thanks to EHEF I was able to set foot on the legandary Shang Ri La Makati (i dunno what’s legendary about it). Geesh, the place is so sosyal and i feel like im treated as…as…an outsider!

Nagtataka ka ba baket ako nandun? Dun kase hinold yung European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) where exhibitors from European Union offer degrees for Bachelor, Masteral or Ph.D’s. They come from different Universities, each having different programs for specific kind of students.

Pero papunta palang naman ng Shang ri La ay pahirapan na. Una, dahil hindi ko alam kung nasaan yun (ang alam ko lang eh tanaw sya mula Lepanto Bldg), Pangalawa, mali ung instructions ni Ude dahil Shangri La EDSA ang tinutukoy nya at ikatlo dahil late na ako at running out of budget ang inyong abang lingkod. Idagdag pa dyan ang "Excessively Expensive" toilet pay para sa "Exclusive and Undisturbed" use of Shangri La Plaza’s cr. I paid 10 pesos just to pee! grabe, isang dvd na yun ah. Idagdag nyo na ang congenital dumbness ko nung sumakay ako ng MRT for one station lang (I stopped at Shaw, took a Bus and was dropped at Buendia and took MRT again and left at Ayala Station..)haay, what a waste!

Finally, after asking zillion people for directions, passing G4 and G3, i finally arrived at Shangri La Makati at about 12:40. I though i was going to be sniffed to the Canine but thankfully, i was spared. Upon entering, i immediately noticed the staircase similar to that of the Titanic (especially when it sunk) and a towering mestiza girl that greeted me on the entrance! Im touched, actually…and flattered…if she only knew i came for a free event!

After finding my way to the Rizal Ballroom, i was possessed by Erwin Garcia and talked with American twang (that made communicating with presentors more difficult). I was amazed how good were the assistants, they’re even smarter than the applicants (well, not me…) I entered my Registration Number and took off with a plastic bag and grabbed freebies as much as i can.

The seminar was done downstairs at Makati Halls A & B. I wasn’t able to watch my intended "prospect countries" of Spain and UK (since i arrived late) and barely attended Erasmus Mundus and Lithuania (i already love Lithuania). And again, i wished i had the Digicam with me; the floor was carpeted all over  (i wonder wen was the last time they were cleaned..but looks like they are well maintained anyway)and again, the winding staircase was above photogenic; it’s majestic! i want to put it in my bag and bring it home.

So what’s Shangri La without foreigners? I can’t believed i talked to at least 10 multinational beings that day - people from Latvia, Belgium, Lithuania, France, Italy, Spain…haaay. I even had a talk with Senyor Fransisco Zayas that was enthusiastic in convincing me to study at UCA - i wished that scholarship grant is that easy.

So after the seminars and exhibits, i was able to see a rare performance at the lounge; several violin performers were gracing the lounge and music from cello and piano was flooding the entire hall. A thousand thanks to the British Council for organizing the event - very educational indeed.

Ibang level na toh!