My Landmark Moments

My life is not as simple as you may think. Nowadays, apart from the "regular" few lucks, few roadblocks, several dangerous risks, impulsive decisions that put me in the most difficult situations, and some "muntik na!" moments, my day is composed mainly of boring stuff. :)

You might say, "who cares?"..Well, I can say that despite my age, I have experienced things that not so many people faced, I journeyed in less traveled roads, stumbled hard but stood up brave. 

You might say, "So?"..Well, I learned valuable lessons in those experiences and you might want to know what are those so you won't or you would do the same for yourself.

I want to share this to you because, today, I realized that  extraordinary blessings are given to me everyday without me noticing them (apart from the fact that I am still alive which is in itself, a miracle..) and I want you to notice yours too and so you won't waste your time NOT thanking the ONLY ENTITY responsible for this. You know Who. 

Landmark Moment #01: 

Self-supported my studies

I graduated in college struggling to provide for myself when things were too difficult for our family. While in college I worked as a househelp and applied as a secretary/personal assistant aka house help pa rin in two different years under two different employers. It helped that I had tuition privileges back in college. It decreased my expenses dramatically.

 I also tried to sell bread sticks and stick-o when I was in 2nd year High school while studying in a private school and experienced to be called by my teacher telling me to stop selling because I was competing with the school canteen, all of these only to be able to buy one kilo of tilapia that will be our viand (my younger brother and I) for three days. My father visited twice the Principal's office to make a promise when to settle my accounts before I was allowed to take the periodic exams. Still, when I was in 2nd year high school, my brother and I learned to play tong-its and played against our boarding house' old landlady and we always won most of time, by playing tricks against the old woman. :)

My entire family struggled during those times when we hit rock-bottom financially due to  El-Niño / La Niña crisis. My sister and brother had to stop schooling and looked for jobs to support the family.

This is a landmark moment for me and my family because our family have proven that we can survive together despite the absence of help from our relatives. This is one of the greatest moments in our family. We were devastated, but we were not broken. We emerged triumphant. With the constant support of my family, I graduated in college with a high mark.

This goes to show that YOUR FAMILY GOT YOUR BACK. Do not worry.

Landmark Moment #02: 

Tried activism

I am a Political Science graduate from a state university where freedom of expression is tolerated and actively practiced. I tried attending rallies and shouted "Tama na! Sobra na! Palitan na!". It was an exhilarating experience. There came a point that I was NOT talking to my mother without injecting some nationalistic, patriotic principles in the conversation. There was one time that my professor had to make a note in my essay paper which read like this: "Please tone down. This is a test!". I was ranting about inequality, injustice, and cried idealism and socialism in my essays!

I tried holding placards, rallying against imperialism, corruption, and other anti-poor policies of the administration. I met so many activists whose lives were devoted to "serving the people". I met a lady who graduated Magna Cum Laude from UP, met broadcast journalists, human rights activists, leaders of civic organizations, and even went as far as joining a dangerous fact-finding mission in pursuit of finding the truth about a certain human rights violation committed in one of the most dangerous places in Mindanao.

I eventually outgrew the idealism injected to me during my studies and detached myself from the group when I started working to earn money for my allowance in school. There were more pressing personal issues that I had to deal with than deal with the decays of our nation.

But these moments taught me great things about being selfless and becoming an advocate of something universally good. This experience taught me to be involved in my society and be one of the catalysts of change. It was a rewarding moment.

Landmark Moment #03: 

I decided to fall in love many times 

until I fell in love involuntarily..

I first had a boyfriend when I was in 3rd year High School. In my entire life, I had two "childish" relationships (3rd & 4th year High School), I had two "scary" relationships (2nd year college and while I was already working), and then I had two "serious" relationships (3rd year college and now, the present).

You might think that I was such a play girl. Oh no! I am not pretty nor attractive. I don't make a man glance at me twice. The men I had were people I met and became friends with before I developed romantic relationships with them. The childish relationships were those that made me feel "kilig" and made my young heart beat fast..more of a puppy love. The feeling was really good and I kinda miss the feeling. When I became older, I kept wishing to turn back time and experience the same feeling. It was not because of the "boys" but more because of the wonderful feeling and I wanted to experience it again.

The scary once were the risky relationships that I dared enter. Those were destructive relationships that made me hurt other people and made me ignore other people's feelings. It is a bad way to treat people - hurting them intentionally. Intentionally in the sense that, I knew I could cause pain but I continued anyway. It was risky also because I didn't realize back then that people are capable of causing danger to you if they could not handle pain so well. Bottom line is, try not to hurt other people. Karma is very real.

Finally, the serious relationships. Yeah, I think it is true that we could romantically love opposite sex (or same sex to the LGBT) more than once. The first one was a trial-and-error. A disaster waiting to happen. Luckily, I was brave enough to fight the feelings and moved on quickly. I am now in a 7-years old relationship with a person I CHOSE to stick with.  I did not wish for him in my life but he came anyway. I am happy.

I learned that people come and go and that no matter how strong you fight for each other if the bond that ties you together is not strong, the relationship will fail and you will eventually drift apart. 

I learned that we should not waste our lives spending time with the people who only MAKE US LOOK GOOD. We should instead spend those times with the people who MAKE US HAPPY and ACCEPT us regardless of our appearance, of our possessions, of our social status. 

But I also learned not to regret the experiences I had with my past relationships because it made me appreciate my man now..the pain and heartaches are worth it for the person we truly cherish. 

Landmark Moment #04: 

I Chose my Best Friends Well..

I have so many friends in different circles. I have high school friends, friends when I was just a "nene", friends in college, at work, and many other circles. But whoever I meet in my journey in this lifetime, I will only have two best friends. 

I shared many great moments with them and I am amazed by the bond that we built over the years because despite the physical separation for many years, we are still in-love with each other. I love them truly. 

My bestfriends never miss to tell me what's happening to them and how much they miss and love me. I love them too. Best friends never forget. Best friends keep to their hearts how valuable and irreplaceable you are in their lives.. @lemuel C. Leal and @marc lynch maguan.

Landmark Moment #05: 

I Chose to pursue my dream

I am continuing my Law studies this year 2013. It has always been an aspiration and it has always been my family's dream for me. I want to become a lawyer and make a difference to the lives of other people.  I want to honor my family by reaching this dream.

I want to become an inspiration.

*****

There are more landmark moments in my life that taught me valuable life lessons, both happy and sad experiences. The five (5) landmark moments in this entry are those that I am willing to share. The rest, maybe I will share later. Or maybe not.

I hope that at the very least, I shared something that made an impact to you.