On March 4, 2005, in Cauayan City, my life began. It was not an easy start. I came into the world yellowish and fragile, and the doctors feared I would not survive. I was too weak, and my parents told me that in those first days, my life seemed to hang in the balance. Yet, by the grace of God, I was given another chance to live. That second chance is the reason I can now tell the story of my life. From the very beginning, I learned though unconsciously at that time that life is fragile, but it is also a gift worth holding on to.

My family was not wealthy. We had food on the table, but we could not afford many of the comforts other families enjoyed. Our life was simple, just enough to survive. When I was three years old, my mother made the painful decision to work abroad as an OFW. It was the only way she could support us and provide for our needs. I did not fully understand at that time why she had to leave, but as I grew up, I came to realize the depth of her sacrifice. Every time I lay down on a bed more comfortable than before, or enjoyed a meal better than usual, I knew it was because of her hard work abroad. Those thoughts made me both grateful and sad, because I wished she could have been with us instead of far away.

I started my schooling in kindergarten at Tagaran, Cauayan City, Isabela. School was a place where I quickly found joy. At an early age, I had a strong passion for studying, always curious and eager to learn. Around the same time, I discovered my love for dancing. I would often participate in school competitions, and winning a few of them gave me confidence and happiness. Dancing allowed me to express myself in ways I couldn't with words, and it also became a way for me to connect with others.

For elementary and junior high school, I studied at Saint Claire College. Those years shaped me greatly. I poured my energy into my academics, always striving to do my best. I often found myself in the top five of my class, which made my parents proud, especially my mother who supported me from afar. At school, I also built lasting friendships. Many of my friends shared my interests, particularly in playing video games and watching anime. Those small joys gave me balance. After long hours of studying, I had laughter and fun to enjoy with the people around me.

But life was not always as bright as it seemed. In Grade 7, my parents started to have problems in their relationship. At first, I did not know what was happening; they tried to hide it from me. I only sensed the tension and the changes in our family atmosphere. By Grade 10, they finally told me the truth. They were separating. Hearing it broke my heart. I cried silently at night, unable to sleep, feeling the heavy weight of having a broken family. The image of a happy and complete home I once had was gone. Yet, despite the pain, I had no choice but to accept the reality and move forward.

Not long after, another challenge struck. My father had an accident, one so severe that he nearly lost his life. Once again, God spared him, but the accident left us with another kind of difficulty. Financial struggles. My father could no longer work, and with my mother still abroad, our survival depended on her earnings. At that time, we often had only small portions of food to eat each day. Life taught me early on what hardship truly meant. But through all of this, I admired my mother even more. Despite her struggles, she managed to keep us going. She even enrolled me in a private school, UPHS, so I could continue my studies for senior high school.

Senior high school became one of the most memorable chapters of my life. I met new friends who became my best companions. They made every day meaningful, and with them, my school life was more complete. But perhaps the most unforgettable part of those years was meeting the love of my life. She changed me in ways I could never have imagined. Her presence gave me strength. Every smile she gave me wiped away the worries I carried from my family's struggles. She was my safe space, the person who made me feel whole even when life was overwhelming.

Together, we dreamed of studying in the same college so we could continue to grow side by side. We passed the exams, but due to limited slots, we could not enroll in the same school. She pursued Nursing while I chose Information Technology at ISU. It was painful to accept, because I could no longer see her every day. But we both knew we needed to follow our own paths, to grow independently while still supporting each other. We made a promise to continue our relationship with patience and faith, waiting for the right time when we could finally be together without the distance.