"Returning to the North...Returning Home"

"Returning to the North...Returning Home"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr. 

The Return to the North was a big success in my book. why? Well the reason is simple...There was a tournament in a place where none existed for months and months. There was a gathering of people with the same mindset where there was none a day or a week or a month ago. There were games all around the place. Both the Standard and the Casual games. There were people to buy things from and sell things to and "Kumikitang Kabuhayan" from cards was back. As a magic player , I know how hard it is to get the pieces that I need in the prices that I need them to be in . So the return of this market just makes me happy that you could barter( in blood if you must) to get the cards that you need. Sellers thrived and Buyers well , they lost money but got more of the things that they wanted so all in all there were smiles on everyone's faces. Its not always about the money after all.

There were old and new faces that seemed happy to see each other.There were the hugs and hand gestures and the occasional...Te!!! (where a pretty woman would look at the person shouting te and that person would promptly wave to a guy or pat him on the back...while saying...Dante. Dante bakit ang tagal mong nawala?)The pretty woman would just keep on walking and everybody would just be laughing their asses off. I guess you would have to be there to get all that. There were people who were just trying to get back into magic Standard that day and then there were those who were enjoying the games while winning each round. Hence the emergence of Brian Basilonia as the top Dog with his Naya Mid range deck. No one went home without a smile from the place. There was a Gatecrash booster for the first person to register and all the participants at the end of the tournament. Plus a raffle too! Oh and did I mention that the ladies played for free? what more can you want? If you have a girl friend or wife or friend who you always wanted to teach magic or who always wanted to compete then this is the right place. All levels welcome! If you are seriously thinking of returning to standard then Return to Ravnica is your set and the Games at Padi's point in North Edsa is where you should be every Sunday.

There was also ST running all over the place too...reminding players of rules , the conspiratory EDH warnings , the asking of who won which round and the always present...Complete your last 5 turns or the round pairings announcements. Being back in the north made me feel at home not only because I knew most of these guys but this was actually the place where I took Magic seriously and discovered a lot of sides to it that made it more than just a mere game but a lifestlye and a belief system as well. We appreciate all the efforts that were put in having Magic:The Gathering being returned to its rightful seat in the North. And with this restoration and the summer fast approaching we expect more good things as players would find their niches closer to home and find that the North is where they really should be.