My Family Today

It's been sometime that I've raised my family, after I gave birth to my eldest son in 2001, I learned about motherhood and its challenges. At first it was difficult and the challenges seemed insurmountable. Then I had my second child in 2002, he was a bubbly young boy and laughed a lot. Never did I realize that three years later I would give birth to my only daughter. Today my family still face a lot of challenges, but I really appreciate how my kids have grown - all with different personalities.

Hayahay at Shakey's Matalino.

Watching "Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang" at Aliw Theater with Ballet Manila performing.

Enjoying our vacation at Hidden Sanctuary in Bulacan.

Taytay Falls at Majayjay, Laguna.

Daddy and the Kids enjoying at Majayjay.

Our Daddy

My husband works for a company called Globaltronics, he is in the outdoor advertising industry, because of his job he gets a lot of invitations to speak on cam, here are some of his videos:

Days in Bohol

I was born in the island province of Bohol. I lived in a place known as the 7^th Wonder of the World, the Chocolate Hills. Carmen, Bohol where I was born was so different from Metro Manila. Carmen is full of good memories of my childhood. We weren't rich but we were full of happy memories and our loving parents compensated in love what we lacked in material things. I remember how our world was not as modern as Metro Manila. In Carmen, we would make our own toys and not buy them. Here we learned to improvise, using makeshift toys and a little imagination was enough to make us happy. We didn't need computers or laptops to spend our time. We played real games with real people, not virtual ones.

The Onset of Electricity

If we needed food we could pick fresh produce in our garden where everything was fresh. You didn't need refrigerators as everything was somehow available right beside you. As a young student we didn't have electricity and we had to study using gas lamps. It was only in high school when BOHECO or the Bohol Electric Cooperative was able to complete infrastructure to bring in electricity into our village. At first we didn't have our own TV so we had to watch TV at the neighbors, this was fun as well, it was like our own community cinema where people would watch TV and interact with each other.

A Paradise, A Home

Carmen, Bohol is a beautiful place. It has trees, rolling hills and a lot of God's creation right in our own backyard. Space is so large in the province, at times some areas are not planted with produce as there is too much land. The air is so clean, the surroundings full of green. I remember we walked from one village to another at night during fiestas to attend parties under the starlights. In many evenings we would see fireflies roaming around trees and it was an experience to see. Later on in college I would learn that biodiversity was very much alive with the presence of fireflies, frogs and tarsiers.

I would describe our village, Montesunting, a paradise. People knew each other very well, everyone else was either a 1^st degree or 2^nd degree relative. Everyone either had Clavite or Tajale for a surname. Both my parents were also very active in community associations.

Early Schooling

I used to walk 5 kilometers to our school, I wanted to go to so much that despite the distance I pushed on to reach our campus. At Grade 3 I began to live alone in the Munipality. I rented a place at the Poblacion and would see my parents on a weekly basis. I became very independent and strong. I had to save my money which was not too much. I would cook eggs and make all kinds of delicacies. I loved dried fish though at times I wished I had more. People were amazed at how I could manage to be alone and yet be able to study. I was always focused on what I wanted so I studied and studied until I graduated Valedictorian in elementary. This experience made me very strong, deep in my heart I knew I would accomplish much in life, that I would become successful one day.

Times as a Teen and Metro Manila

Much of our place was very mountainous and we could only either walk or take the habal habal when going around. From our barangay to the Municipality proper was a 5 kilometer walk or trek through beautiful rolling hills. I had a lot of friends and became quite famous for my reputation as an achiever. I studied at the St. Anthony School in Carmen, this was a private school and I was in effect a scholar at the school. I competed against the best of the best of Carmen which had some 27 villages. Soon enough I accomplished much again in this school despite not being materially endowned, I graduated as Salutorian in St. Anthony's Academy.

After a few years, I told myself I wanted to study in Manila. So I went to Manila. Here I took odd jobs and when I had enough money I enrolled for the 1^st time in College at TIP in 1999.

TIP Phase 1

• 1^st Times at TIP

At the old TIP, I enrolled for the course Electronics and Comm

unications Engineering (ECE), after a few semesters I met my husband and the rest is history.

• Old Friends

I had many friends the 1^st time I went to TIP, some are now very successful engineers, others are now housewives, call center agents. Because of Facebook, I continue to be in touch with them, even after many years.

Justin

In 2001, despite efforts to finish my studies, God would have it a different way. In January of 2001, I gave birth to a healthy beautiful boy whom we named Justin. At first it was difficult to quit school, and being a mother for the first time wasn't also easy. But somehow we made it through by God's grace.

Justin receives Best in English Award at Batino SPED Center.

Justin and Matthew during Ballet Manila performance at Aliw Theater.

At Hidden Sanctuary

With Teacher Yvez.

Bagong TV Team: Justin, Matthew, Korinne & Loidee.

Me with the Kids at the Bangui Windmills.

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Matthew

A year after Justin was born Matthew was born in July of 2002, he too was a very handsome little boy and laughed much. We were happy to have him, but somehow the hope of continuing to study became a more far fetched dream.

Matthew in Tagaytay

Matthew's 1st Acting Stint Video in You Tube....

Korinne

In July of 2005, our 3^rd baby was born, a daughter. While both our sons were easily delivered in the hospital Korinne's delivery was the most difficult if not the most dangerous. From the Doctor's story, Korinne's umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, causing a strain on the yet unborn child and the possibility of me loosing too much blood prior to the delivery. I felt totally exhausted, but somehow God wanted Korinne to be born to this world, after many hours, I delivered her despite so much pain.

I wouldn't say being a Mother is easy. In fact it has been the most challenging role I had to play at a very young age. Despite the fact that I went to Manila to study, I ended up marrying early and becoming a Mother. Sometimes it's difficult as I have to discipline my children who grew up in a much sheltered and much more provided home that I had. Sometimes, when you do not have enough, it brings out the best in you. My children though beautiful, intelligent and wonderful are yet to be trained in doing things for themselves.

As the children grew up and as we gained more resources, we finally decided that I should come back to school and finish my studies. So in 2010, I went back to TIP, this time no longer as a teenager, but as a more mature come backing student.

TIP Phase 2

Initially, I enrolled back to ECE, however, after realizing that it would be very difficult to credit as many subjects, I shifted to Industrial Engineering and ultimately to Logitics Management. My husband and I realized that indeed this was the right program for me. I am very detailed and am able to manage our family resources well, maybe God has plans for me to manage bigger things, this is why we decided to take LM.

Today, I feel that I am much happier than when I first came to TIP. Before I was unsure of myself and what to do with my life, now my plans are very clear and determined. I know now what I want in life for me and my family.

Plans for the Future

In 2015 I am due to graduate. After graduation we plan to either go into business or work in a reputable logistics company. The plan is to learn from the real world what I studied. After that we are praying that by God's grace we could come back to Bohol to establish a business there in organic agriculture. We hope that one day we would establish a link between Cebu and Bohol, with organic produce from Bohol can be sold to large hotel 

establishments in Cebu, applying everything I've learned in LM to implement the project.

New Friends and Projects

Overtime I have become exposed to many projects and personalities who have influenced my plans for the future. My increasing network of friends have inspired me to do better in school and to plan for my future.

Resorts World Newport Theater during the International Festival of Language & Culture.

Daddy, Marco Sison & Me during the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP) Induction.

Me with Ding Dong Dantes during the Yes Pinoy Launching at King Bee E.Rodriguez

Me with Col. Querubin, war hero and former rebel leader at World Trade Center during the Villar Foundation event.

With Sen. Cynthia Villar and my husband.

Mr. Mike Enriquez with hubby and friends.

CBE Ball wit Sir Paul Pesito.

Light moment with Ding Dong & Marian.

Me with GT Model & Cebu actress Ms. Phoebe Kaye Fernandez.