Landing in Manila: Our First Day with the PSU Family

While at the Scoot Airlines check-in counter, we met a new friend from UPI named Minerva—we fondly call her Inez. She was also headed to Pangasinan, Philippines. We continued our journey and boarded our flight to Manila at 12:45 AM on Sunday. We arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 6:00 AM and proceeded straight to immigration. Afterward, we waited for Papa Mike from Pangasinan State University (PSU), who was scheduled to pick us up in the PSU bus at NAIA Terminal 1.

Since the Thai and Malaysian students were waiting at Terminal 3, Papa Mike picked us up first before heading there to meet the rest of the group. While waiting, Inez, Yeni, Shepti, Chika, and I had lunch together at Wendy’s and later performed our prayers at the NAIA prayer room on the third floor. Once all the students from Thailand and Indonesia had gathered, we began our five-hour journey to Pangasinan. We were divided into two groups: one staying at the Lingayen campus and the other at the Bayambang campus. I, along with 24 other Indonesian students and two Thai students, was assigned to the Bayambang dormitory. The dormitory is quite comfortable and well-equipped with Wi-Fi, beds, cupboards, a refrigerator, a stove, a TV, and even a washing machine. I am so happy to be staying here and to have met such kind and easy-going friends..