i spent most of my childhood years in novaliches quezon city and antipolo city. Being the eldest in the family, I have to learn all the responsibilities that I have to fulfill, for me and for my sisters. I have learned the value of education at a young age, my dad would make me memorize the multiplication table and would sometimes hit me with the belt if I don't know the answer to his question. I am grateful for it though, from that experience I learned how to control myself, have patience, and be even more determined than what i already was. I developed my being a perfectionist. I vividly remember that I'd easily get upset just because I didn't get the mark I was hoping to get. I excelled in written exams, but did poor in other aspects. I had a low self-esteem back then, maybe that's the effect of my dad forcing us to learn, pressuring us to get good grades, and his habit of embarassing us in front of other people. wla tlga cyang pnipli..khet knno ipapahiya nya kme. That was the most horrible part of my childhood..Beside that, I enjoyed it for the most part. Most of my summer days I spent at my ate salyn's house, where I'd stay there coz I play with kids my age..To be quite honest those days were quite a blur though..All that I can remember are those puppet shows that we usually have, the playground, clubhouse, and the aratilis. I lost contact with my childhood friends since we moved to antipolo city and when ate salyn moved in with us..For that reason, we didn't get to go to ate salyn's house coz she already was staying at our place. Moving to a new school made me think that I had to start all over again. Sure I made friends, but it was really hard for me. I was so shy in elementary. People took notice though when I was transferred to the star section because of my average. There I met people who I think has the same ideologies that I have. I was happy.

high school

people say that high school should be the most memorable part of one's life..and indeed it was. When I started high school, i was transferred to a non-star section. i was sooo pissed off. but i moved on. i excelled in my studies. 2nd year i still wasn't in the star section. this time, i tried even harder. by the end of the year i was at the top of my class, representing my section to various quizbees and contests. i even got a scholarship for a music school. i auditioned and they accepted me. too bad i didn't pursue it. i was linked to a number of guys in our class, but nothing ever happened. people say that they were just intimidated by me..this was the year when we thought that we had to move to baguio city..my adviser was supposed to put me in the start section for third year, but after hearing our plans, she gave my slot to the top 2 in our class, elvis garcia..i was pissed and happy at the same time when we learned that we weren't gonna move at all..well, i moved on with my life. i was put in a non-star section again, too bad. but then again, i don't regret it because i met my best friend in that class. i don't really regret being in a non-star section coz at least i get to meet all these people. i was shy still, but i was learning on how to cope up with socializing with other people. i excelled well in 3rd year, and my math teacher, my favorite teacher (some say that he's an ass but what can they do? i like him..he's a great teacher) even recommended me to be put in the star section for 4th yr. this time i was so sure that i could go in..finally. come 4th yr, i was surprised when i learned what my section was. SOM. solemnity of mary. i haven't even heard of that section. this must've been a mistake! i should've been in AOM. truth is, there was a glitch. when mr. pajalla checked to see if they have a DOMINGO in the list at AOM, the office said there was, so he thought that i was already transferred. what he didn't know was that there's this another girl who has the same last name as me, so yea..well, no hard feelings. at least i knew that he thought i was good enough to be in the star section. i moved on with my life. i made friends. in fact most of my best friends are in that class. and i'll never regret of choosing that section over AOM. 4th year with SOM was the best year for me. i developed friendships that i know would last a lifetime, and most of all, i learned how to have fun. prom was the best experience for me. i danced with this guy who i really liked. he didn't know that i liked him too..i knew he has had a crush on me since 2nd year..met him coz i was cornered. he was my servicemate's classmate. it's true that i had a lot of flings in high school. mutual understandings. sometimes i think of things that could've happened if those mutual understandings were the real thing..hmm..i graduated with an NSAT award, 99+ average, i was the only student from a non-star section who received that award..that somehow made me feel proud, proud of myself, my section, and the other non-star sections as well..graduating high school was hard for me. thinking of the relationships i've developed through all those years, those people that i loved, those who became close to me..it's just hard to let go..but i know i wouldn't...life has to go on..so i did.

college life

i started college at University of the Philippines. i never imagined that i could get in a prestigious University such as UP. but i did. thank God. i stayed at UP for one whole semester, because i learned shortly after the beginning of the term that we already received our visas. nonetheless, i continued to have fun, and have control of myself at the same time. it was my first time of living away from home. first time of budgeting my own money, of making grocery lists, of buying foods from the market..the list goes on. in UP i became even more challenged, i decided to prove to myself that if others could get good grades, i could do better. i ended up with a 2.00 GPA, quite high enough for me. i had so many plans while studying at UP. if i'd maintaied that grade, i would've had the opportunity to transfer to diliman, but well, we had to leave for canada..damn

starting over

i never imagined that i'd eventually leave my loved oned in the philippines. it's just that we've shared so many things together. i love my family..it really was hard for me to let go. i still remember that day when we were trying not to cry..we were trying sooo hard not to. but we did. the tears just kept on flowing. i knew from the start that we're never gonna see them in a long time. heck. i haven't even told my friends about it. just a few close ones. it really broke my heart. who wouldn't be sad when you have all that you could wish for then would eventually leave those for something else? if i'd had the choice to remain in the philippines, i would've chosen that..but i also knew that there's lots of opportunities waiting for me here..

moving on

2 years has passed since we arrived here in canada, and i can tell you that it hasn't been that easy. we had our problems, both small and big, but hey, that only made us stronger as a family. sure i had to go back to high school coz they said i was too young to be in college, but you know what? those two years back in high school has been fun for me. i ended up going to 2 high schools because we had to move..i graduated as an Ontario scholar and a High Honours Achiever. it's just weird coz i was getting grades at 90's when the highest mark i got in high school at the philippines was a 90..wow..

college life, again

i moved out of the house this summer. i started working to earn my own money, coz my dad told me that he wasn't gonna pay my tuition fee. good thing i received a scholarship award from the university and won one from an essay writing contest. i saved enough money to buy plane tickets to go back home, but ended up spending some of it coz i need money to buy and pay for things that i need. college life here is really hard..it's true, what they say..college life is really a full time job. for every hour spent in class, there should at least be 2 hours spent outside of class for that one hour..i made a transition of getting high grades to being content of getting passing marks..that's just how hard it is..i had to make time to socialize, which i clearly do sometimes..living away from home just made me grow up too fast. sometimes i wish i could stop but i can't.