We had fresh fruit, beautiful beaches and easygoing energy. Even though much of the country is poor, there is one thing you can count on from the people of the Philippines... a big smile, no matter the weather!
My family was rather poor when I was growing up. The economy was down. My parents had a hard time finding jobs. On the worst days, we had no electricity. All we had to eat was rice and soy sauce. Still, they did their best to raise my five younger siblings and me. Life was tough, but I learned that I had to stay strong and persevere. I had to do my part by going to school and studying hard. One day, I would support my family.
Going to school was a bit difficult for me, though. At home, my parents spoke to me only in English. My dad thought English was more valuable than the local language, Tagalog. When it came time for me to be with other kids my age, fitting in was hard. I couldn’t speak to the other kids right away. I was known as “that English-speaking kid.”
I spent nearly all my time in the school library. I read everything I could get my hands on, including tles of magical kingdoms, magazines about science and technology, and stories about famous historical figures. In my real life, I felt like I was stuck in a world that I couldn’t understand. I used my imagination to travel to fantastic new places. Little did I know that one day, I would leave my homeland and start a new life in a new country.
Years later, at college, I fit in much better. By then, I had learned the language and made some friends. My love of reading blossomed. It transformed into a passion for writing. I became part of the college newspaper staff! I wrote articles about art, culture and lifestyles. I loved words.
