On senior year, undergraduates are required to live with a family under the lowest income strata–a supposed ‘awakening’ experience to the more privileged community in Ateneo.

People live on routine: wake up early, toil hard during the day, earn just enough to feed the family of 5-or-so, go back home to one’s family, sleep, and begin a new day. This way of life may seem unproductive people in the city, but in truth, there is actually much to gain on the outskirts of town.

To the family I lived with, thank you for inspiring us with your nobility, and bringing joy to our hearts with your warm smiles. My memory of you lives on to this very day.