My mom, Joy, met my dad, Joey, in a small restaurant many years ago. At that time, my mom worked there serving food every day, while my dad worked nearby. After finishing work every night, he would often stop by the restaurant for a meal. As time went by, he became one of my mom’s favorite customers. She would always make sure he had a hot cup of coffee ready whenever he came in. My dad noticed how thoughtful she was, and before long, he found himself coming back not just for the food but also because of her. One day, he asked another employee to prepare his coffee, and my mom jokingly got upset because she had grown used to being the one who served him. That simple moment marked the beginning of their love story.As their friendship grew, they became closer every day. They spent time talking while my mom prepared meals, and my dad always enjoyed seeing her smile. My mom, on the other hand, admired how kind, caring, and hardworking he was. Eventually, they officially became a couple. Like every relationship, they faced many challenges, but they stayed together and dreamed of building a happy family with a simple life. They never imagined that one day they would have a child as energetic and mischievous as me. On October 31, 2005, I was born, becoming the greatest blessing and the sweetest result of their love.Growing up, I had many funny childhood memories. According to my mom, I was very playful when I was only two years old. I always wanted to go with her whenever she went to the market early in the morning. One day, I saw a rosary and wanted to wear it immediately. As I reached for it, I slipped and hit my head on the sharp corner of a wall. My head started bleeding, and both of my parents panicked. They rushed me to the nearest hospital, where the doctor stitched up the wound. Even today, my mom still remembers how scared she was that day.When I entered elementary school, our family was still complete and happy. We would eat dinner together every night, sharing stories and laughing over the simplest things. Life wasn’t perfect, but those moments made our home feel warm and full of love. However, as the years passed, I began to notice changes in our family. When I was in Grade 5, my parents separated. After the separation, my dad took my sister, Camille, and me to Isabela so we could start a new chapter of our lives. Leaving everything behind wasn’t easy, but we had no choice but to move forward.
Adjusting to our new life in Isabela was difficult. We were no longer used to living without my mom, and we missed her every day. My sister and I slowly learned how to do household chores and become more independent. My dad worked tirelessly to provide everything we needed. Even after long and exhausting days at work, he always made sure we were taken care of. Watching him sacrifice so much for us taught me to appreciate my family and value my education. It also showed me the importance of staying strong, even during the hardest times. When I reached Grade 9, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Like many families, we faced uncertainty and hardship. My dad was often away because of work, leaving my sister and me at home most of the time. The isolation made me feel lonely, and I struggled with the challenges of online learning and modules. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed and depressed because everything seemed to be happening all at once. Even so, I tried my best to stay strong because I didn’t want my dad to worry even more than he already did. As time passed, I slowly learned how to cope with everything we had been through. I accepted that life would never be easy all the time, but I also realized that giving up was never the answer. My dad became my biggest inspiration. Every day, I saw how hard he worked and how much he sacrificed just to give my sister and me a better future. His dedication motivated me to keep going, no matter how difficult life became. I promised myself that I would study hard and one day repay all the sacrifices he made for us. When I entered senior high school, I decided to work while studying to help support our family. From Grade 11 until Grade 12, I balanced school and work at the same time. It wasn’t easy. There were many nights when I barely had enough sleep because I had assignments to finish after work. Despite the exhaustion, I kept pushing myself because I wanted to lighten my dad’s burden, even if it was only a little. Through those experiences, I became more responsible and gained a deeper appreciation for the value of hard work, money, and sacrifice. Now that I am in college, life continues to challenge me in many ways. I enjoy the course I chose because it is something I genuinely want to pursue. Although there are times when I feel stressed by deadlines, projects, and exams, I remind myself why I started this journey. My dream is to build a better future not only for myself but also for my family. I know that every hardship I face today is preparing me for something better tomorrow. Looking back on everything I’ve experienced, I realize that every challenge has shaped me into the person I am today. My family has always been my greatest source of strength and inspiration. Even though my parents are no longer together, I love and respect them both for everything they have done for me. They raised me with love despite the difficulties we faced, and I will always be grateful for that. Our family may not be perfect, but it has always been filled with love, resilience, and hope. The lessons I’ve learned from our journey continue to guide me, and I believe that as long as I keep working hard and never give up, I will achieve my dreams and make my family proud.
Ruth Angela Curampez
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