“Laagan” , “Kiat”, “Maldita”, “Tabian”, the answers I get from others whenever I asked them to describe me as a person. Some like it, and some hates it. I can even remember a particular situation when I was still a 2^nd year high school student, my classmate got angry with me and frankly said, “Sabaan kaayo ka ba, kiat pa jud. Friends man ta mo ni abby nga boutan ug hilomon, ngano di man ka mo pareha niya?.” Those words were slapped directly into my face, and over-acting maybe, but that scene led me to a week of depression. (I can’t even imagine how depressed I was back then. HAHA  J )

Guilty I must say, YES! I am slightly “Laagan”, “TAbian”, “Kiat”, and I admit, I am a certified “Maldita”. But what others don’t know about me is that I was once “Miss Proper”. And after watching the movie “Every child is special”, I was inspired to share my unforgettable childhood memories to others for the reason that I want them (especially those who judge me) to understand and know me more. And my story goes like this . . . .

July 13, 1995, a baby girl weighing 3175grams was born and named JOVELYN DAVO (that’s meJ). The first 2 years of my life was ok, up until I reach the age of 3. I was 3 years old back then when I accidentally hit my knees on a stone while I was playing with my bicycle. My parents thought that it was just an ordinary accident, but the next morning they’re so shocked to see that my knees blacken in color and pain the pain is very evident in my face whenever I try to stand-up. Right there and then they’ve decide to bring me to the hospital. After running a few tests, the doctors found out that it was a close injury and that it is infected with some virus and this virus is continually spreading and they suggest an operation as soon as possible before it affects the other parts of my body. The doctors said that the only solution for it is to cut-off my knees. My father was very angry and didn’t believe the doctors. He brought me to the other hospitals in the city, but disappointed I guess, the tests showed the same results. My father still can’t accept it and decided to bring me to the DAVAO MEDICAL CENTER hoping that there would be another way to save me not only from the virus but mostly to save my future from being destroyed. He was very overwhelmed to hear that there is another way other than to cut my knees and it is to get the part of my joint that is affected by the virus, but the doctor clearly stated that after the operation, I would be banned from doing things and activities that could affect my knees or else I would have no choice but to lose it forever. That was also the time when I got my scar on my right knee.

My life changed after that incident, I’m always sick and hospital became my 2^nd home. Worse of all, my father became very strict when it comes to me. “Bawl dito”, “Bawal doon”. I’m not allowd to go out and play all day long just like my sister always does, and when I started attending school, I have to earn good grades or else I’ll have a punishment like kneeling on salt or mongo beans with books on my hands. I can even remember that time when my father fetch me from school and before leaving, he would asked me to read the writings on the board and if I won’t be able to read it, he would start hitting me with his hands. I was so scared that I would ran away from him while heading to our house. He would follow me with a stick on his hands and when he gets home, he would start hitting me with the stick while scolding me.

   








“Dapat makahuman ka nga dagko imong grades para makakuha ka ug trabaho nga saun ug gaan ra para sa imo, di naka maglisod.” That is what he always tells me every after scolding me.

            











There’s also this time when he is teaching me how to read the hands of the clock, I find it really hard to understand him and because of his frustrations of me, maybe, he punched the clock and I saw blood coming out of the wounds on his hand. I was frightened back then, and since that day, the fear that I felt for my father never left me (up until now).

         


If my father wants me to be neat and act like a lady, I would have to be neat and act like a lady. If he wants me to study and have good grades, then that is what it should be.
































At a young age, I already felt like a prison and it was so unfair on my part because I’m his only child that he treated that way, my sister can do things if she wants to, not like me L

            

When I graduated from elementary, my parents want me to take the exam for the science network class. I don’t want to take the exam because I feel like I don’t belong to such curriculum. But then again I have to obey them; I just hoped that I don’t pass. Unfortunately, my wish was not granted because I passed the exam.

                I thought my high school days would be more miserable than ever. But I was proven wrong, because the time I officially started my high school journey, was the time I started living life...







  At home, I am still miss proper, but when I’m at school, the place of my escape, I am the total opposite. I finally found the place where I can express myself freely . . .

            










  I started disobeying my father (not that he knows that I disobey his rules). Me being “Laagan”, “Kiat”, “tabian”, and “Maldita” started there.













--- >my precious classmates

                    




                         
                        Friends ....

      
    The hummingbirds ....

              
                    The ESEP family .....


















I thought the drama would never end, but my father noticed the changes in me, again and again he scolded me, I didn’t take it anymore, I answered him (that was the only time that I answered him). I said: “tay, if dili ko nimo buhian, unsaon nako pag-mature? Gusto ba ka nga all my life magdepend ra ko nimo?”

             

After that emotional conversation, my father started to let go of me, I don’t have to pretend anymore, I can already feel the freedom in my hands (enjoying every minute of it).

                My father is still strict, but not as strict as before. There are times when I asked him if I can go out with my friends, he would allow me, but most of the time he would say NO. (But his no doesn’t have much effect on me anymore, only because I have WAYS!! HAHAJ).

 LAAG diri ....

            

         
  
           KIAT didto .....





















After a journey full of unforgettable memories, I can say that those memories (even if it is not so good) helped me a lot to feel the contentment I feel now. I am much more happier J.

My FAMLY ....

            
           My FRIENDS ....

                                                  FIERCE AND LOVE <3 <3 <3