Download - My Life Story
Autobiography is a form of art/literature and according to Merriam-
Webster Dictionary, it is a biography written by himself or herself. It’s simple
as a life story written by yourself. You know what, it feels weird to write your
own story because it has the same feeling when I’m reading a memoir. I feel
goose bumps but at the same time it feels good because you’re reliving and
reminiscing the oh-so-good-and-bad memories you have.
The importance of writing an autobiography is that you can share what
and who you are as well as your experiences good or bad, you can also put
closure to a period or episode in your life and you can leave a message to
whom will read your work. It may help or not but at least you can show the
world your art of your life.
If you’re asking me why am I writing this it’s because one (1) it’s part
of my midterm requirement in my Arts Appreciation and Aesthetics subject,
two (2) I’m an ordinary student/person in this world. In Earth, I am but like a
speck of dust to the billions people but however my story can be an
inspiration to the people who have time to read this.
My parents were introduced to each other by their common friends.
They hook up to each other and started dating for 3 years. They are sensitive
with this issue. I don’t know I think they don’t want us to copy what they did.
All I know is that they’re not meeting each other more often because of their
work. My Papa is 7 years younger than my Mama. It was never an issue for
my parents but it’s a big deal for their relatives.
In the year 1994, my parents did premarital sex honestly. So they
decided to get married to get married June 14 of the same year at Manila City
Hall and celebrate just with close friends in a Max Restaurant.
I will not narrate how I was created. Don’t worry. All I know is that I/we
are made from LOVE.
During the pregnancy of my Mama, she had a dreamed 2 angels flying
on the street and making fun of her. She chased them and at the end of her
dream was a rosary hanging in an image of Mother Mary.
She told me that she never have problems with her pregnancy and just
crave for green mangoes and santol. She’s also fond on eating twin bananas
that could lift her mood anytime she eats it.
My Mama didn’t undergone any ultrasound because she believe that it
will be much meaningful if it is a surprise. She just go to UST hospital for her
monthly check-up because it’s near from the apartment she lived in.
On a busy day December 5, 1994, my Mama’s day of work is done. And
before she have to leave her workplace in as a government employee at
MARINA located at UN Avenue, she first went to the comfort room to pee but
who would’ve thought that that day will be one of the longest day of her life.
My Mama noticed that her pee is longer than the usual time so she decided
to call for her best friend Letty, my godmother, to take her to the nearest
hospital.
Ninang Letty panicked while my Mama is still calm. They didn’t expect
it because my Mama’s due date will be less than a month more. And my
Mama is expecting to give birth at the end of the month at around December
28. Unfortunately, my papa is at his work in Cavite still training for Philippine
Constabulary or what we call Philippine National Police in the modern times.
They decided to quickly ride a cab and headed to Manila Medical
Center. The nearest hospital to their building but another problem is it’s not
the hospital where my Mama is having check-ups and appointments.
Contraction on my mother’s womb is still manageable so they decided to wait
for final wave of contraction before making a push and my time to see the
world.
Finally, at around 9 o’clock in the eve my Mama gave birth to me in the
guidance of Dra. Catherine Pujol and other doctors as well as the nurses.
Minutes have passed, my Mama still conscious in the operating room of the
hospital. She’s ready to be transferred to the private room where they will
bring my Mama to rest. But then Dr. Pujol noticed that my Mama’s placenta is
still not coming out yet so all of the doctors and nurses are called again. And
after 36 minutes after they have brought my twin sister out in this world.
I came out head first while my sister is feet first. In God’s will, we are in
normal delivery but still we still not strong enough so we are brought in
incubators. My Mama cried because of happiness and sadness that she
cannot carry us with her own hands but the doctors said that we must clear
all of the tests and make sure that we strong enough especially my sister
who have weak lungs before giving clearance to take us home. We are also
small enough with just more than 3 kg each. We are like tiny creatures given
by God to our parents.
The other doctors said if my Mama can’t afford to raise the two of us,
they can adopt my sister but my Mama definitely refused. Three days after
we have been born, we’re finally registered in Manila City Hall as Ma.
Kassandra Flores-Aquino, that’s me. While my sister’s name is Ma. Kriselda
Flores-Aquino. Those names were given by our Ninang Letty. And after a
week, we are discharged in the hospital.
Weeks have passed, our Mama tried to breastfed us but we don’t like
it. So we are feed b formula milk until we grow. Life is hard as well as taking
care of us so our parents decided when we reach 1 year old we will move to
Pangasinan particularly at a small town called Mapandan. Where we will
spend most of our lives.
From a small apartment where my parents rent a room in Sampaloc,
Manila we have moved to my papa’s hometown in Pangasinan. We lived at
our Grandparents house together with Inang, Amang and my uncles that
haven’t married yet. That house is newly renovated from the money that my
Papa earned and my Uncle Roland.
Honestly, my Papa’s family is poor. Amang is just a farmer with 4
daughters and 6 sons. So we don’t except from them much. The worse is my
aunts and uncles don’t like my Mama. But Mama and Papa just keep their
mouth shut and don’t complain. My parents needed their help in taking care
of us while their away from work in Manila. We were also baptized as Roman
Catholic Christian in December 5, 1996 at St. Joseph Parochial Church.
Since it’s hard to take care of two kids, Inang and Amang took care of
me while my Nanay Helen and Tatay Rudy took care of my twin sister. My
parents are just sending money for our expenses and go home when its
weekend. As far as I could remember, it was fun taking care of your Lolo and
Lola because you’ll be spoiled and discipline at the same time.
Another complain hit my parent’s senses by my aunt. She told my Lolo
that we should move to a different house because we we’re a burden for my
grandparents and my aunts and uncles. So my parents decided to build a
nipa house on the spare land from my Lolo’s farm. And they also transferred
their jobs from Manila to San Fernando, La Union which is way nearer than
Manila. They also hired my Nanay Helen to be our Yaya while my parents are
working during the day.
We grow up in a simple way not being spoiled by my parents. Only the
things we need are the ones that are given. We even get corporal
punishments. Our only addiction is that every Sunday after going to church
we would go to Mcdo or Jollibee, eat and collect those toys that they have.
Playing with my cousins which is mostly male made me boyish, in fact we
frequently have Barbie dolls. We used to play those traditional games like
patintero, tumbang presoand many more. We always climb trees, eat
together, play together, laugh together and sing together those old school
music like those from boy and girl bands. But my personal favourite is April
Boy Regino with his song ‘Di ‘ko kayang Tanggapin’. I have sang that song a
million times.
Funny moment in my life connecting to that song is that my youngest
uncle, Uncle Macoy have his long-time girlfriend. I remember it was sometime
in 1998 after the Typhoon Gading where Pangasinan what really hit by the
calamity and our roof was blown by the strong wind and the men in our
compound are fixing it and then I called out to my uncle saying, “Uncle
Macoy….Uncle Macoy! Look at me, I can now sing the song whole….Di ko
kayang tanggapin na mawawala ka na sa akin, napakasakit na marinig na
ayaw mo na sa akin…~”. He almost fell down because of that and all of them
crack up while laughing hard. Unfortunately, after that incident, my Uncle
cried because they have broken up.
Whenever my older cousins are in school, we would just stay at our
home and watch television programs that when we learn new things about
the world. We learn how to sing the Alphabet song and count up to 100
though we’re still young and can understand English a bit and a lot of Filipino
as well as Pangasinan language. My Mama wanted us to learn more like the
habit of reading that’s why she bought Encyclopedias, dictionaries and
illustrations that can answer our questions. We particularly, me, are really
eager about the world that’s why I love science. I like discovering things.
June, 1999. We’re about to turn 4 years old. I clearly remember that
time, our Mama brought us to this strange place where are many children like
us and one of my cousins is working there and she asked us if we wanted to
join them to play. It was a nursery school and it’s called Mapandan Catholic
School. It’s a private school. It was time to I was really excited because I can
play with them. All I know is I can play all I want but I was wrong. Like one
day, I was awake and hey, I’m in school I learn new things. I am really bad at
Math and reading.
It’s a really a disadvantage to us because our parents are away and
there’s no one to teach how to read and write. We also have a huge gap
generation. Even helping us on our homeworks is really tough for them
because they are tired from work and they even have to cook for our dinner
as well as breakfast. At a young age, we we’re also trained to cook for all of
us. Starting from cooking rice without rice cooker and simple dish like adobo
and others.
Time was fast for me that time. All I know is I needed to go to school to
study and go home and play with my cousins. I never have enthusiasm at
studying, in fact I thought it was a burden though I can learn something fast. I
am always aloof inside the class because all of my classmates are very
studious. (Well no much actually). I always have awards in school at the end
of the school year and I don’t mid it. I am very shy and do not have
confidence. One factor is that I was bullied by my classmates as ‘piggy’. Yes,
me and my sister. We were the tallest in class as well as heaviest in class. I
am chubby because I like to eat.
Reality hit me, when I was grade 2. My Filipino teacher called me to
read the story for our topic and I was like very timed and like there’s no
words coming out of my mouth. I was really embarrass that time. My parents
don’t asks us what we did and what we are doing in school so I thought I
needed to step up. I needed to gain more effort in the things I am not doing
well like reading. I excel at reading in English but never in Filipino. I am worse
when it comes to Math, Filipino and Arts. My mother also requested my
cousins to help us in our studies since they are old enough to teach us. And
they became our tutor for all of the subjects especially when periodical tests
are near.
Year 2003. My classmate’s parents decided to go our house for a visit
related to my mom’s job. My Mama work as Human Resource Assistant at
Maritime Industry Authority as I said earlier. That is a government agency
where permit for fishing vessel is applied to and also seaman’s book. It’s
something like a passport but a different one because it’s for seafarers. They
went to our house and what shock is they insulted us. Our house is a semi-
nipa and semi-concrete house. We know that they are richer than us because
they have these beautiful houses and can give all of their children’s needs as
well as what they want. They look at us like we’re some kind of low class
people. They are also questioning us why we don’t have a more decent house
while in fact we could afford ones.
Yes, we are hurt especially my Papa. He said he was very embarrass
and sorry for us that he can’t give a wealthy life for us. But I’m really fine
with that. We live in a simple way but my parents give more than money and
wealth to us but that is knowledge, love, values and education. For me they
give more than enough. My parents reason out that they really wanted to
build a more beautiful house but not the right time. They’ve been saving up
money for years for our house.
In that year, the construction of our new home has started. We spend
lots of money to build it. Actually it was quite big than I have expected it. It
has 3 bedrooms 2 comfort room, a terrace, 2 kitchens with huge spaces in it.
The construction was completed May 2004. But has lots of things lacking on it
like ceiling, finishing, the flooring and the paint.
Who would’ve thought 2004 will be the greatest year for us. Greatest
because we have our new house and another greatest. Greatest failure. My
Mama decided to take one of my cousins in mother side to finance her
studies aside from my Mama’s youngest brother. We are very generous to
the point that my Papa has this large amount of debt to finance all of our
needs.
But in return, we have nothing left to us. No, we only have faith in God,
trust and love. After a year, my cousin chose to stop from her studies and go
with her boyfriend. My uncle, still on our house but a big burden to us
because he never give us money from his salary and often than not, he asks
for money from my mother for his food and his vices like smoking and
drinking alcohol.
Oh, I forgot that my father just got his promotion from work because
he got now all of the requirements for promotion like trainings and seminars
and his diploma from college. I have no idea that my father just graduated
from college when I was in Grade 2. He took up. BS Criminology from one of
the small colleges in the nearby town. He’s working while studying at the
same time and my mother almost finance all of his expenses aside from us.
I was an early bloomer. Meaning I got aware of my sexuality earlier
than a normal child. At the age of 10, I got my first menstruation. Many
things changed in me, like my appearance, my personality and the way I
socialize with other people. I became more shy, sensitive and aloof. Since
that time, I never played physical games with my classmates and cousins
again. I am becoming aware of dos and don’ts in being a teenager, the worse
is I gained a lot of weight at the same time I got bullied because a huge mole
that grew on top of my nose.
I entered high school in a public school in the nearby town of
Mangaldan. While my sister stayed at the school where we studied
elementary. It was my choice because I needed to help my parents cut off
some financial needs for us. I felt it. ‘We are now poor.’ I told myself. Though
it’s hard to enter that school, I tried my best to get to the science high school.
Unfortunately, I failed. I lacked 3 points to get on the final lists of students.
But still, I prefer to enrol there.
Mangaldan National High School is a prestigious school for many but I
didn’t know that. It is known to have top calibre students and have a large
population of students in Region 1. It was hard for me to adapt to a new
environment. On my first day to school, my mom didn’t accompany because
of work. I was very afraid that time. I even don’t know what my section is.
And the guidance counsellor said that they will just call out names of the
students from the stage who belong to the same section. With so much
people from the quadrangle where I spent my first flag ceremony in that
institution and with no one I knew from the crowd, I heard my name. I got up
on stage.
It was nerve wrecking. I don’t know how huge the school was, who
were my classmates, who’s my adviser is and where will be staying. I just
followed them. Good thing after we have arrived to our designated
classroom, my classmate in elementary is also one of my classmates. But it
took me a month or more to finally absorbed that I am in first section in the
regular class, it was Diamond, that I have 49 classmates, that I have to be in
school before 7:00 am because that is my first class period and that I have to
ride PUJ everyday for my transportation.
It was hard to adapt but it’s worth it. I have gained new knowledge,
friends and I found my bestfriends, new experiences, realizations and my first
ultimate crush. Those 49 classmates of mine have different personalities,
different origins and beliefs. Most of them came from the same grade school
so it was hard to approach them. Almost all of my classmates are
valedictorian including my friend from grade school. It was actually
intimidating knowing that I am inferior to them. But I realized that God
destined me to be with them that I can also do what they can do and they are
smart and I am too.
There’s a lot of acceptance and rejections of friends back then. Groups
of individuals have formed with their common interests. But I found them,
and they have found me. I don’t clearly remember why and how they became
my friends but it was really destined by God and I am thankful for that. Their
group was originally called ‘Alcheniree’. But then, I and my friend was added
to the group and we’re transformed into ‘Maria Deule Alcheniree’. We are
group of six namely, Ma. Kassandra Aquino (that’s me), Deula Ann Ugay (my
friend and classmate since kindergarten), Alpha Soriano, Cherryl Tadeo,
Jenica Ocampo and Shekaree Mariane Sison. They are now my best of friends
till then and up until now. October 5 is our anniversary. We shared fun, sad,
lonely, and hatred memories with each other. I am glad and proud for all of
them.
I also had my ultimate crush back then. It was a wonderful feeling of
being inspired and the feeling of loving someone. I think he’s the perfect guy
to loved and look upon to. He’s intelligent, he’s artistic, he’s good at sports
and he’s handsome but as always he’s not really perfect, he is not much
taller than me, he’s got a high temper, he’s childish and he came from a
broken family. But what hurt me the most is that he never treated me as
friend but just an acquaintance and a classmate from high school. I am also
thankful to him because I gained many things to him like confidence,
inspiration, and love and also he taught me how to appreciate and learn new
things like editing photos and videos, drawing, speaking and writing Korean
and appreciate Korean culture.
I have maintained to be on the first section until 4th year but never on
top 10 students. I enjoyed my high school life. I was like riding a roller
coaster. It’s full of ups and downs like having a chance to go to different
places because of projects and performances and joining different
organizations like Girl Scout and Boy Scout. Downs because you’re always
being scolded because I am always late to go home, being compared to other
children, never had the chance to learn how to play instrument and having a
classmate and a friend die because of congenital heart disease.
4th year in high school, 2011, play the most eventful year of my life.
First it’s my last year in high school, I got a chance to take UPCAT, joined
jamboree of boy scout, joined JS Prom and another obstacles for me and the
lives of the people I care and cherish. One of my friend and classmate,
Roanne, was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, a week after our
Christmas party. She was really happy and excited that time. She even
brought many gifts for her close friends and no knows it was her last day
from school. While she was on hospital, there are some of my classmates
who visited her. And I didn’t know that it was very fatal disease and I know
and I just prayed that she can do it. She’ll recover it soon.
A week on the opening of the classes after the break, we decided to
visit her in their house. She’s still smiling and strong but she can’t fully talk.
We encourage her to stay strong because we still need to graduate ahead of
time together. We told her that we cannot visit her I a week because we have
to review and finish all the requirements for 3rd grading period. January 16,
2011, a day before our periodical exam shook our emotions. They told us that
she was brought to Manila Heart Center for something like searching for cure
or even transplant. And we’re glad of that and promise to visit her once she
was brought home. But then right before our exam, Aris, one of our
classmates told us that she’s gone. Her mom is a co-worker of Roanne’s
mom. We didn’t believed that until Sabrina, another classmate, confirmed it.
We all cried before the exam and we got low scores. Our proctor for
the exam scold us and we should put aside our emotions and focus to the
exam but still we can’t. She’s part of our barkada, our Zseagmond Family.
After all our exams, we visited her in their house and as we step in to see her.
It’s so sad and so heart breaking to see one of your friends have to say
goodbye at a young age. Her mother explained to us that when they have
reached the hospital in Manila, they immediately took her to ICU and then
after that she said that she wanted to be strong and healthy so she wanted
also to fix her things going to school and graduate together with us. But after
a few hours, she suffered from cardiac arrest. They tried to save her but she
didn’t make it.
It was Card day in our school, we’re supposed to be happy for getting
our grades but it’s not. It’s her burial day. That time, I felt the same feeling
when my Lolo died. It was full of regrets, sadness and reminiscing good
memories. I can’t help but cry and accept the truth that they’re gone.
Another tragic moment. One Saturday, 2 weeks before our graduation,
my sister complained that she has stomach ache. And we give her medicines
at all sorts of pahid-pahid to ease the pain but it didn’t work so we rush her to
the hospital. The doctor said, it must be appendicitis so they transferred her
to another big hospital to perform appendectomy but upon seeing her x-ray,
they have concluded that there was a cyst in her ovaries that ruptured and
that cause her pain. They also removed her appendix. It was emergency and
the money that was supposed to be the fund for our college tuition was paid
out to hospital bills. I’m alone at our house for about a week.
After graduation, I have a dilemma in choosing the course that I want
to take up. My sister enrolled in DMMMSU and chose BS Psychology. My
parents are arguing where I will study. I like to study in Kingfisher School of
Business but they oppose because they said that I will take 2 rides of
jeepney. So I decided to enrol in University of Pangasinan and just chose BS
Business Administration Major in Marketing Management as my course.
Because I thought it’s easier. It was also hard to fight separation anxiety to
your friends in high school and your comfortable life.
Financial problem is my obstacle while I’m studying there. My tuition
cost up too much that I have to cut down all of the things I used to. Another
thing is adjustment and adapting again to environment. I have to wake up
early because I needed to be there at 7:30 am. I have classes up to 6:00 pm
and all you have to lean on is yourself. You have to be independent in that
school. Though my 2 bestfriends and other classmates enrolled the same
university, we hardly meet up because of our busy schedule. In terms of
studying, I still cope up to that, in fact I don’t have problems, I only have few
grade of 2.25 for algebra and statistics but all of them are higher than that. I
also enrolled in ROTC.
Here comes the end of 1st sem. My mom have inflammation on her foot
and it starting to have pus on it and we’re worried about it. She decided to
take a leave and consult a doctor. But after that day she was rushed to the
hospital and I needed to accompany them. The doctor said she has high
blood sugar content in her blood and they needed to lower it before the
operation. My Mama has history of diabetes so it means it finally triggered in
her.
My Mama stayed at the hospital about a week and paid heaps of
money for the medicine and hospital bills. I just paid registration and enrol
that time without paying my tuition fee for my 2nd semester. It was really
hard to live this world without money. We just have faith that time. We have
health insurance but that didn’t mean it will cover all of our bills. My Mama
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after she discharged in the hospital has lots of medicine that are really
expensive including the injectable insulin.
So I have made my decision to transfer to DMMMSU to take up BS
Biology. Which was originally the course that I wanted plus they have low
tuition fee that can lighten up a bit in our financial problem. I cried that time.
I pity my parents who work up too much. We also have a big debt in different
people.
My first two years in DMMMSU went well because I adapted easily.
That year of 2013, my parents decided to retire from their work so we could
cope up with our debts. We have paid them all. But the problem is, my father
just leisurely spend money for something not really important like purchasing
2 motorcycles and appliances. He also have this lending business.
I consider myself as an adult when I
turned 18 years old. We have a small
celebration in our house and invited all my
bestfriends and relatives. It was one of
the most significant part of my life though I
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don’t care about my age. I just wanted to change my personality into a more
mature and responsible person.
Right now, I’m in my summer classes for my last year in college. It will
a sort of fun, exhausting and busy year for me and my family. I pray and wish
I could graduate and formulate a good thesis. I thank first is God, for guiding
me to all the ups and downs in my life. Second is my family who never fails to
support and love me. Next are my bestfriends whom I miss and love so much
and also my BS BIO family, Winde & Sheila and other friends and of course
my teachers and professors whom I share lots of memories lessons, hardwork
and laughter all throughout my stay here at DMMMSU.
Without all of them, I wouldn’t be the Ma. Kassandra Flores-Aquino
here on Earth today.
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