The UNO Table That Built Us

College life wasn’t just about lectures, exams, and endless group projects. For me, it was about the people I met along the way, people who started as strangers, became classmates, and eventually turned into family.

I met them during my college days, randomly at first, just faces and sitting next to during lectures. But little by little, those faces turned into familiar smiles, jokes shared during breaks, and laughter that echoed even when classes got tough. Eventually, they became part of my life. Not just my college life, but my real life.

There’s something special about the time after class ends. The moment when the professor finally says, “That’s all for today,” and we all stretch, laugh, and pack our things like we’re about to escape a cage, cuz we knew where to go, our spot. But for me, class dismissal didn’t just mean freedom, it meant time for my favorite part of the day: tambay time with my college barkada.

After class, we had this routine. Like clockwork, we’d all head to the back of our school where there was this small, cozy coffee shop. It wasn’t anything fancy, but with warm lighting and cozy charm, that little coffee shop felt like home, and somehow it became our spot.

That coffee shop became our haven. We called it “Tambayan,” but it was more than that. We’d be there almost every day after class, and we’d stay there until 7 or 8 in the evening. No rush, no pressure, just good coffee, good company, and a deck of UNO cards. That became our thing.

Those moments were more than just hangouts. It was my comfort. The feeling that comes after a long day of lectures, quizzes, and deadlines. I had people I could count on. People who made the everyday feel less heavy, and a reminder that we weren’t alone in this college journey. My friends became my safe space, my support system, my biggest cheerleaders, and my hype squad. 

Now that I think about it. I don’t think they know how much they helped me through the hard day, just by sitting around with them, and laughing for an hour, made everything feels lighter. Our after-class tambay session taught me that friendship isn’t about how long you’ve known someone; it’s about how much they show up when it matters.

And I know one day, life will get busier, people change, and college doesn’t last forever. But I do know that the coffee shop might close, our schedules might not align, and the UNO cards might gather dust. But I’ll always look back and remember the bond we built. The days after class and our TAMBAYAN, as some of the happiest in my life. And those people, they’re not just part of my college experience, but they’re part of me now.

I AM, JAMAICA WAYNE L. AUGUSTO

A 3rd year BSBA-MARKETING MANAGEMENT student at ARELLANO UNIVERSITY-JOSE ABAD SANTOS CAMPUS