A LOVE AFFAIR WITH MV DOULOS AND BOOKS

MV Doulos is the largest floating library in the world. And we, the students of UP High had the chance to visit it. It was built in 1914,only two years younger than the Titanic. It has crews who came from different countries it has been traveling around the world to share knowledge through good books.

Tuesday, February 13. this day we’re finally going to MV Doulos. We had to leave 12:30 PM. We arrived at 1:00 PM. We directly went to the book shop. You can see there everything. From children’s books, books on Christian living, atlas and references to CD’s and cookbooks. There were also souvenir items like caps, pencils and erasers, mugs, key chains and postcards. After a few minutes of roaming around, I went out and stayed for a while in the restroom. But then shortly afterwards, I found out that there’s no re-entry sign in the bookshop. Once you get out, you can never go back.

After a few minutes, I soon found out that there were many of us who were mistaken in going out without reading the sign. Then we seek the instructor’s help. He consulted one of the staffs and expressed our concerns. She then asked if we were on a program something. She contacted someone by the use of the two-way radio. Then she asked us to go down the ramp and board the ship again. There was even another school with us whom I suspect was also in the program thing. Then we were leaded to a room and asked to squat on the floor.

First, we were shown a video on the staff of the MV Doulos. Then there were some intermission numbers. First, there was a number quiz. Then the different staffs were introduced. The emcee was a representative from Brazil, another came from Taiwan, then from West Africa, India and Germany. Afterwards, another video was shown. Then another intermission wherein two representatives competed on wearing the different garments when saving someone’s life in times of danger. Then after the little contest , the representative from Taiwan made a short discussion between the relationship of God to people.

After the short program, we were again led to the book shop. I thought we’re gonna stay there for a couple of minutes or so but I was so greatly disappointed when I found out that we’re gonna left the ship and start the trip back to the school. As we were going down, we were given some booklets and a flyer on MV Doulos. I was really irritated because we still have to wait for the jeepney who would take us back.

But then on the other hand, I felt blessed. Because I had the chance to meet its international crews. I had the chance to roam around the largest floating library in the whole world. And most of all I had the chance to have a LOVE AFFAIR WITH MV DOULOS.