archetype perhaps synonymous with our forebears' freedom to be still— a disposition seemingly void of the imperfections of tomorrow.

It's quite a toss in time inside the animated world overwhelming a generation with sweet experiences than a constant cycle of endless wish list vying for our time and attention. Bereft to reboot from the pleasant calls permeating the neighborhood is only a seeming whine of yesteryear, bringing the townhall to rally into an extended happy hours of laughter, hearty conversations and a medley of mainstream twists. It's a run back in time of people exchanging books in the absence of private huddles around a screen or the clock of New Year's lights quick hellos foretoken a blaring clap of pans, game revelries, and an annual drop of radio tunes.

It's a gift ensemble of bygone years baring an every day celebration with close acquaintances and a piece of heaven right in front of us.

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