THE MEMORIES of my remote past seem more vivid than the recent ones. I could still remember the time that I and my father went fishing, standing on a large boulder by the sea under the heat of the sun. It was fun! The time when I woke up in the morning hearing the gentle splashes of the sea waves against the fine white sand. When it was low tide, the rough coastline turned into a long, smooth paper upon which I used to draw anything I liked. I could still remember the time when I was asked by my uncle to read the list of senatorial candidates, and I was able to pronounce the names correctly (while somebody older than me mispronounced the name GUINGONA). I was able to read before I entered school. Guess what, not who, taught me? It was comics! I was fond of reading comics which were popular that time, and it inspired me to learn to draw and, unintentionally, to love reading.
The place where my childhood memories were set was a potent factor in my growth and development as an individual. Barangay Lahong is located halfway between Aroroy and Baleno towns via national road. It is a coastal community where people’s way of living depends on fishing. Due to its fecund hills, residents also engage in farming. The local milieu – the vast blue sea, the smooth white sand, the comics, the supportive people – made it conducive for a young mind to develop its potentials.
When the Atlas mining company at Aroroy became the largest employer in the province, we transferred to Barangay Puro, town of Aroroy because my father had successfully landed a job in underground mining. There I had my first formal schooling at Rufo C. Pajes, Sr. Elementary School. I supposed that school would always be like play, as any child of my age would suppose and want. My teacher scolded me for not paying attention. But she was surprised when I started to be actively involved in class activities. I consistently topped the class the whole school year round. She also found out that I was good at drawing. When I entered Grade 2, my teacher would always ask me to draw on the board while my classmates were copying. Sadly, I became seriously ill, so my academic performance was negatively affected. When the recognition day came, I was only next to top 1, a classmate named Beverly Cedillo.
My early schooling established my positive attitude towards school. Being recognized for my achievement and talent developed my confidence and strength in stepping on the succeeding levels of the educational ladder.
When the mining industry stopped, we had no choice but to go back to Lahong. I transferred at Lahong Elementary School as Grade 3 pupil under Mrs. Quiteria Senis. There I found new friends and developed my interpersonal skills. My academic achievement was not that good, being always second best. However, I excelled in the arts and won first place in division poster-making contest. Here at Lahong ES, my teachers encouraged me to prepare their classroom devices and gave me some gifts in exchange of my service. This I think inspired me to hone my skill.
When I reached adolescence, some things changed. I became an introvert person from being a friendly fellow. I preferred spending my time reading science books instead of having fun conversations with my schoolmates. My curiosity for the scientific explanations of the natural world became so very deep that I always wanted to discover something new, invent, and emulate the attitudes of the scientists being described in the book. I made a periscope, a device using two parallel 45°-angled mirrors to view something indirectly; I collected nuggets of pyrites, placed them in a bottle, and named it as a chemical Balbuenium; I searched for a home remedy for sore eyes and prepared a decoction of Gumamela roots; and the like. I was thinking that to learn science was better than to learn to love and be loved. (But it was a great mistake!) I was ambitious. I wanted to be great.
My attitude in my high school years was greatly influenced by the books I had read. So the saying “You are what you read” is really true. Trying to imitate scientists’ way of thinking and doing, I became withdrawn, sceptic, creative, critical, and curious. However, this attitude helped me to excel in the class constantly and enabled me to reach the regional level (not in science, though) in editorial cartooning twice, the second being first place in the Division Press Conference.
