There is a warung kopi, called Coffee Top, scenically located at the Y-building's rooftop - an excellent place for the MSUan, or any guest, to chill out. It can be accessed by climbing the last and steep staircase inside the Museum - itself a touted tourist attraction. The museum curator, who guards the rooftop also, will let you go up once you sign in the logbook. Beware the incredibly steep staircase, though.
Once at the top, the view is extremely rewarding. One is afforded a panoramic view of the entire Saranggani Bay and General Santos City, which lies to the north east. Landmarks like KCC Mall, the pasaran rakyat, NDDU, St. Michael Parish could even be made out to the trained eye. In front of you, the eastern portion of Prsi. Sarangani sprawls across the bay - try spotting the Istana Putih of Alabel.
To your left, you can behold Nopol Hill, Polomolok and the cone of Gunung Matutum to the north. Behind, to the west, lies Kampung Uhaw, with the blue INC Upper Tambler local, Gunung Melibengoy and the mountains of T'boli. South gives you a view of the hills of Tambler. All of this with the strong and cool sea breeze whipping at your face makes for a breathtaking spot to relax
Students taking some fresh air in the rooftop
The first time I went up to the top, I ran upon Comrade Aguja's Sociology gang, obviously lounging at the top for some coffee and fresh air. Apparently Cmde. Marco was calling the shots and was treating his friends in the warung kopi. The gang, being Sociology students, were unsurprisingly friendly. I even let them use my laptop, and take pictures. They also gave birth to my new angga, Isme. For the first time people were calling me with something else other than my real name.
Coffee with the AB Socio girls at the warung kopi. Don't let the laptop fool you, there is no wifi connection at the rooftop.
Despite the advertisments, Coffee Top is no gourmet coffee place - its just a good, old-fashioned warung kopi - it can't beat the established Fagioli's and Coffee Dream. At the top, there are just a few monobloc chairs, some tables and nothing else. The university museum, who presumably runs the place, could only afford to have a thermos heater for hot water. Bottom line, it even seems that the rooftop warung kopi is just a side attraction to the museum: its just something to accompany you whilst your relaxing topside
Unusually, the only coffee being served are Nescafe instant black coffee or 3-in-1 sachets, in addition to choco-malt hot drinks. The hot water thermos also allows for instant noodles in cups for merienda. Of course, there is also the indispensable chichirya. The simple fare though is perfect for barkada get-alongs on top.
Spartan amenities - MSU style
What those fancy coffee shops DO NOT have though, is Coffee Top's ultimate selling point: the marvelous panorama afforded by the location. Why spend much on fancy coffee inside a cooped-up place when you can get it cheap whilst being with the wide, blue sky and strong breeze and beholding at Sarangani Bay sprawled in front of you? Get on top on a fair day, especially when no one's around, and surely you'll feel like screaming ala Titanic: "I'M KING OF THE WORLD!"
Photoshoot in the rooftop warung.
Coffee Top ultimately mirrors the MSUan psyche, simple, inexpensive and no-frills. I would like to see the day when MSU, or a MSUan, would pour money to developing Coffee Top into a fully functioning coffee shop - real brewed kopi alamid under the MSUan sunset, but I'm afraid that this venture will become unprofitable given the dawn-dusk operations of the university. Suffice to say, I'm satisfied with the simple warung kopi feel of Coffee Top, and how it caters to the tight-fisted budgets of your everyday MSUan while offering them with a place to unwind.
A view like no other
So come and visit Coffee Top. Experience, enjoy, ponder the view; whether taking a date with your special someone, or just hanging out with your friends - relax and unwind with some coffee and the cool Sarangani bay breeze. Only in MSU.
Coffee Top is located on the University Museum rooftop on the fourth floor of the Y-Building. Open from 3 to 5 pm weekdays, or depending the availabity of the student assistant. Contact the museum curator for special permission for rooftop access during ordinary days. You could also visit the museum below for a glimpse into the history and culture of the Sarangani-Gensan area and its people.
