One beautiful morning in 8th March 1999, a mother was rushed in Dr. Jesus C. Delgado Memorial Hospital at QC. Together were her mother, her husband, her son, and her child just waiting to come out on her tummy. She was under the caesarean section. Everyone was very excited and so was she. After a few moments, the child was born. It was a beautiful baby girl. The parents named their baby Monica. But the grandmother wanted her to have two names just like her brother John Roy. So their final decision for her name is Monica Joy. And that child is me.
My family lived for four years in Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal. That's the place where I spent my toddler days. I don't remeber that much but I remember some of our neighbors which my kuya and I play with. After 3 years of my existence, another baby boy was born. He is Paul Danielle. He's th cutest baby I ever met. After a year he was born, we left Ampid and transfered in our grandfather's apartment in Sto. Nino, Marikina City. It was for free since my father is my grandfather's child. And we are grateful for that. That year also, Lolo and Lola flew to Canada and lived with our other relatives. My Tito, Tita, and cousins were left in Lolo's house. Me and my cousins became closer with each other and we play everyday after school. I also play with my other neighbors in the apartment. I do not play in the streets because my parents said it was dangerous and they couldn't took care of us all the time because they have work. They hired a maid to took care of us when they're not around. We didn't treat her as a 'yaya' but instead she became our big sister. She stay with us for 5 years and went to another job with her mother.
I studied preparatory in Sto. Nino Elementary School. Our adviser is Teacher Fe. I was her favorite student in our class. I did not know the reason why I became her favorite student and I will never do. I also became the top 1 in our class so me and my parents are happy. I had a bestfriend at that time. She is Kimberly. Kim always pinch my baby brother's cheeks every morning because she said he was so cute. She was with me all the time inside the school. I shared a lot of memories with her in my Prep years. And after a year, we graduated in Prep. And at that time, I am excited to go in elementary.
When I was 6, I studied Grade 1 in Sto. Nino Elementary School. I met my new classmates in Section 1. I was happy because Kim was still my classmate. I instantly became friends with some of them. I became bestfriends with Rochelle and Aericka. But me and Kim are not that close anymore because she had new friends too. Even though I have two bestfriends, Grade 1 was not really that good for me. I was scared with our adviser. She always look like she's mad and she's old. So I was really happy when we went to Grade 2. Our new adviser was also old, but she was great. Then we went to Grade 3 and had new adviser. Now, she was cool and younger. I liked her. That year, I became the top 10 in class. That was the first time I was included in the top in elementary. But that never happened again in my next three years.
When I was in Grade 4, I had my first crush. He was my classmate since Grade 1 but I never thought I will like him until that time. He became my crush for 2 years. And then we went in Grade 6. Grade 6 was the best year in my elementary life. We always have groupings after our class in the morning. If we don't have any group works, we went to Blue Wave, to Riverpark or to any of our classmate's house. We also have our Tulong Dunong or TD by the Ateneo De Manila University. 4th year high school students of Ateneo taught us English and Mathematics every Wednesday afternoon. We were divided into groups. Every group has 2 tutors. In my group, we have Kuya Ken and Kuya Nori. They are handsome and cute just like the other tutors. They became our big brothers at that time. We also have Home Visit in TD. Our TD tutors would visit each of our house. It was a lot of fun and adventure. After the Home Visit, our TD tutors went home. But we went to our classmate's house and watched The Grudge 1, 2 and 3. That day was unforgettable. A month after our Home Visit, we prepared a presentation for our graduation. We were gonna miss our tutors, as well as each other. After the graduation in TD, we were also going to graduate in elementary. We practiced our graduation for weeks. We had our last Closing Party, which was also unforgettable. In the same week, our adviser announced the top 10. I was not included in the top 10, but I am in the top 15. At last, we graduated. We did not cry after the graduation ceremony, instead we celebrated it happily. I am happy. But there wassomething that bothers me. I am not sure if I am ready for high school.
I was 12 years old when I started my first year high in Sta. Elena High School. I was in this class called Engineering and Science Education Program or ESEP in short. I met my new classmates and our new adviser. Our adviser is Mrs. Muldong. At first I was a little bit shy and scared. I really had no idea what to do in my first days in high school. But as the days passed, I learned many things in high school. I discovered the rules and regulations in the school. I also learned how to greet the teachers, the principal, and the visitors.
Our adviser is a great teacher. She might be strict, but she has a good heart. She is also intelligent and great in English. On the other hand, I became friends with my new classmates. We get to know each other everyday. Even if we are from different schools in elementary, we became close with each other. There are some times when our class argue with some things. But at the end of the day, all of us make sure that everything is fixed. We should be a class with unity. And we are. And we will be with each other for years.
The next year, Sophomore came. We are in ESEP II-A. Our new adviser is Ms. Roselle Lazaro. She is also a great teacher. She taught us not only Algebra, but also things about life. Our class became close to her. There are one time when we made a picnic in our room. We told her our idea. And she was in with it. We ordered pizza and brought chips and drinks. We are all happy and worry-free. Then, there are times when we made mistakes. Ma'am Lazaro got mad with us because almost everyone didn't make the assignment. She also got mad when we are very noisy. And one time, she's snobbing us. She just teach our lesson and walk away. It broke our hearts. So we made a sorry banner and show her that we are really sorry. Thankfully, she accepted our sorry. Everyone was happy because everything is normal again. And we promised not to do it again.
Our class won a lot of contests that year. The most unforgettable one is the dramatic reading. Our class became united and put a lot of efforts and hard works for the contest. Half of the class practiced their lines for the dramatic reading. Others made the props and background, and planned for the costumes. We make sure that everything is perfect. When the day of contest came, we had our prayer circle. We always had a prayer circle when we join contests. At first we were nervous. But we know in our hearts we can do this. And we made it! We won the contest. Everyone is so happy. Ma'am Lazaro is very proud of us. That was one of the best days in my life.
But time was so fast. It was almost the end of the school year. It means that some of us would be expelled in ESEP. We are scared, not because we don't want to be in the regular class, but we will miss each other so much. Our class became very close that year. We are united. Then all of a sudden we need to say goodbye to our classmates who would be expelled in the class. The pronouncement day came. There were only 10 left in ESEP. The rest would be transfered in regular class next school year. Everyone cried, except for the other boys. Me and my bestfriend would be separated. I don't want to lose her beside me, same as she. I felt like I wanted to go with her in the regular class. But this is our destiny. Even though it hurts, we need to say goodbye. But that doesn't mean it was the last day we would meet each other. We still have communication in Facebook and Twitter. And we will still see each other at the campus. And still, things will change without her.
I am currently in ESEP III. We are combined with ESEP II-B. Our adviser for this year is Mrs. Alonzo. She is also a great teacher. She guides us well for our Junior life. Our class is not yet that close and united. We are still learning each other. But on the following days or weeks, I'm sure we will be united. Together we will be united, and we will survive our life in ESEP.