One might wonder why it's called the "Old Lib", but that's simply because there's a newer Rizal Lib…read moreavailable in the Ateneo campus that was opened last 2009. That doesn't mean the old library isn't used anymore, far from it! Many things are housed in over there, such as the older book collections that require extra care, or the microfilm section where you can view old newspapers all the way up to the early 20th century. There's also the American Collections section, and there's always a collection of art featuring artists such as Fernando Zobel. There are also exhibits featuring a wide range of topics such as Ancient Chinese Maps in relation to the Spratly Islands to the superstitious beliefs of Philippine culture. From a student's point of view, the old lib is a great place to catch a snooze in between classes, or even cram that paper that's due in an hour. I love holing up in the Filipiniana section to escape the noisy cafeteria and study halls.

I love my home college. Every time I walk into the college, there's always music playing or someone…read moresinging, and it's beautiful! The UP College of Music is home to some of the most promising talents in music and boasts renowned musicians and artists among its list of alumni, including National Artist for Music Ramon Santos. Specializations include majoring in Guitar, Strings, Winds, Asian Music, Composition, Music Education, Piano, Voice, Musicology, and even Dance (my major! :D). You can just imagine how colorful the college is with all these talents housed in it! Most of the students are semi-professionals and actively perform in gigs and events outside of their student life. In fact, a lot of students are a bit on the mature side because of their busy schedules, delaying their studies. Some currently enrolled students include conductors of major choirs, members of orchestras or popular bands. Even if you're not a music student yourself, or even a musician, a visit to the college is worth it! If you're lucky, the college will be practicing for an upcoming event and you'll catch some wonderful music at work. :)

When I was a wee freshman studying at the College of Mass Communication, I would wait at the…read moreneighboring College of Music for our driver to come pick me up (back when we still had a driver, huhu) and enjoy my alone time there (as I hadn't made big friends yet, huhu). I loved string music and still do, and sitting at the corner of the staircase on the second floor I would just listen to the young violinists, violists, cellists, and other string players practice. The brass and wind instrumentalists were nearby too, as were those playing Asian instruments, and I would have the grandest time to the sweetest cacophony before I had to go home. Surely "cacophony" doesn't give justice to the immense talent that lies within the college, and you can see and hear this firsthand as they often hold concerts and shows by their students and professors here, some for free. If that's not enough, you can try to hone the talent yourself by enrolling in their extension program to learn playing instruments, conducting, songwriting, and music theory, among a host of various other studies. If you're not too keen on those things, then do it like I did and find an empty seat in the hallway during a schoolday, and just listen.

My Alma Mater and my home for four amazing years of my life, Makati Medical Center College was then…read moreknown as Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Memorial Center as tribute to the late mother of former Imelda Marcos. This is where I studied Bachelor of Science in Nursing and had the greatest years of my life. I learned everything that I know today about nursing, from the best and qualified professors and instructors that I know. This school offers excellent education; skills training and foundation that you need to get be a Registered Nurse, may it be the Local Nursing Board exam or the more popular international exam-NLEX. I treasure everyday of my life here, I have met the coolest people and friends, assisted in major operations, cradled a newborn for the first time, hid behind classmates when the teacher is asking a question, worked late at night for case study submission the next day, went ghost hunting with my group mates, thanked by a patient for being "the best student nurse ever" , panicked for my thesis defense and made my parents and professors proud when I graduated. Nothing can express how I missed being a college student again, especially when your school is this awesome.

UP Diliman's College of Arts and Letters is where some of the most beautiful written works I've…read moreseen are created. PROS: I love their library because it's one of the places in UP that's air conditioned. The books themselves are good literature too, of course. But I'm really there for the air conditioning; Compared to the rest of the University's old buildings, CAL's is fairly new and you can see it in their modern architecture and design; The best thing about a college of writers and poets is the graffiti and posters on the bulletin boards; It's right next to the Faculty Center (FC) so you could easily consult with most GE professors. It's also usually a venue for art installations and galleries. CONS: It's right beside Katag, the canteen at the basement of FC. But you could find it pretty crowded during lunch hours and it can get pretty hot and stuffy inside. TL;DR: Get your artsy fix just by being in CAL, whether that be for a class or just general tambay.

I'm a frustrated artist, and if there weren't so much of a stigma about being an artist for a…read moreliving - the expensive materials, being poor, etc. - I could've taken the plunge and took up Fine Arts myself. But because I didn't follow my dreams (I ended up becoming a teacher, which was good enough for me), I have to be satisfied with just admiring UP Diliman's College of Fine Arts (Bartlett Hall) from the outside, while riding the Ikot jeep. PROS: From the façade itself, you could see incredible works from the students. The Freedom Wall hosts a variety of murals that changes a few times during the years. My favorites would be the works of the Artist Circle fraternity and sorority; Ever noticed their sculpture garden? It just looks like a vacant lot but you could see scattered pieces of art like it's no big deal. Abueva's Bridges of Love just takes my breath away. CONS: You may find the place teeming with "misunderstood, pa-cool" art students, but don't feel intimidated. Everyone's really nice, just get to know them better. TL;DR: FA takes seriously the pledge that art is for the masses - exposed, accessible, and for everyone - not inside exclusive galleries exclusively for the eyes of rich patrons.

I'm constantly bemused by the fact that my parents were thisclose to sending me to ICA. Not that I…read morehave anything against the said school, I just can't imagine my life any other way. If I hadn't gone to Poveda, I wouldn't have met the best girlfriends in the world -- whom I still consider my main crew 11 years after graduation. It's insane. Poveda also taught me the importance of hard work and discipline. I had to work my butt off just to make it to graduation and there was no weasling or paying my way out of it. It benefited me in the end. My alma mater also offers a good balance of extracurricular activities and academics.

Although quite conservative, Philippine Women's University is up to par with the tertiary…read moreeducational needs of every Filipino student. I took one course here as a summer cross-enrollee for Art Appreciation and found out that their Fine Arts program was one of the best in Metro Manila, if not, the country. The students are very nice and despite being one of the eldest in the class, the kids were mature enough to accept each other. The teachers were understanding and allowed me to be late or miss some classes because I had mother duties or work. The staff was accommodating although the guards never believed I was a student in the first place. For motor bikers and bikers, they have a small space outside dedicated to the parking of bikes and motorcycles. The library was my refuge and I loved working in its aircon and wi-fi decked out space. I'd work (sleep) in their lib for hours. Although the facade is quite traditional (although pegged as modern architecture), their courses are very nuvo and very in-depth. One star less because they haven't shifted their academic calendar yet so such a headache to cross-enroll after June.

Contrary to the name, the Philippine Women's University is not only for women, but it keeps the…read morename out of its proud heritage. In a society like the Philippines, which is both Asian and conservative, one would imagine that women are not as empowered as in other developed countries. However, when one considers that the Philippines usually ranks higher than most Asian countries in terms of giving opportunities to women, and that many educated women do make it into business and managerial positions in the country, one has to really look into the phenomenon. That aside, the university still is built on its classical foundation and its hallways still tell the mark of age, but that isn't to say that it's not keeping up with the times! In the curriculum, various programs have expanded into fields such as international relations or social development (in fact, I attended one such seminar there), and the faculty and staff are quite kind and accommodating. It was truly a delight to be in such a place, and reminds one of the time that passes by without notice.