English Theme 1: Me in Ages and Experiences

When I was seven months old the first word I learned was dida which my mother says it means Daddy. I don't know why I say it like that. My daddy has always taught me discipline, how to manage time properly and how to always treat others kindly. I'm thankful that I have him, though sometimes I feel like he's too strict, I still love him. I know that he just wants me to be safe because I'm the only daughter he has. The second word is mama because my mother told me that I always hear it to my cousin which back then, was our neighbor. But now, I call my mother mommy. She has always been my best friend. She's more than just a mother, she's more than what adjectives can describe. The two of them are one of the best persons God has ever given me. I am here in this world because of them.


When I was three my parents sent me to kindergarten. I really admire my English teacher. How she speaks, how she writes, how she teaches was just magnificent. She is one of the reasons why I like writing.


November 10, 2005 was the first birthday I celebrated without my mother. My mother left to work in Taytay Rizal. (we were really from Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro) Whenever I ask her why she left to work when my father has a stable work as a government employee. She tells me: 'It's God's plan'. My aunt helped my mother, because she owns a store there. It was hard because I have to do things on my own specially tying my hair, I can't ask my father to tie my hair. What does he know about it?. But you know what? I learned to be independent. I have become more responsible and my mother is proud of it. 


A month after, was the month that I will never forget. It changed my family's life. December 6, 2005 Calapan City's dike broke. It caused flood in the whole city. We have to evacuate because flood water is starting to enter our house. At first, we thought it's just a simple flood, but neither my relatives nor the local government knew that it will be a huge flood. Both of my parents weren't there and it saddened me so much. But my grandparents took care of me. The next morning, my father went to where we evacuated. He went with my grandfathers in our house. He told me that water is above him and everything in our house was soaked in water. Three days later, my cousin who stayed on their house went to where we were staying. He told us that our grandmother who was seventy-six back then, died. She was really ill even before the flood. I cried. All of us did. By the afternoon, My father together with my uncles went to get my grandmother. Because it was flooding, they can't just call a funerary, so they carried her and put her on the broken door that my uncle saw in their way. I don't know what to feel. After a week, thanks to God, flood is lower and it's safe to go back. When I arrived at our house, everything was in disaster. Photos that my mother treasured the most were soaked in water. My computer, our television everything we have. I even saw my father cry. It was a tragic two weeks of my life. Everything my parents worked hard for was destroyed. Even the memories, I felt like it was gone with the flood.

We have to start again. 

I told myself. My father decided that when I finished 4th grade we will go to Taytay, Rizal and start another life there. 


Ten years old, my father and I moved in Taytay, Rizal. It was hard because I have to study in a public school. My parents, because they're new there, don't know any private school nor have time to find one. They were busy in our store. Adjusting was hard but I thought, I should accept what God is giving me.


I would consider my 14th birthday, the saddest. My parents fought for a reason that I don't know. It was the 8th of November, that night I cannot sleep at all. I could hear they're shouting. I decided to sneak on their room when I couldn't hear anymore noise. I didn't saw my father. My mother was crying, the room was a mess, they're clothes are on the floor. Tears just started to fall, I ran to my mother and she told me that my father left. 
The next morning, my father went home to get some clothes, but he bought me a gift first.               He gave me a watch. I don't know but I should be happy right? But tears kept on falling through my cheeks. He left after saying: I'm sorry.
After a week, he went back. My father and mother was okay. I don't know how and what happened but I'm thankful they're relationship is fine. Now, they're relationship is getting stronger. I hope they won't fight like this anymore, because it hurts me so much. It affects me so much, because I love them so much. 


There are so many things that I have experienced and I know there are a lot more. May God guide me as I embark this challenging travel called life.