Collection of Essays And Memoirs

To the Boy who Lived

I have a scar on my forehead. I received the scar when I was a kid, playing with my sister. It happens when my sister asks me to jump from the table where our mother left me. My sister then asked me to leap from the table and assured me she would catch me. However, things didn't end just what she said. I jumped, but she didn't catch me instead the floor does. My head hit the floor causing blood to flow, leaving a mark in my forehead as I grow up. This is in line with the title of this memoir. Of course, this is not a Harry Potter series, but a story embedded with resilience and strength.

I live in an area surrounded by tall mountains and trees. It's like the summer capital of Nueva Ecija in the Philippines for its cold weather especially on December. More than that, the people also in the community are mostly Igorot (native). In line with this, I grow up, accustomed to different cultures and beliefs. The area where I live is situated between the boundary of Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija. It was the usual route if you want to go to Cagayan valley. The area is full of mountains which is why, most of the time it is considered as secluded area. The main town is also in secluded area and the pathway is full of rough roads. Many residents are complaining about this, but it seems like their voices were not heard by those in authority. Among other towns in Nueva Ecija, Carranglan is considered as one of the unprogressive. I live in Brgy. Capintalan somewhere in the municipality of Carranglan. The area is surrounded by mountains, trees and farmlands. The weather is very cold especially on the month of December. Due to its cold weather, many affiliated it as Baguio of Nueva Ecija. Tourist and neighboring townspeople would like to go in Capintalan especially on December, drinking coffee while enjoying the Christmas vibe brought by cold weather that sometimes falls between 10 to 20 degrees. The scenery is good as well because of the mountains that surrounding it and wide farmlands. There are products sold as well like herbal products, ginger tea and crops like sweet potato, beans, onions, garlic, ginger, and many more. In spite of this, my place still lacks elegant. Every morning, the usual noise that you can hear from the road is the sound of Jeepney's calling for passengers. The destination of the Jeepney's is San Jose which is a neighboring town of my place. Whenever people lack goods, they go to San Jose to buy what they need.

As a resident of the area, I considered myself as a native but not pure blooded since my father is an Igorot while my mother is an Ilongga (Bisaya). In spite of being an Igorot, my father's usual language is Ilokano, since he grew up in Pangasinan. Ever since a kid, he uses Ilokano language to initiate a conversation to people. Although, he can speak tagalog, he still mumbles, especially on English word. This is the funniest part, since every time he failed to pronounce the exact English word, all of us laugh. He is a no read no write person. Despite this, he was a great man, for raising and always reminding us to pursue education first before anything else. He was a fisherman in Pangasinan and my mother help him with his task. This goes with the fact that, mostly they are not in the house. In relation, I grew up along with my siblings far from our parents.

During Elementary, I learned to value every amount of money I brought to school, considering my family's background. Just like many families, I came from a humble family background, devoid of privilege. In fact, my family was a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which served as one of our primary sources of income back then. Everyday, my usual budget ranged from five to ten pesos. I am still amazed at how I was able to budget that small amount of money for my school needs, especially considering the present economic situation. The inflation rate is too high for the average person. Just imagine the people below the poverty line, very alarming.

During my high school years, I gained invaluable insight into the daily struggles faced by my parents. Unlike many of my classmates, who spent their summer breaks on vacation, I, along with my siblings, would travel to Pangasinan to help our parents. This experience exposed me to rigorous routines, where I was tasked with demanding responsibilities such as lifting heavy objects, enduring the scorching heat, and performing other strenuous activities. More than that, the most unforgettable experience to me is when I was almost drowned, two times. First happens when we goes to catch fish to sell, and the second one, was when we swim in the river using a container to float. It was unforgettable to me because I still can't imagine, despite that experience I was still here writing this story. Looking back, I realized it was God's grace for allowing me to live this far sharing my story. Amidst hardship, I remembered my mother once told me,