Behind That Locked Gate

BEHIND THAT LOCKED GATE

Renee Lazaro, Pauline Paramio, Christine Lazaro

A gate that crosses our path everyday but our eyes never catch sigh of. A gate whose population is mostly old, with dusty chairs and spider webs all ‘round. A gate you'll never dare enter. Who knew it conceals a charm that is drop-jaw worthy? A gate that gives you a glimpse of the sun's rays looking so tender as it strikes the forlorn beauty of Sto. Nino building's rooftop. Who would've known this squalor clams up its treasures from within?

Walking up the dusty stairs and hearing the clanking of the rusty chain dangling from the gate behind gave us the adrenaline rush. The dark stairway which we thought about to be a dusty storage room for chairs actually led to another doorway. It was unlocked. The bright light that embraced our eyes overwhelmed us with unexplainable peace. So this was the HFA rooftop which most never knew existed. 

WHY EXACTLY DOES EVERYONE LOVE THE ROOFTOP?

The media always depicted the rooftop as one of the most romantic places. Sharing secrets, watching the sunset, kissing, and even shouting out the names of the people they hate (and somehow a handsome guy would overhear) have been only some of the biggest movie and TV series clichés that was filmed on a rooftop. And yet, we could never get tired of it, can we? What exactly does make the place so special? Couldn't you watch the stars somewhere else; release your anger in a different place; and watch the same crowd walk the same way downstairs? Think about it. It's probably the same reason why people still smile no matter how hard life is - because everything changes with a different angle; everything varies by perspective.

HOW COME NOBODY NOTICED IT WAS EVER THERE?

We always thought that the dusty entry on the second floor of San Lorenzo building led to a storage room for chairs. The gateway was always chained and overlooked by the average passerby. Everybody does that, don't they? They're too busy looking for...