A Love Affair with MV Doulos and Books

Love is a word with a countless meaning. It is so broad that each one of us has a meaning of our own.
According to the American heritage dictionary, love is an intense affection and warm feeling for another. Several meanings from different minds which sometimes come in a form of song, like for instance, “Love is a many splendor thing, It is a nature’s way of giving and a reason to be living.” Some other meanings from different sources said that LOVE IS blind, love is not jealous, it is giving, it can even move mountains and most of all love conquers all.
In my own opinion, love is a strong fondness or enthusiasm. It is to like or desire enthusiastically.
Actually, students are fond of reading novels, magazines, newspapers and books as well. We can’t help saying that many of us are in love with books to count me as one. Being in love with books, I always try to find ways and means and much time to be with them. A perfect timing for the news about MV Doulos’ visit to Cebu is really exciting. I am filled with so much joy and very much interested to have a love affair with MV Doulos and books.
MV Doulos is built in 1914 and is only two years younger than the Titanic. It is said to be the World’s Largest Floating Book Fair, carrying six thousand different book titles across the oceans to reach the different parts of the globe. It consists of three hundred fifty volunteers from fifty countries live and work together onboard. Doulos seeks knowledge, help and hope to the nations. Since 1977, Doulos has visited more than a hundred countries, welcoming over nineteen million visitors onboard including us.
Last February 13, 2007, at 1:00 in the afternoon, Tuesday, we went there with some faculty members. We were divided into two batches. The freshmen and the sophomores belong to the first batch, while the juniors and the senior students belong to the second batch. We went there by hiring public utility vehicle, two vehicles for each section. When we arrived there, I am overwhelmed with the mixed feeling of joy, nervousness and enthusiasm. Joy, because the time to be with MV Doulos and books has finally arrived. Nervous, because it is my first time of going up inside a ship and I am afraid of falling down into the water since I don’t know how to swim. Enthusiasm, because being with the floating bookstore is enjoyable. It is actually a great day for me meeting the international crew and enjoying looking the different books the ship carried. We also tour on some of the different parts of the ship. We also had a film showing about the history of MV Doulos. How wonderful and beautiful the ship, its parts, its crews, its books and all the people around!
I bought from MV Doulos around one book with the limited money I have. I was about to buy many books but due to poverty, I was not able to do it. But never mind, I already enjoyed experiencing being there and let my eyes have them all while I was there. I can’t express in word the happiness and enjoyment I’ve felt with my love affair with MV Doulos and books.
To the University of the Philippines High School Management and faculty, let me extend my great gratitude to you for giving me the opportunity to be with MV Doulos and to be with those interesting books they brought.