I had just moved out of this dorm after graduating. I stayed for about half of my years in college…read more It was the cheapest dormitory within the area. The dorm itself isn't very nice. I prefer a more "condo-ish" interior. I found it a bit weird that the guards tend to be nosy. One time, I was just about to leave the dorm and go back to province when suddenly the guard followed me outside of the gate and asked where I was going and why even if I was on the phone and in very much a hurry. Their so-called library isn't apparently air-conditioned and the interior of my building wasn't fully symmetrical. The floors weren't all "pantay" and the elevator's very slow. The fridge usually doesn't have any space, some of the food I put there go missing, likewise with the condiments like oil, salt, and pepper that I leave in the kitchen just like my fellow dormers. It was an alright place to stay at if you wanna settle for less. But if you really want that perfect city life, I would prefer somewhere better and more sulit.

My very good friend Lexie lived here all 4 years of college life and she always felt very content,…read morenot feeling the need to move anywhere else or to dorm on-campus. She was roommates with her best friend and the two of them always just said how comfortable it was and how the security was really tight. One time that I went over, the guard didn't even want to let me in at first, but after some assurance from Lexie that I wasn't gonna be there long, the guard allowed it. She was perfectly nice about all of it though. Those were just the rules! As you enter the dorm building, you see right away a courtyard area, right in the middle of everything, with all these plants and flowers and wooden benches. Pretty homey! It's like they have their own little garden right in there. Some blockmates and I (all girls only haha) actually had a pleasant study session there, freshman year. Going inside the room, you can see how it's pretty spacious! They had a double room I guess, which fit two twin size beds easily with much space left to move around. They also had their own bathroom inside the room, closets, and a big table to one side where their toaster, fridge, and other food stuff were on. It's more like a small apartment than just a dorm. And it was cool they could have a toaster. I don't think you can have that in the dorms on campus, lol. Even the other nicer dorms in the area are just basic bedrooms, and the bathrooms are even outside. I could see how it was very comfortable at Dormitoryana. You could rest easy with the good security as well. Would have been nice to live there, indeed. (If only I could have dormed! But I lived too near school, hahaha).

Whenever I have people ask me where they can stay in the Vito Cruz-Taft area, I have one usual…read moreanswer: 2470 Dominga Dormitory. As their name suggests, the dorm is located in 2470 Dominga Street, just a stone's throw away from St. Scholastica, Benilde, and DLSU. The word "dormitory" may conjure images of substandard housing with shared bathrooms and dimly-lit rooms, but that's not at all the case for this one. In fact, what sets them apart is their hotel type accommodations. There are rooms for two, four, or more; as well as student lounges; and other common spaces. The best part is that their rates are quite friendly! For transients, last year's rate was Php 700/night for a room for two that comes with its own bathroom! This dormitory is open for both long-term occupants and transients. It's walking distance to the Vito Cruz LRT station, to the three schools earlier mentioned, and to various commercial establishments. Oh, and might I just add: It doesn't flood along Dominga Street, so this is a great place to live in!

Back when I was a freshman, I never really lived in this dorm. But my friends would sneak me in,…read moreand that's how I would know how this place looked like from the inside. Should I share this? Would I still get sanctioned by the University even if I graduated years ago? Kalayaan Residence Hall, or Kalay, is the dorm for freshmen UP-Diliman students. They have cool events too, and the people you lived with for a year can be your friends for life. PROS: You pay around P500.00 for a whole month and that includes your meals. If you live far from the city and you are a financially-struggling freshman, Kalay is your first and best option. I think they charge you extra if you move in with additional appliances or anything that consumes electricity, like laptop/phone chargers or electric fans; The RAs may be strict but they really take care of the freshies. CONS: This could be part of the PROS if you're into that thing, but there are perpetual stories of students coming back to the dorm after the holidays just to find that their roommate hanged him/herself inside the closet. And it will always be the room assigned to you; It's government-subsidized, so of course, it doesn't have the budget for renovations. This is not a classy dorm and facilities either need repairs or are non-existent; Applications for this dorm can be such a struggle. TL;DR: If you really really really need it, and if you're a UP freshie, Kalay can be the answer to your university housing needs.