I grew up in a far-flung barrio of Mangagoy in Bislig, Surigao del Sur. My father then worked there in PICOP, a paper-making
company, and so my environment was really close to a tropical forest. I have fond memories of the lush greenery of forests
surrounding our barrio, even around my grade school, John Bosco School. I remember those big trucks carrying large logs of
cut trees, the ever ominous odor of the paper-making plant that sweeps the entire place. My barrio didn't change so much,
even as the company that used to run the economy dwindled in its resources.
I have been to many places already in my first 20 years of existence. When I was 5 years old, my family moved to Manila
as my father needed the hospitalization only available there at that time. I spent my kindergarten and first grade there.
When I was 7, after my father died, we moved back to Cagayan de Oro and stayed there for a year. Later, we moved back to Mangagoy
finally as our home and resources were really there. I finished my primary education in John Bosco School, which was formerly
run by the Maryknoll Sisters, and then handed over to the La Salle Brothers. My love for music developed there with my singing
aunts and uncles, and then fostered in Grade 4 with our homeroom adviser who organized us into a children's choir. It was
in Grade 6 that my interest in science also developed as my science teacher motivated me by letting me give a class oral report
on machines.
By stroke of destiny, I alone transferred to Iligan City to study high school at MSU-IIT. I belonged then to the first
batch of Science Curriculum students. (to be continued...)
The Vocis Ateneae and I during a rehearsal, singing "Beginning Today".
Here I am doing my thing with Vocis Ateneae (above) and with the XU Glee Club (below).
