When i was little, i was happy not that i am not happy now, but before (when it was a lot less complicated) i really don’t mind what other people might say or think. I just do my own thang. Hahaha. This used to be my favorite family picture of us. I know it’s just me and my sister literally in the photo but behind us is mom and dad’s wedding picture! So that makes this photo a complete family picture And i still can’t believe that we have Portuguese blood! Hahaha.

Don’t i just look adorable with my Simpsons stuffed toy? Hihi

Mommy and me! She said that when i was a baby, i fell from the bed but i didn’t cry (because i was strong haha kidding). Then when she got up, she amazingly saw a pillow beside me on the floor and believed that an angel saved me.

This was me and my favorite stuffed toy, Greenie! What an original name for a doll just because it was green. Hahaha. Until now i have my favorite stuffed toys that i don’t want mum to wash! They are Jurassic (who is cottonless), Ansherina (with no eye and arm anymore) and the gang.

See? i love reading ever since i was little! And dad said he saw Santa’s hands climbing those white bars where i was sitting. I believed him…before. Hahaha.

Little ekai trying to copy daddy! I looked like a badass in the second photo on the left. Or more like a little gremlin.

This was my attempt in trying to annoy my sister. I think it worked. Hahaha. This was the first time mum put makeup on my face too!

“The Happy Bee and the Sad Elephant” during my declamation I remember mommy trying to make me memorize that poem but i fell asleep. Still, she repeatedly recited the poem for a number of times even though i was sleeping already. And when i woke up, i miraculously memorized the piece already, until now! I just can’t believe how i was able to pull that off when i hate public speaking.

Look at my sister (wearing pink and brown rompers) being all proud of herself at the recognition day for bagging the “Best in Handwriting” award! Hahaha!

Plus i don’t know how did that happen because i became the valedictorian during my nursery year when all i do was cry when i can’t see mom’s face peeping on our classroom’s glass door (it meant that either she left me or she got tired standing up looking through the glass door haha). I was clingy that time can’t you see. Hahaha.

I used to do a lot of things like doodling on all papers that i can see (even drawing on my seat-mate’s desk and notebook that led me to detention). I wish i could doodle on my sister’s face too because that would be so much fun hahaha. I would even create my own mini notebook by stapling pieces of pad paper together. From there, i would sketch fashion designs of all sorts! Until now i have it with me

Look, I had full bangs (like Dora the Explorer) way way back that i can’t imagine myself sporting now! What’s up with our cheeks and why were we holding it all the time? Look at my sister at the last photo, she loves to make pouty faces until now!

Tatay and Nanay (mother’s side) with us wearing our Sesame Street jumpers like a boss!

Lola and Lolo (father’s side) with us, their grandchildren

Our cousins who all look cutie patooties!

Ever since my sister was born, i think her purpose here on earth is to make fun of me (and maybe all of us)! Hahaha. We even tried putting makeup on dad. Look how annoyed dad was with us being all makulit and silly.

I used to collect anything Hello Kitty and Harry Potter. Plus i loved playing Polly Pocket, Betty Spaghetti, Bratz and matchbox cars with my sister! I even had a set of lego blocks, toy kitchen and medicine box so we could play pretend. I have stacks of stationery, paper dolls, bookmarks, glitter glues, stamp sets, texts, pogs, pickup sticks and jackstones. I habitually wrote down all the nonsense and sensible things in my bajillion of notebooks. I don’t even know why i collected inkless pens, paperbags and plastics before. Would i be a basurero someday?

I have memorized all the lines from the movie the Lizzie McGuire movie. I loathe Barbie or anything related to it because our first house at Fairview was robbed before and they took all my Barbie clothes leaving my dolls naked! I cried to death that time thinking it was the end of the earth but after all, i realized it was just material things and we should thank God we are alive. Hihi. A moral lesson again.

My sister and i were always matching with our clothes, not just because these were wedding pictures. And i think until now, we are mistaken for twins because we have the same eyeglasses, same clothes, same shoes and same face! Haha. Except that she doesn’t have braces anymore and i have a brown hair already.

I remember mom telling me that i have always mistaken Shell gas station as McDonald’s. I would always make that M sign above my head using my arms or do the chicken dance while running towards McDonald’s. These are our family pictures at Tagaytay and A&W I think my sister’s picking her nose in the first picture! Gotcha.

When i was small, i scraped my knee really bad because i was running (for my life without any cause hahaha). I also fell down a very steep staircase just because i was excited to go down to show-off my dollhouse. Until now, i am chronically clumsy and i think i’ll forever be. And we used to have lots of pets! We had four hamsters (Chippy, Chinny and Chilly 1 & 2), one rabbit who died because we gave it a dishwashing soap bath (Wabbit), Two Black Labradors (Kenai and Kobi), One Lhasa Apso (Sapsap) and one Basset Hound who exactly looks like the dog from Hush Puppy (Chichi).

It was so nice to look back at the good ‘ol memories. It brings a lot of joy and fulfillment that makes me want to appreciate life more and the people around me.

I am still a kid-at-heart (not childish) and i still try to stand up even if i fall (literally and figuratively). I am grateful for all the pain, happiness, challenges and success in my life and for all the acceptance slash love i have received from my real friends and super family.

“The days are long but the years are short”

P.S. A few days ago, i took time with God and had a confession. I burnt the paper where i wrote all my grave sins in the torch at the altar. I thanked Him for everything that had happened and asked for forgiveness to those whom i have hurt. I also asked God for protection, good health and guidance. This lenten season, let us be forgiving and compassionate because Jesus sacrificed His life to save us from sin. May you show your love for Him by seeing Jesus in every people you meet. Happy easter!