Taling sa Paa
By Abby Abiol
One thing that has made me appreciate, cherish and
respect the essence of this profession is the experiences
outside of, and the time it keeps me away from the
four corners of an enclosed office. I have to admit,
we (LA’s) are a SPECIAL kind of breed! It takes
a certain kind of person to walk, talk, bark instruction,
and bake underneath the midday sun just to make (not
only him or herself look professional), but to create
fabulous and noteworthy surroundings… (Images
of MAAE in a pencil-cut dress and high heels in the
middle of a muddy construction site)…
The travels and journeys are the best features of
this profession. Through this, I’ve met varied
and extreme personalities, and have seen some of the
most interesting places; in my mind I have often bragged
that I can perceive the world in a different and more
detailed light because I am a Designer. Ok, maybe sometimes
I get a bit too critical and find more humor than help
for some clients… (Another image playing in
my mind: finding the 7 dwarves or elves or whatever
they are in my Laguna client’s backyard)…
Nothing beats Experience and Exposure as mentors… Be
it figuring out how to begin measuring a site or choosing
the exact plants in a nursery or simply striking a
conversation and immersing yourself with the people
involved in a project – one cannot simply develop
these skills or talents through a Masters’ or
PhD degree. You have to be willing to get up from behind
that desk, to ‘hone’ your “spider
senses” and learn how to recognize fine details
to make yourself an ever-effective and well-rounded
design professional. FLASHBACK to the BIO 185 class
with Dr. Liwag – God rest his soul – prodding
us up and down Mt. Makiling to identify plants, --
I lost all illusions that this profession would turn
me up clean and pampered. I remember sliding down a
steep slope upon our descent, with somebody shouting
and laughing, calling me a “little piggy” rolling
in the mud. I realized that that experience showed
me what living was all about.
It gives me a rush every time I have to pack my bags
and travel by any means to perform my job. This sometimes
makes me feel prestigious and more so, this makes me
feel productive.
Maybe I was truly destined to be in this profession.
I was born with a “mole on my sole “(so
the old wives’ tale goes). Wouldn’t it
be interesting to find out how many LA’s actually
have the “taling sa paa”?
The Mole In My Sole series will want to take you from
north to south, out of town and (hopefully) everywhere.
I would love to play host to other articles of travels
and misadventures from all PALA members. |
