Today, I am living in Marikina City together with my mother and my brother. I am now a 4^th year college student at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina taking up Secondary Education, major in English. My life so far is compromised of a wonderful family and great friends.

My life

My name is Franciarina Sarmiento Baron. When I was still in my mom’s womb, they thought that I was a boy so they prepared a name for a boy. But when I was born on December 8, 1995 in Famy, Laguna, they have found out that they had a baby girl. My parents had the hard time in choosing a perfect name for me. My name came from my grandparents. “Fran” came from my Tata, Francisco Baron. “Cia” from my Anda, Leoncia Baron. “Ri” came from my Lolo, Quirico Sarmiento and “Na” from my Lola, Montana Sarmiento. 

My mother is a school teacher in Indonesia and my father is a janitor in a school in Marikina. I was raised in my Lolo Ric’s farm. Life is really simple there. We used to pick the ingredients for our meals by the side of our house. My Lola died back when I was young. We had two dogs; their names were Batsing and Browny. Batsing died while delivering her babies; she didn’t make it as well as the puppies. Browny got lost and we didn’t find her until one of our neighbors said that Browny was found, dead on the highway. We were very sad when we heard the news about Browny.

My elementary days were very exciting. From grade 1 to grade 5, I studied in Sulib Elementary School in Pangil, Laguna. I have met many friends there. My mom was a teacher there but I still found time to cut classes and play outside the school. Things were better back then. We usually spend summer vacation here in Marikina at Kaka’s house. “Kaka” is the term we give for the eldest aunt in the family.One summer vacation, we went to Baguio together with Kaka. I was the only one who went with her and the rest of my family went back to Laguna. I had so much fun there. I rode on a horse called “buriko”, tried to wear the indigenous people’s clothes, picked strawberries and tasted ‘taho’ with strawberry flavor. But when we got back in Marikina, my father called Kaka over the phone and said that my Andang Lucing, mom of my father, died due to heart attack. She was not able to recover from the stroke. On my father’s side, they believed in anting-anting and I remembered my father said that before Anda died, there was a mysterious stone in her throat. They believed that the anting-anting stopped the suffering of my Anda that’s why she died. But I didn’t believe in such stories back then for I was still young.

We moved into our Tata’s house after my Anda died. I finished my elementary in Casa Real Elementary School in Pakil, Laguna. In that school, I have met my cousins, even one of my uncles was my classmate. On the day of our graduation, Tata gave me a necklace with a big gem stone pendant. He said that it is Anda’s necklace. Graduation day is memorable for me because I broke the necklace my Tata gave me. I was in a rush during that time and the necklace was stuck in my hair. I literally pulled the necklace out when I lost my temper. I was punished by Tata when he found out that I broke Anda’s precious necklace. He said that he will give me the necklace once again if I learned to appreciate and value things. Yet, it didn’t bother me because I was so excited to lead the graduation song.

When I was about to enter the high school level, I thought I was going to enroll in a private school. In our place when you’re in a private school, everyone thinks you’re a rich kid. Well, I thought we were. I was quiet disappointed when I found out that I have to enroll in a public school. Through the days in my high school life, I have met new friends, crushes and my first love. I was not that attractive back then, fat and dark. I also had pimples too, the reason why I was not loved back by that boy. I found out that my crush, loves my cousin, who was younger than me. I was used by that boy to know more about my cousin. I was in pain back then but it didn’t last for long. We moved to Marikina and continued my last two years of secondary level in Concepcion Integrated School. I’ve met new friends there. We’re not the only one who moved in Marikina but also my cousins from Bulacan that’s why I was so glad and got the courage to study in the city.

In my tertiary level, we took the college entrance exams first. I was so glad that I passed in PLMar. During my high school days, we used to attend UPCAT Review in UP. I also took the examination in UP unfortunately, I didn’t pass. During the enrollment, I was a bit of confused what course will I take. My mom said that I must take Education, but I’m into cooking. Then I realized it would be fun to be a teacher someday so I’ve decided to take Education as my career. I was one of the members of the dance troupe in PLMar. Sometimes, we were featured in Umagang Kay Ganda. But the time came that I got tired of what we were doing. So I decided to quit and focus in academics.

As of today, I am still studying and hoping to graduate next year. I have many plans for my future students. I am now preparing and practicing to be a teacher. I hope someday, all of my sacrifices will be paid not only by money. I’m in hoped to inspire them and help them make a difference in this world.