(POV: Rosa Belle "Bella" Montelibano)
- Dorm Life: Morning Routine -
Alarm ko ng 6:30 AM, parang may taong kumakagat sa tenga ko.
"Ugh, Bella... move!" sabi ni Mai, naka-sling sa kama, thermos ng matcha sa lap niya.
"Coffee or tea?" tanong ko, halatang groggy.
"Matcha latte, as always," sabi niya, calm lang.
"Seriously, Mai? Again?" sabi ko, medyo inis pero amused.
"Art, Bella... art," sagot niya, parang solemn ritual habang inihalo ang green powder.
Huminga ako ng malalim, sabay gising sa sarili. College life na 'to. Wala nang tulugan, may deadlines na agad, pero may Mai sa tabi ko... kaya bearable.
---
- Morning Walk to Campus -
Habang naglalakad papunta sa building, si Mai, thermos sa kamay, chill lang:
"Parang oxygen sa akin 'to, matcha," sabi niya.
"Only you... legit, only you who's obsessed with matcha," sabi ko, tawa na halatang amused.
Sa crowded hallway, nakangiti kami pareho, kahit kabado pa sa first week.
---
- Tourism Ethics Class -
Pasok sa classroom, napansin agad namin ang notice board full of course rules and policies. Prof namin, si Ma'am Santiago, medyo strict pero approachable, nakatayo sa harap, hawak ang pointer.
"Good morning, freshmen. Welcome to Tourism Ethics. Please take a seat anywhere," sabi niya, voice firm pero calm.
Kami ni Mai naghanap ng seats sa gitna. Ako, halatang kabado.
"Breathe, Bella... breathe..." sabi ko sa sarili ko.
Ma'am Santiago cleared her throat.
"Tourism Ethics is about more than just following rules. It's about responsibility - sa tourists, sa community, at sa environment."
---
Key Concept #1 - Responsible Tourism
She wrote on the board: "Responsible tourism = respect for local culture + environmental stewardship + economic contribution."
"Who can give me an example of responsible tourism?" sabi ni Ma'am Santiago.
Hands went up.
"A tour company that uses local guides instead of imported ones!" sabi ng isang student sa unahan.
"Good," she nodded. "Responsible tourism considers local livelihoods. Ano pa?"
"Eh... hindi magtapon ng basura sa beach?" sabi ng isa pang student, halatang shy.
"Exactly. Responsible tourism protects the environment while allowing economic growth."
Mai whispered:
"See? This makes sense."
Yeah, Miss Chill," sabi ko, tawa.
---
Key Concept #2 - Cultural Sensitivity
"Next topic: cultural sensitivity. Tourists often come to places with different customs. As tourism professionals, it's your duty to educate visitors and respect locals."
"Can anyone share an example?" Ma'am Santiago asked.
"Tourists should not wear shoes inside a temple," sabi ng isang student.
YOU ARE READING
V3LUM: Unmasked Rhythm
Teen FictionFour girls, faceless on stage but unforgettable in sound. Kilala bilang V3LUM-makulit, matalino, warm, at energetic-but offstage, they are regular college students navigating school, deadlines, at personal challenges. Mai, calm at strategic; Bella...
