It all began in a simple setting that I never imagined would become the very foundation of our life today. Over in the city of Cauayan, specifically at the Isabela Jebsen Company, the paths of my father and mother crossed for the very first time. My father was working there as a dedicated driver. He had been doing that job for several years, well-accustomed to the long journeys and the exhaustion of the road. But one day, the course of his ordinary life shifted completely when a new housemaid arrived at the company-and that was my mother. At the very first sight of her, my father was instantly captivated by her natural beauty. Driven by the intense beating of his heart, he did not hesitate for a second to court her.
However, things were far from easy for my father. He soon discovered that my mother was unlike other women whose affection could be easily won. Because of this, my father resorted to every possible way just to get her attention. He was always making his presence felt, offering sweet words, and repeatedly asking if they could go out together. But my mother was genuinely firm and unyielding in her principles; she refused to give in because she believed that her job was far more important than going out on dates. Years passed filled with persistent courtship. Through my father’s unwavering perseverance, my mother’s heart gradually softened. The two of them officially became a couple at the young ages of twenty-six (26) for my father and twenty-four (24) for my mother. The journey my father went through was not easy because he faced many rivals for my mother’s hand, but in the end, he triumphed in winning her heart. Currently, they are at the ages of fifty-eight (58) for my mother and fifty-five (55) for my father.
My father originated from and lives in a rural village that most people from Cauayan itself do not even know exists. This is the place known as the Forest Region in Barangay San Pablo, Cauayan City. This village is notoriously distant and known for its rugged roads, but despite its isolation, it is filled with beautiful spots and breathtaking landscapes, such as rolling mountains and dense forests that breathe out fresh air. My mother, on the other hand, is not originally from Cauayan but is a native of Tumauini, Isabela. Yet, it was here in Cauayan that she managed to find a good job and eventually established a family of her own.
Years flew by, and they were blessed with five children. Yes, you read that right, there are five of us siblings, and I am the second to the youngest. Even when I was a child, or rather when I was still inside my mother’s womb, I already endured many hardships. Among all my siblings, I was the only one who inherited my mother’s medical condition of being anemic. Because of this, from the moment I was born into this world, my future was immediately placed in jeopardy. My red blood cells were severely deficient back then. But due to the peerless perseverance, sleepless nights, and hard work of my mother and father just to make sure I survived those days, I gradually regained my strength as I grew up. This is why among all my siblings, I am considered the “spoiled” one when it comes to our father. Ever since I was a baby, he was the one who always carried me and lulled me to sleep, and losing sleep every single night meant absolutely nothing to him.
Two years passed before I had the next sibling. At first, my older sister and I thought that I would remain the youngest child in the family. But it turned out there was an even younger one-our youngest brother, Leomar Manat, who is now seventeen (17) years old. I am deeply grateful because we were given a youngest brother, but when he was born, the lives of both him and my mother nearly became critical. I saw it with my very own eyes just how difficult it was when our youngest brother was delivered. My mother went through hours of labor until her amniotic fluid ran out, and she almost bled to death as well. I wept uncontrollably back then because I thought something terrible was going to happen to them, especially since our youngest brother was diagnosed with a baby manifestation.
Until my youngest brother and I entered kindergarten, I still remained my father’s baby. In everything, he would always take my side and defend me whenever someone picked on me-especially against my older sister, who loved to pinch me back then for absolutely no reason at all. There was even an instance when my older sister pinched me and our father witnessed it. What my father did was pinch my older sister as well so that she could experience just how painful it is to be pinched. For me, it is much better to be spanked than to be pinched, because the pain is doubled when the skin is twisted.
During our elementary moments, my youngest brother and I attended school together. I was in Grade 6 while he was in Grade 4. A few days before our Grade 6 graduation, we were accustomed to walking to school every single day. But on that particular day, close to our graduation, we decided to hitch a ride on our father’s motorcycle. Unfortunately, while we were on our way to school, the three of us crashed. That was when I developed a severe trauma because the motorcycle fell directly on top of me and my brother. Fortunately, nothing bad happened to my younger brother, but I ended up getting burned by the exhaust pipe and sustained deep scratches. Despite what happened, I still went to school limping and covered in wounds. To this day, I still carry the physical scar and the emotional impact of that incident.
During my high school moments, that was when a new chapter of our lives began. The one who provided for us and funded the education of both myself and my youngest brother was our eldest brother-Kuya Michael Manat, who is now twenty-nine (29) years old. At the tender age of just fifteen (15) years old back then, he chose to work due to the extreme poverty of our life. My father’s salary back then was barely enough for food, rice, and household expenses. Because of this, my Kuya Michael took a leap of faith and ventured into other places until he found a good job.
That was when he officially became my idol. As a result, I studied with all my might in high school. While I did not become an honor student from Grade 7 to Grade 9, I made up for it when I was about to graduate from Grade 10. I was recognized as one of the honor students. I actually thought my brother would be the one to walk up the stage with me, but my kind and hardworking brother said, “Not me, your mother and father are there, let them accompany you. I am only here to fund your studies so that you won’t end up like me, who failed to finish school and never experienced walking up the stage.” I was incredibly grateful because he allowed our parents to experience climbing the stage to hang the medal around my neck.
From that moment on, it was etched into my mind that I must excel even more in Senior High School so that all of my brother’s hard work would be worth it. Fortunately, from Grade 10 until Senior High, by the grace of God, I maintained my status as an honor student. I graduated from Senior High School with the distinction of “With Honors” and also became a fully certified NCII passer. At that time, my brother witnessed everything because he was one of those who attended my graduation day. On that day, the medal hung around my neck was something I wholeheartedly dedicated to him, because if not for his sacrifice, I would not have been able to finish high school.
When it came to applying for college, the three of us who had been friends since elementary school originally had no intentions of going to college due to the hardships of life. However, when Isabela State University (ISU) released the application link for incoming first-year students, the three of us took a chance and applied to the exact same school. We knew that our chances of passing were slim because ISU-Cauayan is known as a prestigious and public university, which is precisely why we friends desperately wanted to graduate from there.
When the list of exam takers was released, we were overjoyed to see our names on it. But things did not end there; we still had to face an entrance exam and an interview. By the grace of God, all three of us passed the exam and the interview. Nevertheless, at present, only two of us friends are left remaining in college. Our other companion, during the second semester of the first year, had to stop studying due to the hardships of life and because he also happened to be the breadwinner of their family.
Just like my friend, my Kuya Michael also remains the tireless breadwinner of our family, and even now that I am in college, he is still the one sending allowance and financing my education. Up until now, he still does not have a wife of his own because he is solely focused on working so that my youngest brother and I can have allowance every day. I am deeply grateful because he is the one who became my brother. That is why I always tell myself that once I finish my studies, or in whatever way possible in the future, I will repay all the fatigue, hardships, and sacrifices of my brother by more than double what he has given us.
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