The Women Who Played An Important Role in My Life

Hello everyone everyone! Our major contest this week is about the woman who had played an important role in my life. When you say "important", it connotes varied meanings. It can be good and it can be bad. In my case, I'd rather say both.

She became a part of my life, almost half of my life I should say. I grew up in a family and respectable ones so they say. Perhaps most of you here already know my story, that I grew up in a place called Moncado Colony.

It's hard to grow in a family you called your own but never was. My grandfather who was a 1WW US Veteran left me in the custody of my Uncle's family with the assumption that I will be in good hands.

They were disciplinarians with 8 kids, making me the "9th" child. We went to church, I joined the Sunday School for kids, joined the choir and of course, I was also sent to school. Our family were what they say a "model family" and having me into their family was like one of their philanthropic deeds, saving a child like me who was born out of wedlock. Well, it's not my fault guys! I am only a product of the past, whose two families hated each other so much at the expense of two lovers in love. My mother had no choice because she was still a minor at that who fell in love with a 6 footer spoiled brat. He was a good singer and pianist. In short, I am a love child. Eyes thrown on me were pity. I could hear them say I am an adopted child, ' sinagop' in our Visayan term.

It was like a big deal for raising me up that I should work for what's worth it. At a young age, we were trained to work and do our daily chores despite the helpers around. I could still remember when I have to clean the potties with bare hands. I was required to mix the urine in jar with water and sprinkle it along the flowerbeds and on the roots of our fruit trees. Oh well, it was nothing to me.

Mommy F was a tyrant. One false move meant spanking and a pinch on my thighs that it bleed one after the other and she would push me hard and I sprawled on the floor. My aunt, her younger sister was also teacher with a good heart. She would meddle when these nasty things happened to me and scold Mommy F. She would say, "remember she's also a Santillan" so better watch your actions before the elders knows it. She was my hero. Aunt Nene was there to save me but it wasn't at all times that she was present because she's at their house (our neighbor) and she has to go to school as well.

During weekends, I was tasked to to do the weeding in our surroundings with my cousins. The helpers would go down the river to wash our clothes. I washed my own clothes but the helpers would get it and wash it for me when mommy was not looking. They would say "kaluoy pud ning bataa oi! (How pitiful this kid is!) Manang Lydia was our helper since she was single and left when she got married. My calvary started especially when Auntie Nene got cancer of the bones and succumbed three years after. I had no more attorney to defend me. I was on my own.

The big ones where in far away school. The family were converted to UCCP. Protestants during that time used to go to a Protestant school such as the Silliman University where Auntie Nene also graduated and three of mommy F's children.

With that, I became the "all around girl". I do the washing of the dishes so I was always late in school and because of that, my burden was doubled because late comers were punished by standing at the back until the class ended. At noon time, I was given 20 pesos to buy ChopSuey after our morning classes. It means I have to hike 2 kilometers in going down the restaurant and up to our home. Then I have to wash the dishes again. Again, I was late. I guess the teachers knew of my plight that they no longer required me to stand at the back.

Despite of all these, I was still thankful that I was sent to Marawi Central Elementary Pilot School and then at Dansalan College. When I was matured enough, I have learned many things in school and I have learned to fight for my own rights. Perhaps, it was due to hard labor that I became a tough student and beame an athlete which was my way to pass a scholarship as a varsity player at the Mindanao State University.

Recollecting those days makes me stare at the sunset. I would say, tomorrow I will rise like the sun that shines in the East and you people are already down there 6feet below the ground! I am the winner!

Having surpassed all those heartaches makes me think that what I have now, I gave the credits to them because it made me a better person and more tough to face all the challenges in life.

This is all for now. Thank you for this privilege to pour out my feelings through this contest #steemitwomensmonth. I am sorry that I cannot give you photos of them for their protection so I hope you understand.

Lastly, thank you for the booming support of #steemitphilippines community and #club5050 and of course for the upvotes of my steemit family.

I am inviting @olivia08, @jurich60 and @jewel89 to participate in this contest as well.

Thank you.

@sarimanok