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miatheaparnala · 7 months ago

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Mia's Blog: Compilation of My Works in Creative Nonfiction

By: Mia Thea Parnala

All About My Writings

Autobiography

A Life Experience to Cherish ♡

In every life experience, there is a lesson and memories to treasure.

“Can we please go to Jollibee and eat chicken joy?,” that is one of the lines I used to say to my parents. Every child is a fan of this fast food and excited to see the well-known mascot namely Hetty, Yum, Popo, Twirlie, and especially Jollibee. Going back, one peaceful and breezy night, at exactly 9:07pm, I was born in Philippine General Hospital in Manila and officially named me Mia Thea Kreenee Sarinas Parnala as the eldest daughter. Currently, we are residing in a single-story house in Alapan 1-C Imus, Cavite together with my four sisters, grandmother, father, and my stepmother as my biological parents decided to get separated. In one of our conversations, my grandmother, Priscilla, shared a story and some trivia about my childhood. During my kindergarten, I used to be described as someone friendly, jolly, and participative in every program and activities in our day care school. This is where I learn how to explore fun things. When the teachers also dismiss the class, we will go to the “10 pesos all items” store to buy some coloring books and stickers. After that, I will play some games with my grandmother, Edgar. Moreover, in my elementary days, I used to have a circle or group of friends. This is the stage where my learning shifts from children's books to advanced books and basic maths to mathematical or scientific equations that helps enhance my skills. Also, I know how to cook, do laundry, and perform tasks independently. I learn how to hang out with friends, eat street foods such as siomai, kwek-kwek, and fishball, and play traditional Filipino games particularly piko, Chinese garter, tumbang preso, tagu-taguan, and many more since the use of technology or internet is not prevalent in that time. It was indeed a meaningful part of my childhood without a doubt.

To further elaborate, throughout my junior high school year at Sangley Point National High School in Cavite City, I learn how to set realistic goals and improve my study habits as there are a lot of school workloads that I have to accomplish adding the household chores and other responsibilities that I need to fulfil as the “panganay” or eldest in our family. I also discover my hobbies or the things I enjoy the most during my leisure time such as reading books, travelling, writing journals, watching movies, and doing some arts that help me feel at ease. Fortunately, due to my determination and hardwork, I became a consistent achiever or honor student as I am aiming for scholarships for higher education. As a youth, I learned to participate in the advocacy of our school and community such as mental health awareness, anti-bullying, and human rights campaigns. On the other hand, I become introverted and unsociable. But since I developed resilience, I can adapt to the changes in my environment.

However, a sudden predicament called “COVID-19” came that negatively impacted almost all aspects including our education. It affects the employment and income of our family. All of us are forced to stay at home and school closes down. But for learning continuity, the institution of the government or DepEd implemented distance learning such as modular and online classes as an alternative for traditional education. During my 9th grade, I chose the modular as learning modality since we don't have stable internet connection and a gadget to use for online class. Admittedly, I am struggling since I have to help my sisters do their modules and study on my own. Furthermore, in my 10th grade, I managed to attend online classes and I effectively comprehend the lesson with the help of our teachers. The transition to “new normal” was not easy, but my family and I still managed to survive and overcome the difficulties.

“Lola, do you think we can overcome this pandemic? It's been 2 years now,” I said, being pessimistic in the midst of a pandemic where we are struggling to survive financially.

“Of course, my dear! There are no challenges that we can't overcome. Just don't lose hope,” she replied, smiling and patting my back to encourage me.

At present, now that I am 18 years old, I am currently studying in Gen. Pantaleon Garcia Senior High School. This level of education helps me to be better equipped and acquire skills for higher education or college. I am under the strand of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) as an aspiring teacher. Additionally, I discovered that I have passion in teaching and I want to share my knowledge to my future students to make a positive change. I met a lot of teachers that became my inspiration and role model. Since we are now graduating, I am looking forward to my college life despite being aware that it will be more challenging, but it will be worth our time, effort, and patience. Due to that reason, I always believe that there is always room for improvement, so I will strive harder to excel. Hence, I will just simply enjoy this journey and will continue to hope for a better future ahead of me. Hopefully, I will graduate with flying colors and offer great opportunities. As Helen Keller said, “life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood”. Which means that in every life experience, there is always a significant lesson we can learn from and memories to treasure.

Biography

A Kind Heart Always Offers Special Love ♡

“There is no change without sacrifice” -Gloria Alfred

Everyone has their own life story that needs to be shared as it offers life changing lessons, experiences, memories, and journey. To begin with, there was a girl named Priscilla De Jesus, born in Imus, Cavite on October 19, 1965 as the eldest among her three siblings. One of the things she enjoyed during her leisure time was singing, listening to music, and sewing clothes as their family ran a small business in their house, so they have a lot of materials, equipment, and machines for sewing or repairing clothes. On the other hand, her mother, Antonina De Jesus was a dressmaker or tailor and her father used to work in Saudi Arabia as a mechanic to earn money and as a source of income. When she was little, she used to dream of being an accountant. In her elementary days, she really did not like the idea of socializing with others. But she joined a competition such as maths quiz bee, and that was the time her nickname “human calculator” was made. Other extracurricular activities she participated in, are games such as sack race and volleyball during their Sports Fest event in their school. As usual children do, she used to play traditional Pinoy games like luksong baka, piko, and patintero enjoying her childhood, but she always came home on time and never disobeyed her parents.

In her High School life, there was really not much to share. She loves listening to carpenters songs like “Yesterday Once More”. As what an average and typical student would do, she studied hard and participated in volleyball sports. Since her grades are good in mathematics, their school counselor advised her to take up and pursue civil engineering, so she decided to shift course. In her college years, she attended Manuel L. Quezon University. She also used to work as the secretary in creating catalogs or brochures for dresses. Moreover, she met her husband named Edgar Parnala during college and their so-called love story began as friends. Her kindness also makes her unique and a good example for others.

Moving forward, she got pregnant with two boys at the age of 20 years old, but unfortunately, it should have been three but she had miscarriage. She also worked as a teacher for two years in St. Emily Academy, teaching mathematics to nursery and grade 1 and 4 students. When she resigned due to certain reasons, she worked in the factory as a sewer. In addition, when the opportunity knocks on her door, she was 22 years old when she went to Paris as an OFW, specifically a domestic helper. She left her children with the care of her husband and family. She would do household chores such as laundry, cooking, and cleaning and she picked up children at school and fed her boss's cat. Also, she would send a balik bayan box carrying chocolate as per request of her children and other necessities. But unfortunately, she was forced to go home, as her younger child has dengue. When she went back to the Philippines, she struggled financially and had no savings to build a house and buy a car. It was like a bitter sweet experience. But she was not called the “light of the home” for no reason.

Currently, she is now 59 years old and has eight grandchildren and the eldest is now attending Senior High School. Priscilla has a part-time job every weekend because that is the only time her plate is not that loaded. One of her daily routines is to take care of her grandchildren who are now in kindergarten as both of their parents go to work. She is now self-employed and often stays at home, leaving her no choice. She should be working, but her second son's responsibilities to their children are passed to her. Hence, there were a lot of opportunities missed due to that reason. But despite all the challenges she's been through, she remains strong for the sake of her family. She is like the bright sunshine and a good role model to her grandchildren. That is why it is said, “grandmother's love is forever and always”. She is one of the living examples of that quote, as she would sacrifice and do everything she can for her children as well as for her grandchildren. No one will beat that kind of special love.

Personal Narrative

A Wisdom Gained from Various Collections of Life Experiences ♡

“Live your story you want to tell” -Simply Topaz

In every life experience, there is a lesson, knowledge, and wisdom that is acquired as it will teach us to embrace our fears and never be afraid of failure. That explains why life is a “trial and error” process and full of challenges. To begin with, there was a girl named Mia Thea Kreenee Parnala, the eldest and first born in the family. I lived in the province of Cavite, particularly in Imus. In fact, our house was surrounded with a lot of tall dark-green trees and grasses. Admittedly, I feel so lonely as I have no friends to play with, so I have reached the point where I feel so sick playing doll house, teddy bears, lego, clay, puzzles, and other toys that will help ease my boredom. But one day, surprisingly, I met a mysterious friend, not bothering to know her name and we used to play hide-and-seek and other all sorts of kid’s games. During that time, I was confused because my parents would not allow me to play outside. As a response, I threw a tantrum and argued that they should let me play because I have no sister I can play and bond with. Certainly, I enjoy the accompaniment of this unknown friend.

“Do you want to play with me?,” she asked, smiling while pointing to our favorite play place. “I would love to! You don't need to ask,” I replied with eagerness as we played together.

A day came that my parents told me the truth with concern in their faces. All this time, I have an imaginary friend which makes my jaw drop. It is all created in my imagination due to my loneliness. Aside from that, my parents are busy with work and I don't yet attend school, having no opportunity to socialize with others. But as time passed, I learned how to deal with this imaginary friend as I went to school and when my younger sister was born.

Moving on, in my elementary days, I did not study hard and I am fine as long as I have no line of 7 or failed marks. I only care about playing and hanging out with friends, such as going to the computer shop. I also used to be outgoing and extroverted, not until my teacher called my name in front and scolded me for being loud. I cried buckets of tears and locked myself up in the room. On the other hand, during my High School year, that is the time I learned how to prioritize my study to improve my academic performance. I excelled in class and became a consistent honor student. Honestly, the downside of being an achiever is the feeling of academic validation and trying to meet the expectations of others, so the pressure it brings is exhausting. However, I try to develop healthy coping skills such as taking regular breaks, exercising, giving myself a reward or tokens, and developing good study habits.

In addition, one of my experiences in the two years of lock down during the pandemic or “new normal”, in my ninth grade, I am under a modular distance learning approach due to limited access to the internet and technology device I can use for online class. I also learned how to comprehend and study the lesson alone as it is “self-learning”. I relied on the educational videos provided on the internet, so I can understand and answer the modules better. Moreover, I helped my sisters answer their own modules and school tasks. In my 10th grade, I am taking online classes, a form of flexible learning which helped me a lot as I can communicate with my teachers and classmates. It was truly a difficult experience as I struggled with my academic and house responsibilities, but it taught me how to be resilient and bravely face every situation.

Moving forward to the present time, I am now in Senior High School, deciding to pursue education. I also submitted my application in Cavite State University and I will also take the entrance exam in Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila when I received the E-permit. I joined an extracurricular activity in our school which is journalism and we compete for clusters and Division School Press Conference. It helps me improve my writing skills and I engage more in reading news articles to be aware about social issues. Currently, we are in the second semester, and we will be having a work immersion as part of the curriculum to gain some actual experience and to expose ourselves in the workplace. Furthermore, I am aiming for scholarships in higher education, and I am looking forward to graduating with flying colors. In the future, I am hoping to be a teacher with great passion in teaching and a good role model to others.

Reflection Essay

How Life Unfolds a Great Experience: A Lesson to Gain and Journey to Enjoy ♡

“Honest self-reflection opens your mind to reprogramming, change, success, and freedom”-Trudy Vesotsky

First and foremost, as someone who grew up in an average family who earned just enough money to put food on the table, I learned how to be aware of reality and be independent at an early age. The idea of being the eldest or “ate” means having the responsibility to take care of your siblings and graduate in order to escape poverty. I started learning how to do laundry, cooking, and other household chores. It is due to certain circumstances in life that necessitate me to also be parent-figure to my siblings. I become their support system and epitome of diligence as we face the challenges together. Moreover, one of our major struggles is financial, making it difficult for us to meet our basic needs and other expenses. But regardless of that, both of my parents, as a breadwinner, worked hard to provide. That became my inspiration to change and seek for growth.

Moving forward, I remember when I was in elementary school, we reached the point where we needed to borrow food such as one kilogram of rice and canned goods in one of the sari-sari stores in our neighborhood. Also, my siblings would ask for toys and chocolates to my parents, but still unable to grant their wishes. However, I am not in the position to complain and I understand the hardship we have been through. As a response, I tried my best to fullfil my role as I am assigned to look after my sisters and manage the house, so I would not add to their burden. In that time, I figured out that life would not throw or present problems we cannot overcome.

In addition to that, my grandmother never failed to make us feel loved. She took care of us when parents were working, so I grew with her care. I also recalled the time when she always let us first eat delicious food, and she would eat the leftover meals. When doing household tasks, particularly the laundry, I can see how she was suffering from all sorts of pain such as back and muscle pain, therefore, I would initiate massaging her body. In fact, she shouldered the duties of my parents, making me feel bad. I love how she bought us toys from the market and treated us to Jollibee when she had extra income. I wanted to return her sacrifices and hard work by finishing my studies and helping my parents as gratitude. It is also the least I can do for her.

As I always mentioned in my writings, ever since elementary, I have not excelled and performed outstandingly in class. I am satisfied as long as I have no line of seven in my report card. I participated in extracurricular activities such as girl scouts that helped shape my leadership skills and potential in different aspects. But as soon as I moved up to junior high school, I gave importance to my studies and became a consistent academic achiever as a product of my determination and dedication. Throughout my experience in junior high school, I learned a lot of things.

Unexpectedly, when we faced the health crisis called “COVID-19” pandemic, it changed our lives in terms of education, socialization, economic, employment, and many more. I learned how to be flexible and resilient as I acquired the ability to adapt to the changes in my environment. Even though I struggle with my academic and house responsibilities, I still manage to survive and find solutions. I helped my sisters do their modules and after that, I will study my school tasks that took a lot of time since I am not that fast learner. It was a difficult experience but it taught me how to bite the bullet or stand firm despite the challenges.

Finally, in the present time, now that I am in my senior high school years, graduating, I am giving extra priority and focus on my studies. I am aiming for scholarships, to lessen the expenses for higher education. This K-12 curriculum and other extracurricular activities I joined such as journalism helps improve my knowledge, vocabulary, skills, and comprehension. I engage more in learning as I want to be a licensed teacher in the near future. I am looking forward to our upcoming work immersion that will expose me to the working environment.

In my 18th year of life, many things happened, but it is all part of our journey and process of living. All we have to do is to enjoy it and take it as a lesson. Certainly, time flies so we should cherish every moment and appreciate what we have. One thing is for sure, we may have different experiences, situations, perspectives, and challenges, but the bottom line is it will be a significant lesson to reflect on that will change our life. I also know for sure that I am capable of more than I can imagine and there is so much to look forward to in life.

Travelogue

How Journey Creates An Everlasting Memories: A One that is Worth Sharing ♡

“Travel is an investment in yourself”

Our country, the Philippines, is known for its historical places, islands, and wonders of nature. There are many destinations that are worth visiting as it represents the rich culture, heritage, and tradition of our homeland. Therefore, I will share a fun story about the places that we visited during our family vacation and educational field trip. Just recently (March 9, 2024), on one of our family trips, we went to Patungan Beach Cove also called “Fisherman's Paradise” in Maragondon, Cavite. It is accessible by boat and there are a lot of recreational activities to engage in such as fish feeding, cliff diving, island hopping, and many more. We also tried bonfire and rented videoke. We shared stories and talked about life. Moreover, you can buy souvenirs such as keychains, bracelets, and personalized wallets and try local food products like delicacies and ice cream or “sorbetes”. During that time, I was so excited I could die.

My family also tried enjoyable stuff including catching crabs, collecting seashells, building sand castles, sunbathing, and watching the sunset together. In addition, I really enjoyed the view due to the perfect rock formations, and not to mention the friendly accommodations of the staff. Some of you might have heard of this place for the first time, but it is a highly recommended place to unwind. However, the place has poor signal, limited electricity, and some areas are polluted, so they need to improve that aspect. But overall, it was a great experience and memories to look back on. I can describe the feeling of “I am on cloud nine”.

Furthermore, the last to be shared is during our educational field trip. Last year (March 18,2023), we went on various itineraries such as Aguinaldo Shrine, El Deposito, Museo ng Katipunan, and Star City. In Aguinaldo Shrine, one of the historical landmarks located in Kawit, Cavite, there are many artifacts displayed in the gallery. It includes the badges of Katipuneros, dress and shoes worn by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, guns and bullets, and many more. It was wide and there were a lot of secret doors. There are many interesting things to explore inside and outside of the house. Moving to the next destination, in El Deposito in San Juan, Manila, an underground water reservoir built by the Spanish became one of the historical sites. It provides a natural source or adequate supply of water for the residents. There are also museums picturing the artifacts recovered back then. During the tour, I discovered a lot of new information from Philippine history.

Additionally, during our field trip, we also visited Museo ng Katipunan in San Juan, Manila. It featured Bonifacio's secret society, called “the Katipunan” through significant artifacts such as archival documents, cryptic messages, amulets, medals, and weapons used by Katipuneros during the Philippine Revolution. Inside the museum, there are a lot of dioramas and miniatures of the battle of the Katipuneros. I learned a lot of interesting trivia and knowledge in this historical place. Finally, for our last itinerary, we went to Star City in Pasay. One of the places I am looking forward to and excited to go as it is ride-all-you-can. There are different extreme rides such as vikings, frisbee, rollercoaster, star flyer, and others. My friends and I took a lot of pictures for documentation and tried a horror house that made my voice hoarse. It was a fun and entertaining experience of mine.

In this trip and journey, I discovered the true beauty of the Philippines and its history. I learned how to value our culture, tradition, and heritage and promote it to other people. To conclude, It not only provides relaxation and entertainment, but also offers a lesson to gain about our country. I got an opportunity to strengthen my relationship with my family and friends and to see the wonders of nature. We should visit different places, especially the historical landmarks or sites as it has a great contribution in Philippine history. It will also help improve our well-being by participating in physical activities such as swimming, and to explore different cultures and acquire new perspectives. Every place in our country is worth visiting that we should be proud of as Filipinos. Indeed, it is truly an adventurous, fun experience, and everlasting memories to share.

Literary Journalism

Embrace Diversity: Exploring the Unique Filipino Culture and Tradition ⁠✯

“Understanding culture builds bridges”-Suzy Kazzen

Culture is a building block in attaining unity as it is made up of shared values, customs, and beliefs. However, there is a concept called “cultural diversity and relativism” that exists between groups of people. In fact, being hospitable and having a heart of gold is deeply rooted in Filipino culture. In times of catastrophe, they are resilient which explains the term “Bayanihan”, and have strong family ties for being oriented. They also use phrases like “po and opo” and “pagmamano” or putting the back of elders' hand to their forehead as a sign of respect. Now, what makes the Filipino culture unique and different from the other? A published book entitled, “Philippines – The Culture'' written by Greg Nickles in 2002, features the rich traditions and practice of the Filipinos. It includes celebrations, norms, arts, literature, and local products created due to Spanish and American influences.

In the book of Greg Nickles, it speaks truths about Philippine culture. First, it highlights the Christian celebrations such as Christmas (where people exchange gifts or sing carols) and Saint's day. Second, Muslims holidays such as Ramadan and festivals featuring Pahiyas, Dinagyang, Panagbenga, Sinulog, Moriones, and Giant Higantes showcased alongside a distinct culture that includes the singkil dance, carabao tales, and bamboo instruments. Third, celebration of fiestas throughout the year is held across towns and provinces to honor patron saints. Moreover, there are traditional arts such as weaving or using raw materials (e.g. cotton, fibers, and abacca) to produce a textile, and seashell crafts for decorating windows panes, lanters, and other objects using shells. Other arts in the Philippines are sculpture, pottery, murals, and carving. Then, the gong instrument called “kulintang” in Mindanao, and other bamboo instruments such as flute and guitars. There are also various groups in the Philippines including T’boli, Ifugao, Igorot, Mangyan, and Tagbanwa. Last but not the least, the native languages used are Tagalog, Cebuano, Waray, Hiligaynon, and many more.

In addition, in one of the articles of Kibin Website called, “An interview of a Filipino Boy About Their Lives and Culture”, is one of the living proofs about how the Philippines is different from other countries. A 14 year-old boy named Jake, who has lived in the City of San Diego for Twelve years, was asked about their culture.

“Filipinos are very strong in religion. Majority of Filipino households are Catholic and have mini-alters in their houses. Filipinos like singing at parties. Many of the Filipino households have sing-a-long machines,” he said in the interview.

Jake believes that Filipino food and tradition varies from other cultures. He also speaks about food lumpia and rice, which he states are always present in the Filipino food and occasions, particularly birthdays. He also added that Filipinos are very family-oriented. But the purpose of the interview was not to be ethnocentric or superior, but to take it as an opportunity to let other people recognize the rich culture of the Philippines and give importance to its values.

Finally, culture has a major impact in people's lives as it gives a sense of belonging and security. The book of Greg Nickles and interview of the boy named Jake, clearly show how creativity and hospitality is embedded in the Filipino culture. It opens a new door to understand the heritage and history of the places and encourages people to participate in local celebrations. The delicacies, literature, arts, dances, folktales, festivals, and other practices is something to be proud of with pride. Hence, it is important to view cultures with respect and equality, so it will not create gaps between people's lives, but to unite them despite the differences. Culture is like an onion, made up of different layers, and in order to understand it, one needs to peel it layer from layer. One also needs to treat cultural diversity as a living treasure and a rainbow river.

Memoir

A Reason to Continue: Life that Opens the Door of Opportunities ♡

“Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going, tough situations build strong people in the end” -Roy T. Bennet

Some may think that life is unfair, especially for those who are underprivileged and having no ability to provide for needs and wants. It feels like grasping at straws with slightest hope. However, it depends on how one views life and finding a way to escape that reality. A life long enough to put food on the table with little income earned by the breadwinner of the family and going to a nice place and dining in an expensive restaurant once in a blue moon, was how I described my life. But I was able to have a wide perspective as I reflected on life. Now, you will be able to gain an understanding on how I keep on striving hard despite those certain circumstances I faced. It was a single experience that changed my viewpoint and helped me grow independently.

To begin with my so-called “eye-opening life story”, I still vividly remember how my father struggled to search for our food, so that me and my three other sisters could ease hunger as my father was unemployed, and sometimes working sideline jobs. Just for us to fill our stomach, we have reached the point of eating plain porridge without totally no ingredients but rice, water, and salt, and eating rice with condiments like soy sauce, sugar, or salt as a dish. I felt like cutting an onion, as it made my eyes bawl. As an elder, it was hard seeing my family eating meals twice a day, but at the same time, I felt glad as I glimpsed a smile on their faces in spite of our situation. Moreover, we borrow food such as canned goods and kilograms of rice in one of the sari-sari stores in our neighborhood, hence, my family used to be in large debt. But it was thanks to my grandmother, who never neglected us and helped us pay our debt. Her sacrifice was one of the things that inspires me to work hard, for me to be able to pay back her kindness. Grandmother's love was always top-tier and it never failed. One more thing, I never heard my sisters complain about what life we had back then, and even though we are unable to buy them toys.

Truthfully, It has been five years now since my mother and father got separated. All of us decided to stay with our father, so everyone labelled us as “daddy's girl”, which was true. It opened many opportunities because I learned how to do basic household chores such as cooking, cleaning, washing, and doing laundry, and I learned how to figure out things as it taught me a life-long lesson that will remain embedded in my heart. I will be forever grateful to my father who stayed through thick and thin. He stood as both of our mother and father, who never failed to make us feel loved and appreciated.

Now, I am more motivated to exceed my potential in order to attain my goals in life. I have kept in mind that I will keep on standing, even if I fall down, especially that I will enter higher education next school year. In addition, I will work hard to escape poverty and give the good life they deserve. There are a lot of people who are deprived of education, work at an early age, not eating regularly, and having no decent shelter to live in. So, I am still thankful for what we have now.

Certainly, It was not always about pleasant things, but we also needed to see its bad aspects. The weight of the problems can make us feel like giving up, nevertheless, there are a lot of reasons to continue fighting. I also understand what life truly was. Most importantly, all of us should recognize the struggles, efforts, and sacrifices of our parents as earning money was not easy to give us a life worth living. Our family has genuine love, and I never forget to surrender my worries and have faith in God. Being brave is the only choice that we have to overcome or endure what life throws at us.

Facial Recognition

My Serotonin Booster ♡

“Be happy, be bright, be you”

Happiness is a common feeling caused by positive feelings, thoughts, and experiences. When that certain feeling occurs, happy hormones are released. It can also be about something that we love such as food, movies, clothes, and places. However, happiness is more than just money or luxurious things. Our family, friends, or maybe someone we admire can be a source of joy. To start with, I will be completing one of the tasks I am looking forward to which is sharing the one who makes me undeniably happy. Honestly, it is my first time telling a story about someone I admire, feeling shy about it and a topic I always avoid. It took a lot of time to finally have the courage to open up about him. But, he will remain anonymous as I will not mention his name. There are a lot of reasons why I felt that way, in fact, just the thought of him makes me giggle and makes my ear grinning. This is something new, so bear with me.

It is good to begin with describing him in terms of personality, body, and facial features. He is tall with a round face, pointed nose, rosy lips, dark eyebrows, and mole near his jawline and temple. He is also a responsible, diligent, caring, and hard working “kuya” or eldest of their family. His smile and eyes were an ocean of wonder, that I cannot help but get lost. I like our interactions inside and outside the school since 11th grade. Later on, we became close and shared each other's secrets. I also love how we send memes or collections of humorous pictures from social media, and how we react to our shared posts. As we are mutual friends in TikTok, he always sends me cute and funny videos. I nearly died laughing. Moreover, I always enjoy it when he invites me to eat street foods such as siomai, fishball, mais con yelo, ice cream, and grilled sweetcorn calling him my “food buddy”. He also loves taking pictures of the sunset and documenting every moment, so he will have something to look back at.

When I am stressed at school and worried about personal matters, he will cheer me up and affirm me with his nice words. In addition, I like how he pays attention to every detail I say and how he makes an effort and time like making hand-made flowers. Even if he cracks thousands of corny jokes and cheesy pick-up lines, I will let him do that and laugh at it without doubt. Most of the time, we will hangout and watch some movies with tragic endings, hence, I always prepare a box of tissues beside us. I also like how he gives me small and random stuff such as mushroom hair clips as I am not a fan of material things, believing in, “it is the thoughts that counts”. In case I don't say it enough, I am forever grateful and I appreciate his little gestures as I spend time with him. No matter what he does, I always catch myself smiling like a child who receives a candy.

In the end, life is better when we have someone we can rely on and can share what makes our day. I have someone I consider as my “happy pill” and who boosts my happy hormones. He is one of the people who helped me develop perseverance and taught me to not live up to others expectations. Even if we surround ourselves with silence and do not speak for hours, his presence is enough to make me feel at ease. Furthermore, he is the epitome of a happy-go-lucky person and his broad perspective in life is what makes him attractive. I am hoping to unlock more memories with him. Indeed, he shines like a bright star, the one I always admire and his number one fan. We should appreciate the people who contribute a lot to our growth and well-being, especially reciprocating the love, effort, time, and happiness they offer.

Self Obituary

Live Your Life: Overcoming A Fear of Certainty

“The value of life is not in the quantity of time. But in the quality of moments lived”

As I sat down in my room and grabbed my pen to take some notes about what I will write in my obituary, I put on my thinking cap to organize my thoughts and came up with an idea. I really don't know how to start talking about my last message and farewell before I took my last breath. In point of fact, death is inevitable and certain as we are immortals. Hence, I asked myself, why not begin writing your own obituary now? I'm not dying anytime soon (I hope not), but I will continue updating my self-obituary for the following years. Many people avoid talking about death as it puts shivers down their spine. However, there is nothing to fear and understanding death will help in self-discovery and giving value to your time and people around you. “What lesson do I want to mark in the people's mind?”, “what inspiration can I share?”, and “how do I want to be remembered?” Are the list of questions I repeatedly asked myself.

To begin writing my self-obituary journey, I was born on October 24, 2005. Many people described me as hard working, resilient, independent, and responsible. I also found solace in watching movies and reading books, like a bookworm. Every time I feel like a wilting flower, it is good to have a support system as I have the habit of not asking help and figuring things out alone. Admittedly, I am not as skillful and intelligent as people think. Maybe there are also a lot of things I can do, but there is not a single thing I am good at. But it is not enough to stop me from seeking improvement. I learned how to perform well in school and surpass all the academic validation, pressure, and challenges that I encounter along the way. I started achieving a lot of awards such as medals and certificates when I participated in nonacademic activities and competitions including journalism, essay writing, and advocacy campaign making. I want to say here that it is not too late to overcome your weaknesses and use them to your advantage and excel in certain fields.

Furthermore, a family who earns enough income to provide for basic needs and having less privilege is how I live my life. At an early age, I become aware and learn basic life skills such as doing household chores to perform my “ate duties” or role as an elder. It feels like I am drowning with responsibilities and being chained in the harsh reality of life. Finding a way to escape these circumstances is the least I can do as the success of my future is in my hand. I also dream to become a teacher to share my knowledge to the next generation and help students address their problems, especially impoverishment. I want people to remember me as an individual who advocates for human rights and encourage them to speak for themselves as they are the leader of their own life. With that being said, we may be different from one another, but there is one thing that we share in common, and that is death. A part of our life. When that time comes, I imagine that I will have grown up children and become a passionate teacher and contribute to the professional field.

In the end, I have realized that death is an integral part of human experience. Writing your own obituary may be challenging, but it will be helpful to know how you will live your life. The manner of death can be natural, accident, undetermined, and pending. Thus, we should live our life to the fullest before our time runs out. Keep in mind that no one has the ability to turn back time, undo mistakes, and get the opportunities that we missed. For my final message, strive hard to attain success and spend time with your loved ones. Do the things that bring you joy such as learning new skills, travelling from different places, eating your favorite food, listening to music, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can also start making a bucket list to jot down the things you want to experience during your lifetime. It is to avoid having regrets and live a more fulfilling life. I hope that this self-obituary will light a spark for you to give value to your life and view it as an opportunity of beginning.

Thank you for reading! (⁠•⁠ө⁠•⁠)⁠♡

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