The first time I was here the weather was taking a full swing at us. We've waited for a chance to learn surfing, after we finished inspecting the library we sought to fill with books. The cloud turned darker and the wind whistles from our spot to yonder, we thought the chance of hooking up with a surf board has gone to dust. Then came the green light - from the local surfers who've seen swells forming a half a kilometer away. like caged animals now out on a prowl we headed towards their direction. The rain though didn't just showered us, it stabbed us through our skin. Needling out of the sky at around 20-30 degree angle, it hit us like tiny darts, doubling its intensity and with no shelter nearby, we had no choice but to proceed. We ran forward and backward just to give each side of our body a reprieve until we reached the small nipa hut where the surfboards lay aground.

“So many books, so little time.” 
― Frank Zappa

According to the Meat Puppets, bad folks end up in a lake of fire. The good folks, though end up in some scenic lake elsewhere. I have reasons to feel like we were a bunch of good folks heading to Bulusan Volcano Natural Park that day. Accompanied by the humble Mayor Ronel Lim of Gubat, Sorsogon and a day removed from kick starting the book sharing project. We set foot and gazed our eyes at this body of water covered by a lush forest. The calm presence of this lake presents a stunning contrast to a force of nature situated beside it. Lake Bulusan is located at the foot of Mount Bulusan, a still active volcano which stands 5,135 feet and last erupted in February 2011.

The room the kids call as their own "library" is a 40 square meter of empty space. The walls are untidy and dark, the windows are almost broken to shards. The lone table lies almost deserted by time, unused and nevermore. The only reminder that the room is the school's library was the two small bookcases, that is almost rotten to the core and on the verge of collapse. Dusty and dog eared copy books, about a couple of dozens are placed almost glued together on the two shelves. It wont take a rocket scientist to know, that these books are of no use anymore. That the library itself, in its sad current state is incapable of becoming a room of knowledge for the kids of Rizal Elementary School in Gubat, Sorsogon.

The sky was a picture of a indecision when we boarded the bus from Legaspi to Sorsogon. It looks like it was unsure of dumping rain or sheltering the Earth from the blistering sun—which was keen on making an appearance that day. The weather was shaping out fine and the absence of rain made it more ideal, but there are still a few patches of dark clouds  hovering above. The same sky curtain that made our earlier attempt to see Mayon Volcano up close a futile one. As the bus revved up its engine and gather speed on the highway, the wind brushing against my face increases its tenacity. Trying to avoid a direct hit, I looked out the window and was greeted by a majestic countryside.