The reason why I tell lies about our house when I was twelve

If you ask me about our house when I was twelve, I might have told you a lie. I might have told you that I live in a big house with rich neighbors in a subdivision. As I recall it, I refuse to tell where I live in whenever someone asks. Why? Reason: bullying in school.

I’m bullied most of the time in school. My classmates call me names such as a “son of janitor” or a “squatter”. In truth, both of them are not true. Yes, I am a son of an employee but my father was a school electrician not a janitor. I might be living on a poor settlement site but we are not squatters. Though we are still playing our lot, we still own our house. Our house is just small, only a mere two-storey building with an area of 40 square meters. The house exterior is not even painted. Why we were living there is a painful story to tell.

We just transferred since we got booted out with the government demolishing our house. I do not really know why and how that happened but I heard that we raised the issue in court. We had a document proving our grandfather owned a title of the land but the court said it was invalid. Too bad, the document was still written in Spanish and not renewed. That explains why we live in a cramped house. We desperately needed a house to stay in. We are seven in the family but we have no other choice but to stay in a small place.

During sleeping time, we roll in some sleeping mat in the first floor. This is where I, our youngest sister, and my parents would sleep in. My other siblings would sleep upstairs with my eldest sister in a bed, my two brothers in a double-deck.

Like any other kid with my age, I spend most of my time in school. If not studying, I’m with the chess varsity training. If I’m not in school, I’m playing games with kids in the neighborhood. I’m usually out of our house. Now, I wonder why is it I’m always out of our house? I guess I’m just enjoying the best out of my childhood. I’m still a kid, right?

This was thirteen years ago.

Writing Prompt: Writing 101—Size Matters (Assignment 11)

When your grandmother forgets you

One day, I revisited a Home for the Aged. I went there every week, doing it for almost 5 months. When I saw one old lady whom I fondly call Lola, I ran straight after her since she might tampo (closest meaning is sulk) that I ignored her since attention matters for elders here because they regard us as their grandchildren (talking about transference).

“Good morning, Lola! Kamusta na? (How are you?)”
“Okay lang. Anong pangalan mo? (I’m okay. What’s your name?)”

*facepalm*

My life in twenty-three sentences

I already did this one before and I wrote another for my 23rd birthday.

***

1989 – I was born 17 minutes before the 18th.

1990 – I spent my first birthday in a hospital.

1991 – I inhaled some ashes from Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption.

1992 – Miriam Defensor-Santiago almost became our president.  I think I’m enjoying my time playing outside or watching television commercials.

1993 – The year Rene Requiestas died (he’s one of my favorite local comedians though it took me years to realize he’s already dead).

1994 – I was still in Kindergarten when I saw our home being demolished due to a land dispute.

1995 – Our youngest sibling, Janine, was born.

1996 – I’m bullied by my classmates constantly and my grades are declining.

1997 – Space Jam appealed to me very much because I prefer Looney Tunes over Disney.

1998 – One day, I got late in school and cited traffic as an excuse when in fact that I got delayed because of a demolition (for the second time).

1999 – Fractured my left arm when I got pushed by a playmate while trying an acrobatic stunt in a fence (he might have helped me do it).

2000 – I shifted sports from baseball to chess (maybe due to the fracture).

2001 – I earned my first gold medal in a chess team intramural event (my first ever gold medal in any sports event).

2002 – During a one-day sports event, I earned two gold medals in two different events, chess (individual) and swimming (relay).

2003 – With our new coach, we end the drought and won the championship in chess for our school.

2004 – I fractured my left arm (for the second time) while playing basketball.

2005 – My first time to fly with an airplane and be away from home for a week.

2006 – I graduated in high school, got the loyalty award, and entered college.

2007 – I initially tried to learn how to play the guitar to impress girls but I changed my motivation later on.

2008 – I got included in the Dean’s List for one semester.

2009 – Overcame the jitters while singing in front of the crowd in an auditorium (I can’t see the crowd ’cause the light-men focused at the stage).

2010 – I graduated in college with honors. 🙂

2011 – I joined the Marist Brothers.

2012 – Will accept the challenge of being offline for two years because of our novitiate formation.

***

Now I urge you to try writing a power sentence for every year of your life even if it’s not your birthday.

Have a nice day!