Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bambang Campus
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

ME MY SELF AND I

Life is what we make it. And as the saying goes, “We are the master of our
fate and the captain of our soul.” No pain is greater than I understood about life.
Part of it is sweet and the rest, bitter. I think I am tough. For no matter how dark
the night is, I could manage to see some light. I am John Ortaliza Lacquias, and was
born on the 5th day of July 1995, the 3rd child of Mr. Tulio Baluging Lacquias, and
Mrs. Josephine Salamanca Ortaliza, who belong to the poorest of the poor family
of Kiran, Aritao, Nueva Vizacaya. When I was at my young age, my father is the one
who take good care of me. I started my schooling at the age of seven at Aritao
Central School without having my preparatory school because of financial and lack
of teachers in the preparatory schools. In this school I met many friends and one
of them is our neighborhood who is kind to me and gave me some snacks if I don’t
have snacks and accompany me in going to school or going home and even invited me
to attend his birthdays. I accept that I am a naughty student before, and there
are times that my mentor in first grader got mad because I quarreled my
classmates, as a punishment my teacher pinch me. But when I was in grade two, I
experience bullying and this is the other reason why I stopped two years of
schooling. I continued my studies after two years, wherein I tried my best to
strived in my studies even I didn’t even receive any awards because I’m just at the
second section. When I was in grade three, I gave my best, doubled my struggles
when I was in my previous grade to make my dream come true to at least belong to
the honors students, so I got 14th the place. But when I was in grade four, another
achievement I received, I got 2nd place in Makabayan quiz bee and 8th honors during
the recognition day. Behind those success and happy moments in my life, poverty
hinders me to continue the battle I’ve started. I even experienced not to eat my
breakfast before going to school or not to eat three times a day because my
parents have no other source of income to buy our basic needs like foods and
sometimes we just eat boiled ripe bananas or sweet potato. During vacation, I used
to help my parents to earn living and in the household chores and even at the farm.
My parents are both illiterate or should I say they didn’t finish their schooling and
sometimes they are unequally treated their bosses and even their labors are
unpaid. I told myself not to break the advice of my father to study hard and finish
my studies so that I prove that history does not repeat itself. But how could I
prove that, when my father is already gone without having justice of his death on
June 12, 2009[Independence Day]? I do not know what to do, my world stop for a
while and I want to curse and take revenge. I am lost at that time but I need to
accept the reality that no one is permanent in this world but change. I don’t know
where I am going and I don’t know how to face another homecoming I lost my
family and don’t know if I finish my studies. But I need to stand alone by my own
feet and be strong as my beloved father reminds always. Behind those miserable
lives I only entrusted God for as I know nothing is impossible with Him no matter
what. After the burial of my father I decided to live into my aunt’s house at
Mapayao, Kayapa, where I continued my studies and in return I need to help in the
household chores and in the farm during non-school days. During my 5 th grade, I
met new friends and teachers in this school that are really kind. I exerted my
effort in studying, and competed quiz bees and MYS in district and division level
and awarded during our recognition day as 2nd place. When I was in grade six, I
graduated as the salutatorian of the school. After graduation, my aunt and I
decided that I am going to take the scholarship run by sisters at Silang, Cavite. I
luckily passed the examination. On the 4th day of April 2011, I together with my
two classmates admitted at the Sisters of Mary School-Adlas, Inc. In this school,
all are provided, students like us are just going to do our part, to study hard, pray
well, obey and respect the sisters and learn how to live a simple life. But questions
start arousing in my mind, such as how do the sisters manage to get money to feed
all the thousands of students coming from different provinces that have individual
differences? The seven story buildings serve as a home and a conducive for
learning, thus this school ranked number one high school among high schools entire
the Philippines. But this questions arousing in my mind, was answered as I spent my
four years in this school. Wanna know the answer? That’s because of the miracle of
Monsignor Al, the founder of this school. Sisters need to implement our schedule
strictly that’s why there is no room for laziness and disobedience in this
institution. That’s why we need to observed and followed the rules and regulations,
so that we weren’t sent home. In the celebration of our birthdays, we celebrate it
as once on the 15th day of August as we also celebrate the foundation of the school
and the Assumption of Mother Mary. There are many foods and games during this
occasions. I finished my high school in this school with spending even a peso. And
I’m grateful to sisters and my teachers because of their unending support in my
studies. Because of this pieces of advices, I’m luckily I passed the National
Certificate II in drafting and even I have finished my OJT at Makati, Print Town
printing press. After our OJT, went home to continue my studies at the Nueva
Vizcaya State University and take my second choice course, BSIT major in
Drafting, but as I finished my 1st year, I shifted my course to secondary education
major in Social Studies. During my college life, I encountered many difficulties life
brought about by lack of financial support, and lack of affection and support from
my own family and even my relatives. My mother left us alone and need to find for
another family. I sometimes thought of negative to them and to myself. I often
asked myself, the essence and purpose of my existence, why do they let me see
and experience the bitterness of life? The only thing I know, is that I am innocent
enough but not yet ready to face challenges in life. The challenges and mistakes in
my life that makes me strong and learn to continue the battle I’ve started and will
makes me a better person in the near future. I do believe that, meaningful life is
not about being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. For me,
it’s all about being real, being humble, being strong and being able to share
ourselves and touch the lives of others. It’s only then that we could have a full,
happy and contented life. We must always live life to the fullest.