Biography of Albert John Palermo

TAGAYTAY

VICTORIA PLAZA, DAVAO CITY

ENCHANTED KINGDOM

UP Los Baños

My 4th birthday

-          Connection. Expectations. Attachments.

 

I am Albert John Palermo. 16 years old right now. Trying to think where and how to start the story of my life. Well, let’s start when I was born…. September 11, 1995.

I was originally born in Cavite City but out of nowhere my mother immediately went back to her home town, Calauag Quezon, which now, our Barangay is part of Sta. Elena Camarines Norte and settled my Birth Registration there. Our family was separated from our ancestors, like my maternal grandmother was from Camarines Sur, she told us that they came from a family with a vast farmland there, The Espirtu’s. Its just that my maternal great-grandfather was a womanizer that’s why they left that town for good to avoid troubles. Her husband, my maternal grandfather was from Marinduque. As far as I know, they left Marinduque to seek job in Manila ended up being with their relatives in Don Tomas. For my father’s side I only knew that they live in Davao City. No quite significant to tell about my family’s background.

My family is not perfect, they separated on the year 2001, two years after my youngest was born. I respect their decision for the sake of their own happiness but I admired them because they never forget their obligations to us.

So, after the separation my mother needs to work for us. She went to San Pablo City, Laguna and work as Videoke bar assistant and gave the burden*LoL* to her Mother, our Grandmother who tough us values.

I just want to share my oldest night dream that I remembered. I was in our grandmother’s house looking at the old whitish tree with a flying boar that encircling the tree. And the other one was my dream somewhere in Italy or Switzerland, with distinct design of houses near the like where I learned about the word La Niña. I also had this situation that every time I will undergo nightmares, the sequence is I am inside the old toilet, I am floating and turning upside down, then I will see different insects on its wall. Then, there it goes! My nightmare. Mostly a monster or group of goons was chasing me in the familiar forest, fields, rice paddies, or sometimes unfamiliar roads, lake, and rivers. And I hate when I’m with a love one or family member that can’t follow my instructions either to hide, or to run.

Living with my grandmother was lonely yet it builds me to become matured. My parents occasionally visit and gave support by buying toys, teaching us math, and playing with us. Most of the time I played alone with tribal or castle theme somewhere in our yard. So, since then I became more independent in a way that I let myself with no attachment to other people. But I’m not a loop to others, or portraying that I don’t like them, or keeping them away. I JUST ACT ACCOURDINGLY.

We also went to Davao City when I was around Three-year-old, where I experience being picked by one of my cousins in their store. That time, my parents are still with each other. I enjoyed staying there, playing with my cousins. I had this cousin named Banoy who’s bullied me most often. *But now he is a good and reliable. I also remember a slight glance of experienced while in a ship bound to Davao. After that, we visit Davao one more time, few months after our first visit.

When I was a child my only fear is the circumcision, I can’t imagine how they will cut my thing. Haha. I also remember a feeling when someone leaves, a longing feeling that lingers all day. That’s why, I always ask them “When are you going to leave?”

Entering Grade school was great. New faces, new places, and new set of chores. I walked 1.7km before reaching the Don Tomas Elementary school with my Aunts and Uncle who was Elementary and High School that time. I learned to count while walking! What I hated the most during my grade school days was the flag ceremony because of my classmates was nuisance. Every school day celebration, I dance on the stage with some of my classmates. My biggest enemy during earlier days in school was I sleeping in the class. But I was an awardee for being polite. Until Grade 4, me and my sibling Lorenne move place to San Pablo City and transferred to Guerilla Elementary School where I graduated elementary. I experienced bullying for the first time that still lingers until this day from one of my classmates, son of a teacher. I hated him until know because I’m still scared to him because of what he has done to me. During my final days in that school, I have these friends named Mark Joseph, Murphy, Glyza, Ricky Mae and my very special friend Angelo. I treated Angelo as beyond friendship being that vey special to me during those days. He was wanderer, we frequently travel when there are no classes. It made my elementary days wonderful.

I enrolled to Col. Lauro D. Dizon Memorial National High School. First day was chaos! We can’t find our room. I was in section H. Eventually, we found our room Two weeks later. I found new circle of friends, Anjanette, Regine, I can’t recall some of them. Haha. My favorite Topic back then was Ibong Adarna and my weakness was Algebra. It was also my first-time joining Fieldtrip! Star city and Ocean park lingers. 1^st year Highschool passed to quickly and during vacation I went back to Don Tomas after almost Three years.

2^nd year Highschool. I’m shocked when I find out that my nightmare math subject teacher, Ms Nuevo during 1^st year was also our class adviser and my Geometry teacher. I remember during her subject when I was 1^st year, she made me and my seatmate Amerlyn stand for the whole time because of being noisy. But She was not that terror because she was in love. And time went by. I have this particular teacher that still my favorite. She recites our surnames after introducing to her one by one on the first day of her class in Araling Panlipunan. Her name was Mrs. Hitosis.

3^rd year. What a love-ly year. I was in love. I forgot how this year went. I don’t want to mention those of my day dreaming. But I remember during that time my best friend Irene got pregnant.

4^th year. Before our first day, I watched Crazy Little thing called Love.

 I experienced school reforms because of the school’s new principal Ms Uy. Mr. Escala was my adviser and my teacher in economics. I learned a lot from him by citing what’s life after high school. He opened our eyes to reality.

I also experienced bullying from my fellow classmates. One from letter A in attendance and one from letter J. I understand them. I forgive them.

I felt sorry for those of my classmates that I hurt because of my insensitivity. I’m sorry for those friends that I left. I’m sorry for having different faces. I’m sorry for being me, not knowing what’s right and what is wrong.

I’m sorry for myself for being coward.

 

While writing this one, I’m thinking what lies tomorrow, or five to ten years from now. I don’t want to lose someone or something. I never experience being in a relationship. I’m scared of what’s next. I wish for all of us to grow in the future.