My Childhood and Teen Years: Happiness in the Simplicity of Life

1975  was when I first joined the formal school at the Ateneo de Davao-Compostela, in the compound of the Valderrama Company where my father have proven his loyalty for over 3o years.  I was and is still grateful of the Valderrama’s for allowing our tatay to work with them and for bringing education within our reach and within my parents economic requirement.  Yes, the school was ran by the Jesuits and is known to be one of the most expensive schools as we followed the same standards with the other Jesuits run schools.  With all the simplicity of life being shown by the owner of the company and was taught in school, we embibed the spirit.  I was a pre-schooler or known to be visitor then when I learned the first song  which is …“Fly, fly, fly the butterfly in the garden is flying high, in the meadow is flying low , fly,fly,fly the butterfly.”  taught by the president of the school, Rev. Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, S.J.  Normal kid, love to sing and move around so that is why I would never forget Fr. Barcelon and his song for it gives  me the energy.  It was such a friendly exposure for a little kid that encouraged her to attend school.  Life was so good to me and I thank God for the people that made it possible for me.

The following year I was promoted even I was young to join class 1.  I could remember how I tired my nanay and my sister of bringing me to and fro of the school and home as I would always start the day with crying...shame on me.  Thing that I was and so sorry for my one and only sister who was so patient to understand me as  I would have  my tantrums often.  Anyway, we laughed at it as we try to recollect it when we are together.  Yet, in spite of my tantrums I gained a lot of favors from God through other people.  I became part of the honor list, I had the opportunity to join the field trips, joined the dance presentations, trained for the elocution, best in art works and became the favorite of most teachers and “boys” classmates.  I remembered very well, Joel Galenzoga who would cuddle me and press both of my cheeks outwardly, Joggy Damasco-the brightest in Science (he got perfect scores in the exams) who considers me as one of his sisters so as the late Lino Delante, Edilberto and Bernie Aguilar; Juanito dela Cruz–the class president who was so kind to me, Randy Aculado who was a dear friend and to whom I became so close to their clan, Jonathan Rivera who seeks words of wisdom as he courts one of our batchmates, Roel Panistante whom he doesn’t know I had a crush on him while we were students until we parted ways after High School, Rex Maximales, Ulyses, Limbing, Epiphanio,  Edgar Agang  (lives far away from school and whom I admired his willingness to learn) who have shown the real kindness and concerns over anything that we go through.  Each of them have made me feel confident to face what life has for me each day while I was growing up.  I had never noticed and never felt I was  a little girl.  There were bullying then during those times but I never had given attention to it because I was surrounded by wonderful people…who were my family, teachers, classmates, my friends and my companions.  I may be unfair to my girls classmates but they very well knew how we worked and have enjoyed each other’s company too.  Scouting, planting gabi-gabi,  ballet lessons in P.E., cooking jam and relleno, sewing and making dasters, playing Chinese garter, “dakpanay sa swing”, night school for a year, running home at night after class, staying in one room during retreat, cries during recollection, laughing together during soiree because of classmates dreaming, fishing and swimming together, enjoying marching during CAT and so much of activities I have enjoyed with them.  Lucky I was and  as I try to recollect on these wonderful moments, I just smile as my heart leaps with joy and happiness. Those not so good and unhappy moments was covered with all those happy memories during my childhood and my teen years. Simple yet there was beauty in living with the simplicity of life.   

//March 1984

Many years to be thankful of God’s grace in life.

MjuanaBB

“There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness, and truth.” 
― Leo Tolstoy