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We are always here for you :D

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Hi Jolina. Stay the same. You are you in the best way possible. :) <3

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awwww, I wish I had an older brother like you

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I was in awe after reading your story. I hope you could guide Zia to be a wonderful lady in the future :D

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Omg I wish I have a baby sibling as well. Hope you'll take good care of her. :)

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Yaniie!!! I wuv you :) hihihihi stay strong

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I agree with you! Hard work is a must to achieve your dreams.

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Most of all have had someone that made an important impact in their life. Every people around me influenced many things in my life, it may be in good or bad. But there’s one person who teach me and stand with me every-time. That person is my sister who is one year older than me. She is someone that I could call my bestfriend. She is my rock to lean on during hardtimes. When we moved here in Manila she becomes a Mom and a sister to me. I could still remember when I want to give up on my studies, but she is there for me and keeps on encouraging me. She have these traits, that don’t give up easily on things until she reach it. This person also believes in my strength, that I can do my best in all. Maybe there are times that we always argue, even in little things, but we won’t let the day end without talking to each other. We have had our ups and downs but she is always there for me when I need her.

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Zia is the cutest

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i had the same feeling with my dad. he said his goodbyes before he died. i was clueless then but now whenever i miss him i just look back at that.

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Nice

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Francis Olavidez

I am not that old to be considered as the wisest of the wise, neither too young to be the most naïve. Nevertheless, looking back to my 20 years of existence, I can proudly say that I grew up strong and independent mostly because of my mother. She has truly been the greatest influence in my growth towards maturity. She also served as my perfect role model for she is the strongest person I’ve ever met. No other person has made such huge impact in my life the way she did and continues to do so.

I’ve always been closer to my mom than I am with my dad and I don’t mean that to isolate my dad in any way. It’s just that I find it easier to communicate with my mom and in general, I am more comfortable opening up to my female relatives than the male ones. She has always been the one who comforts me through my lowest moments and I’ve witnessed firsthand her unwavering faith even when faced in the harshest or what seems to be hopeless situations. I’ve faced battles with my mom and I sometimes can’t fathom how strong and faithful she remains despite the circumstances. Whenever I seem to be losing hope and faith, I draw from her and she helps me turn to God for she always believes that despite anything and everything, God will never fail us.

One of the harshest battles I’ve fought with her was when my dad got hospitalized in Japan while we were on vacation there. My mom and I had to stay there longer because my dad was still incapable of flying back to Manila and we weren’t expecting stay longer so we encountered a lot of problems in terms of finances, accommodation, and physical, mental and emotional fatigue. My dad was difficult to take care of because of how grumpy and stubborn he gets. There are times when I get frustrated because of how I sometimes feel that he doesn’t appreciate mom’s efforts. There were also times when I broke down and cried because of how scared and overwhelmed I was with everything that was going on yet my mom remained calm and collected as she told me to be strong for my dad. We grew tired and weary with each day that passed by. I was truly worried that my mom may suddenly collapse due to lack of sleep and her maintenance medication for hypertension also ran out and we couldn’t just buy any because we were in a different country. Our hospital fees were really expensive because of how advanced the technology in Japan is and I can feel the stress my mom was undergoing as she tried to figure out a way to pay all of them. I honestly thought I wasn’t going to be able to enroll. Thankfully enough, she had a Japanese colleague who was kind enough to vouch for us in paying the hospital. Mom always told me that there’s nothing to really be worried about because she withdraws from heaven and that God always provides.

Finally, when dad was given the permit to fly back home, we were all set to go home. However, our flight wasn’t a direct one and the plane needed to refuel at Taipei. During our flight to Taipei, my dad became unconscious and unresponsive for a couple of minutes which caused distress among the flight attendants and passengers. He eventually regained consciousness but the flight personnel had to arrange for a doctor in Taipei to check on my dad and of course, give the go-signal if he is fit to fly. Upon arriving there, the doctor said he can’t fly back to Manila and he has to stay at least overnight in a hospital nearby. My mom was begging for us to be given permission to fly back to Manila already because she doesn’t know anymore where to get help and money and it was also our first time in Taiwan. I too was worried a lot but looking back to what my mom and I had gone through in Japan, I told both mom and dad that whatever happens here, God will not abandon us. So my mom finally calmed down and we went to the nearest hospital. The Philippine Airlines representative in Taipei was kind enough to assist us with communicating and handling the fees so after an overnight stay, we were finally able to go back to Manila.

There was so much more that happened but this was more or less the gist of our struggle abroad. It was when I truly felt mom’s unending strength and faith from which I was able to draw from as well. After everything that happened, I told myself that I want to be as strong as my mother. She kept me sane when I was almost losing my sanity due to the circumstances I was in. She also strengthened my faith in God and I am forever thankful that God gave me her as my mother and as my ultimate role model.

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Francisco, Mary Jolina J.

In my eighteen years of existence, I think the people who made the biggest impact in my life are my siblings and my cousins. I came from a big family; I have thirteen cousins in my father’s side, I have two older brothers and one older sister. I am the youngest of them all.

Growing up with them gave a lot of pressure on me. Majority of us graduated from the same school, and whenever our teachers find out that we’re related, they always tend to compare us. Way back in high school, I’m just an average student. To be honest, I’m not the type of student who study hard (I don’t even know how to study that time) I’m not bragging anything, but seriously, I’m just an ordinary student who walks around the corridor and doesn’t have any plans for her future.

I’m used to be compared with my cousins and my siblings. I think they saw me differently from them. They are the students who graduated with honors and awards; they are the students who go to the library from time to time. And, me? I will always be the student who is called by the guidance office; I’m the student who doesn’t care about awards and honors. I guess I’m different from them.

Maybe I am ‘just’ me who is different from all of them. But one thing that I am proud of is that, I enjoyed my school life.

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Stay strong, Ma'am. Happy birthday to your Mum. Sarangaheyo. <3

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I still remember how you told me the story about your Grandmother. I hope that your family is coping well with your loss.

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You're lucky to have a dad like him, he didn't gave up for the ones he love.

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Love you and I think you're cute haha

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I also grew up with my lola so I know how it feels. I hope my grandma would live a longer life. Don't worry, I know she's always watching over you :)

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I'm glad that you are close with your dad, it is seldom that a person is close to his/her dad especially if they live far from each other :)

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Saranghaeyo <3

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LUISSE GABRIELLE R. RUTAO
3ELS2

Since when I was young I really have this great admiration towards my mom. She has been my role model since then. I always mimic everything that she does.  Been following the way she dress, the method and techniques on how she does her makeup and hair. I know it may sound so ridiculous but I also even patterned my own signature to hers because I really find how beautiful she creates every stroke and detail that she puts into it and on how lovely her signature look like.

But above all, I really admire her for being a strong woman. Being a teenage mom is never easy. Judgments and prejudices will be thrown upon you by people you know or not. Discriminations and deadly stares from strangers you’ll pass by will definitely kill you having that big bump in your stomach. And worst of all being neglected by your own family and the persons you loved the most.

Having all of these things in mind would really make you feel like killing yourself to end everything in a snap. But my mom never thought about that because her love for me was all that mattered the most during those moments of her life.  Amidst everything that had happen to her she still managed to finish college and have a successful career.

Also, another thing that I admire about her is her strength and capabilities as a woman. This was shown when she and dad got separated; dad left not only the house but also abandoned all of the responsibilities and duties he needs to fulfill as the bread winner of the family.  After then, Mom took all of the responsibilities as both mother and father. Mom extended office hours in order to provide all our needs and wants. My mother took extra effort in managing her time with her work and family.

That even though she took the title as the breadwinner of the family she still never forgets to fulfill her duties as a mother to her children. Though she’s been too exhausted with work she still tries to manage talking to us to catch up with everything that we’ve have done all throughout the day and make time for us to bond and go out.

I love my mom. She’s my life and everything. She has been my guiding- light in achieving my goals.  She’s my Cheerleader cheering me up whenever I’m having a bad day and every time I feel bad about myself. My teacher who teaches me what is right from wrong and what is good from bad.  She really does have a great impact on who I am and on what I’ve become today. Without her I am nobody.

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Ibarra, Alyssa Joy L.

Out of all the people I have met in my lifetime, I guess I could say that my daddy was the one who made the most impact in shaping me to the person I am today. Don’t get me wrong, I do not have a favorite parent, I love them both equally. It’s just that when I look at my dad, I see him as a superior.

My dad is a naval officer which makes him uptight. He is a disciplinarian, but he knows his limits. Most of the soldiers we know are pretty harsh or violent, but my dad is way different than that. If you get to know him, he will do anything just to you happy or content.  He has a heart of gold, I swear, and I’m not even exaggerating. A child’s respect to his or her parent is innate. Simply because they are the ones who gave birth to you and because of them, you exist. My respect towards my dad grew when I saw his sincerity in getting a job done. Other people may work for the sake of money or self-pride, but my dad works not for himself but for the people around him. It may sound cliché but he is servant-like even though he’s been promoted several times already. There was this instance when my mom mentioned that when God showered humility to the human race my dad got every bit of it because he seemed to have no pride at all. Knowing that he has experienced poverty when he was young, he is expected to somehow enjoy being in the higher class, but my dad never thought of abusing this power.

I have always been my dad’s “beautiful baby girl” even until now. I mean, imagine, I am the eldest sibling but he treats me like a princess. He always reminds me and my brother to be the “better Ibarra”, but I believe that no one can ever surpass his efforts. He is the rock of the family; He is our source of strength; He is the one who always understands even though it’s not his fault. I am very blessed to have him as my dad, and I’ll never get tired to try harder just to make him proud.

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The person that has made the biggest impact in my life, I would say, that it is definitely my mother.

They say that children actually have their parents as their idol before they even refer to someone else, whether it would be their teacher or their favorite artist as they grow older, but, in my case, it has always been my mom.

People who are close to me and were able to meet my mother always say that we are very much alike, especially when talking about personality. I have always looked up to her. She has been through many things since she was young, having been separated from her parents and was taken care of by distant relatives who did not really treat her as family, she grew up to be a strong independent woman. This is also the reason why my father is not always the one who gets to have the final decision about certain things that need to be discussed in the family.

I am not really good in describing a person, but if I were to describe my mom, I would say that she is the kind of parent who is very calm. Asking permission from my mom for me to be able to go outside and be with my friends has never been a problem. When I asked my mom as to why she always let us do what we want as long as it would not put us to danger, or let me and my siblings visit places, even without them, our parents, as company, she said that it is because she does not want us to experience what she has been through when she was in our age and that she has so much trust in us. And this, I think, is also one of the reasons why I salute her as a parent.

She is extremely patient, always been very supportive of me and my siblings, and exceptionally caring. Although she is working, she always makes sure that when we go to school, we will not get hungry. She never let me down. When I fail, she always finds a way to lift me up.

I think that my mother was, is, and always will be the one who has made the biggest impact in my life.

Dancelle Medina

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Sonny Manansala
3ELS2

There are numerous people that I can consider important in my life. All of them affected my existence in a big way. They are the ones who molded me into the person that I am today.

I am very thankful for having all these great people with me. However, if there is one person that has the most impact in my life, it will be my mother.  She is always there for me since I was a child. She has always been very patient when dealing things with me. I was able to do almost everything that I wanted to do, as she is very supportive. Being a strict mother was never her personality, but she has managed to teach me how to be a good person, as I am not so bad. This parenting made me feel unconstrained and comfortable with her.

These traits of hers created a huge impact to me.  She made me realize that you do not have to be very serious in life to be successful, and I think that is a very valuable thing to know. I am glad to have her as my mother.

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Jemimah V. Bongcayao

3ELS2

The person that I think made a big impact in my life is my father. He is the most loving, caring, and hardworking father, or person rather, that I have ever met and I couldn’t ask for anything more from him. He is one of my biggest inspiration and motivation to work and study harder despite the hardships of school life. This does not mean, however, that I favor him more than my mother. I love both of my parents equally and they both play a significant and important role in my life but I can say that my father’s impact in my life is a little bigger.

My family is not rich but it does not mean that we are poor either. I live a comfortable life and the daily necessities of my family are provided for us. We can also buy some expensive luxuries from time to time but this was not the case before. When I was younger, our house was so small you could see every part of the house right when you walk in. All of us slept on one bed and we rarely went out. It was even a problem whether I and my brother could be able to study. My father was jobless, my mom was a housewife, and we were living in my grandmother’s home. My father was the eldest son of his family and also had to support them still thus he became really stressed and suffered from depression because of it. He suffered seeing me and my brother asking him if we could already go to school. He loved us so much that seeing us being jealous of the other kids studying and having a great life made him want to try everything to change the current situation. That is why, despite the fact that he did not want to separate from us, he left the country and became an OFW to be able to provide for us. My father was very homesick from his early years then. I and my brother never really went through the phase where we hated or got mad at my dad for leaving us because they already explained it to us and both of us understood it but it was still hard for us to cope with. My father worked his hardest, doing overtime and accepting extra work to receive extra cash as an engineer; and after years and years of hardship, it finally paid off. Through his hard work, he was able to climb up from being just a regular employee in the company to being one the chiefs.

I am always amazed at how my father turned his previous unemployed situation to being one of the bosses in a company. I aspire to be like him, never giving up and working with everything you’ve got. He believed that with hard work and determination, your sacrifices will be rewarded and it did. He is the father that I can brag about to others and I am so blessed and thankful to have him in my life. He is my hero, my one and only Papa.

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Who has made a big impact in your life?

Every individual has someone who made them where they are today. The ones that got your back and support you in everything that you want to achieve in life. For me, my high school friends made a big impact in my life. Others see us as a “group of friends” or just a “barkada” but for me, we are sisters by heart. Sisters that are bound for a certain destination. Sisters who help each other and never let anyone down. We set aside negative thoughts and just enjoy life as it is. Doing crazy stuff and talking about our personal lives made me more confident with myself.  There are times that their presence is enough whenever I need comfort.

I consider them as my second family. I am grateful enough that I have real people because not everyone can have it. Though today we go our separate ways in college, nothing has change. We make time behind our busy schedule to catch up. I love the fact that we've seen each other mature and just a few steps to our goals in life. I thank God that I have these people that I treasure so much in my life.

Rianika G. Soria
3ELS2

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Arasooo! Aju Nice!! I hope you meet them someday :)

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Glenn Krishnan
The person who made a big impact in my life is my sister, Gessie.  She is one year older than me but I don’t call her “ate” because we are really close and we think it is pretty awkward to call her “ate”. Anyway, we are really close, we always talk even when I go to the bathroom, and she would just stay close to the door to continue her stories. We sometimes go to sleep at 4 or 3 in the morning because we have so many stories, opinions, and arguments to talk about. I love talking to her because when she speaks, everything that she utters has a substance, something that would make you think for like a day or I don’t know it depends. She is really wise.

Her principles and point of views in life are simply amazing and it influenced me a lot. She is very patient and hardworking. She would wake up at around 6 in the morning to review or to read her notes and that made me realize that if you really want something, you need to work hard for it. I’m always afraid to try new things but she would always tell me to grab every opportunity and don’t ever settle for less. She influenced me because I can see her actions; I can see how determined and how patient she is when it comes to her goals in life. It is important to walk the talk to be able to achieve something.

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Zephania Chantal Sy

When asked the question, “who has made the biggest impact in your life?”, all I can think of is one person. In my nineteen years of existence, there are already many people who made a big impact in my life, but the one who made the biggest impact is my mom. She was the one who made the biggest impact, and I know she would still do in the future. I’ve been known as a ‘mommy’s girl’ by my friends ever since I was in grade school and I don’t deny that fact because I really am. She has been my inspiration ever since because raising a daughter alone isn’t easy, and I admire my mom for doing such thing. She raised me alone until I turned six when she met my step-father. She has been my ‘kakampi’ ever since, knowing that I grew up in my step-father’s side and my step-cousins would, most of the time, isolate me from them. She will always say that I’m special and that I could live on my own with or without them. And I love her for doing that.

I literally can’t live without my mom. Every time I go home, I always make sure to go straight to her room and tell her about my day. I can’t stand seeing her having problems, or worse, cry. I get sad whenever I see her sad or bothered, she has that effect on me. I can see her determination of giving me and my siblings everything we need, she’s working too much, that she doesn’t afford to have any time to rest anymore.  She’s my biggest supporter; she’s always there whenever I have performances, or anything that involves me on a stage. Way back in high school, I was dependent on her. I always depended on her, no matter what it involves. But of course now, as I enter college, I needed to decide on some things on my own but being the mother that she is, she still guides me whenever I need it.

But just like any other parent-child relationship, we fight or have misunderstandings. Whenever that happens, i make sure to resolve it easily, especially when I’m the one at fault. I can’t stand my mom getting angry at me. I’ve been a disappointment to her many times and I don’t want for it to happen again.

She never fails to keep me motivated. She pressures me whenever it is necessary. Every time I face a problem, she’s the one who will say that it’s a part of life and God won’t give us challenges we can’t overcome. I think that is where I got that kind of thinking. Her “Kaya mo yan!” is all I need whenever I’m feeling down, thinking I can’t do what I’m supposed to do.  She always talk about me when she’s with her friends, and it makes me happy to see that she’s proud of me.

My mom has made the biggest impact in my life, not just because she’s my mother, but she has also been a sister, a best friend and a mentor to me, and she will always be.

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Michelle Marasigan

Of all the countless blessings I got from God, my father, I will have to say, is the best blessing I have ever received. He is my most favorite person in the world. All throughout my life, I have seen my father as my role model and my super hero. I believe I won’t be the person that I am today without my father.

I will forever salute my father for his great strength, especially when our family was going through the rocks. That even I myself thought that our family was on the verge of breaking apart, I thought we won’t survive. He fought hard to hold our family together.  He never left. I can’t believe we survived that year, but we emerged closer as ever as a family. And that for me has been the definition of love; I admired my father more than ever.

As I try to flashback, when I was a child, my sister and I used to fight a lot. That leads to my sister getting all the scolding. But right after she gets scolded my father would always talk to me privately, and would start lecturing me about how I should always respect my older siblings because at the end of the day it would always be the five of us who will help each other. That at the end of the day, family is all I’ve got.

After our family’s great storm, I have realized that he has always been true to his words and principles. The value of family, which he has been drilling in our heads ever since we were young, was proven right. He exemplified that in our family, and that is what he wants us to uphold as well.

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Pamela D. Recio

When I was in high school, I often use the word ‘impact’ in our Science class such as the impact caused by an asteroid whenever it hits a planet, or an impact of an earthquake to certain vicinity. Little did I know I would be encountering such word in a Language course, and this time, impact did not anymore involve something but someone.

My mother is the one who made the greatest impact in my life, and there is no exaggeration in here. For the nineteen years of my existence, I proudly admit that I am a mother’s girl. She had me at a very young age and at that time she was a consistent dean’s lister at the University of the Philippines. I would be lying if I say that my grandparents were not disappointed. Everyone thought that it was the end of her supposedly successful life. Gladly, my mother proved them wrong. Even if she was not able to graduate, she managed to get a job overseas just months after my birth. Her resilience and determination to make our lives better brought her success. It is also probably a plus factor that she is diligent (which is one of the things that I envy of her) and is able to work under pressure.

To fulfill my mother’s unaccomplished goals is one of the reasons why I constantly strive hard to ace in my studies. I knew that back then, she badly wanted to finish her studies and eventually become a medical doctor. This time, I do not plan on disappointing her. I may not be a medical doctor but I wanted to graduate with her at my side to show her that I’m thankful for everything that she had done for me. I know how hard she had gone through with her work and it makes me realize that I am blessed to have someone like her. She often reminds me to make careful decisions since in everything that I do, there are consequences. It is through her constant reminder that I get to feel that she immensely cares for me. Because of her, I find myself taking things seriously especially those that are deemed beneficial to my growth as an individual. She was actually the reason why I fell in love with reading books and writing stories since back then, she buys me books, fiction and non-fiction instead of Barbie dolls. Like her, I joined various organizations and actively participated in class discussions. There was never a time did I wish for another mother instead of the one I have. Whenever I feel like giving up, she tells me to keep moving forward. Mother knows best, and if I happened to be a rebellious daughter who is ignorant of her advice, I may not be in the path where I am now.

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Czarina Castro

Throughout our whole lives, we encounter a lot of different people who have, at some point, made an impact in our lives. Whether it is a huge impact or even just a small one, what matters is how they affected our lives and how different it would be if it weren’t for them. For me, the person who has made a huge impact in my life is my older sister. She is 23 years old and currently in her 3rd year at the U.P. Law School. In my 19 years of existence, she has been with me, through the good and the bad times. Even though we fight a lot, she’s still my go-to whenever I have problems. Unlike me, she is very vocal to other people about how much she adores and how she would do anything for me despite wanting to kill me for being annoying all the time. I, on the other hand, never tell her how much I appreciate her. I would always be so secretive about how much I really look up to her. Our mom had her when she was only 17 years old. My sister had to go through all the struggles that my mom went through during the pregnancy. There was a time when they planned to turn to abortion; I always ask my family about it, jokingly. I would ask them how they feel about their abortion plan 23 years later, with all of my sister’s achievements and how beautiful of a woman she is right now. They would laugh about it but I know deep inside, they are very thankful that they had made the right choice.

Most would describe me and my sister as complete opposites. My sister is a complete saint. She always sees the good side of other people even at the worst situations. I see the good side in others too, but I am the more practical one. My sister, she has a lot of hopes and dreams for everyone. She believes that everything she can do, everyone can do as well. She organizes her time really well. Even as a young girl, she knows how to manage her time; academics, organizations, friends, sports, etc. I really admired her when we were still in the same school and I would always be so proud when people ask me if she is my sister. She was the top student from pre-school until 6th grade. In high school, she transferred to Manila Science High School then, in college, she took up Political Science in UP and right after graduating, she went to Law school in UP as well, where she is at the moment. Aside from her intellectual abilities, my sister has made a huge impact on me because of how pure her heart is. She is the kindest and most understanding person I have ever known; even more understanding than my mom. She is the most humble and supportive person. All adjectives are in their superlative forms because I believe and I know that she really is the most wonderful person in everything that she does. I NEVER tell her how much she means to me and how much impact she has made in my life, but little does she know, every time I am required to do an essay about an important person, I always choose her as my topic. She has inspired me to be the best version of myself through good times and bad times and to seek God wherever I may be. My faith in God became stronger because of how she brought up His goodness and His unending love for mankind. She influenced me to find and see the goodness in others even when it seems like there’s none. Most importantly, she inspired me to believe in myself. Ever since I was little, I’ve always had very little faith in myself. I never believed I could do anything unless she tells me so. She pushed and still pushes me to act upon my dreams and do what makes me happy. My sister had always been my biggest fan and I appreciate how she never runs out of patience when dealing with me. I believe that I am indeed blessed to have a sister like her. Anyone would be lucky to have her in their lives because of the delightful vibe she brings and how beautiful she is as a person.

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By: Jesselle Pampo

It is hard to weigh who made the biggest impact in my life. I have met so many people in the years of my existence that it's difficult for me to choose who has left a mark. But for today, I would have to choose my current addiction—Seventeen. I still haven't met them, but their impact was so strong that I immediately slipped into the diamond life, how the life of their fans are called.

Seventeen is a 13-member Korean boy group that debuted last May 26, 2015. Their ages range from 18-22 years old. These boys, who are still far from being a man, started their training to become an idol (how they call members of a k-pop group) in their early teens. Some trained for three years before finally being able to debut. They had to train in Seoul, South Korea which is not the hometown of most of the members. In fact, two of the current members came from China. One can only imagine how hard it is to be away from the comforts of your home and your parents and live with other teens you are not even related to. They were trained by a small company that's why it was hard for them to be recognized immediately. Still, they worked their way up to be noticed by Korean and international fans.  Thinking about how hard it was for them to train all their teenage life when they should have been studying and being taken care of their parents made me realize that if you really want something, you have to work for it.

One can say that they have already accomplished so much even in their young age. While here I am and still unsure of what to do with my life. However,  I am certain that just like them, I can be wherever and whatever I want in the future as long as I work hard for it. Hard work, I believe, pays off.

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As cliché as it may be, my mom caused a huge impact in my life. She is someone who would tell you, “spit it out, if it tastes weird,” if you will ask her to check if the food was spoiled or not. Someone who would tell you, “you failed on the 3 rd try? Then you try again,” if you will vent all your intent in giving up. Someone who would tell you, “You are responsible for your actions,” if you are asking for permission to drink or go to parties. She taught me independence, perseverance, and responsibility, which I believe are all vital in a person’s character.

She always encourage me to be independent, she taught me how to commute at a young age and travel abroad alone, because she believes that I can and it will help me as a person. That’s why whenever I think that I am so attached to people; I always remember that I was once good in being independent so I shouldn’t dwell on it so much. She also reinforces perseverance, even though I was rejected in auditions numerous times she still encouraged me to try again, because she knows that I can. That’s why whenever I feel disappointed about the outputs I am providing, I always take a step back and work on it again. And lastly, she strengthened my sense of responsibility, she allows me often to go socializing with my friends, because she knows how talkative I am and she also wants me not to be secretive or rebellious at some points. That’s why every time I go out, I always put in mind that they trust me and I know what is right and wrong.

My mom is a cut above the rest. I am thankful for her regrets, her morals, and her words of wisdom, for these all caused a huge impact in my life.

Hillary Atondo

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Kaira Sharina Camba

I am in love with someone with the same gender as me. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. It’s her curly black hair, her stunning eyes, her dazzling smile, caring touch and her amazing personality. She is indeed the most sincere person I have met, the most compassionate, selfless, loving, caring and understanding person in the whole wide world. You may say I’m exaggerating, but I’m not, that’s what she is. That’s how I see her. Perfect, just the way she is.

I knew I loved her the moment I met her. She held my hand while we were strolling on a life blended by intelligence, ventures, devotion, and failure. She stayed on my side either in good times or bad times. She inspires and motivates me to be the best that I can be, every single day. She has taught me to appreciate even the smallest thing in life. She informed me all the things I needed to know. This woman is my source of strength and power; she never hated me no matter how disappointing I was. She picked me up when I was stumbling down, with my dreams and hopes with me. She loved me when I couldn’t even love myself because she sees me through my insecurities and fears. She never gave up on me. She showed me how to be independent, brave, beautiful, brilliant, and tough woman.

Every time I hear the question, “Who has made the biggest impact in your life?”, only one person consistently and swiftly pops on my mind, and it’s my mom. I literally don’t have any idea where I would be if she wasn’t with me all the time. No words would ever be enough to describe how valuable she is to me. She made me the person I am today. She is truly the most valuable gift God has given me.

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“Do what you want to do” those were the words uttered to me before I left the island where I grew up. These words meant a lot to me not because of what it means but because of who said it. The person who said these words was old and wise. To me he was the epitome of perfection. Everything I do was for him. Everything I strive for is for him. For me he was a guiding light. The things he told me are etched inside my brain and it will never be forgotten. This person is my grandfather.

I didn’t grow up like most of the kids in my age. I didn’t grow up beside my parents who provided anything that I need. I was never scolded by my father. I never knew the taste of my mother’s cooked meals until I was older. I never relied on them to take me to school. All of these things that I should be doing with my parents growing up I did with my grandparents.

Ever since I was a child I was with my grandpa and grandma. They fed me, taught me how to respect others and they treated me like their own daughter. I grew up with them and was greatly influenced by them. Both of them contributed a lot to who I am today but my grandfather had the biggest impact on me. Before going to school he would always sit down in the terrace in front of a big table with a lot of papers when I got home I would still find him there. I asked him what he does all day and he would always reply studying. To my grandfather knowledge is very important. He would always tell me stories how when he was young he would always get a perfect score in an exam and how his father would burn his papers if it was not. To him my best was not enough unless it was perfect. I tried so hard to fulfill his expectations when I was young and realized later that it would never be enough. I started to give up trying and just do things in my own pace. I started being lazy. It continued until I almost received a failing mark. I felt down and started hating myself for not being able to be their perfect granddaughter. This was when I made the decision to go to UST.

When I told my grandparents that wanted to go to UST and be with my parents they got angry and told me that I didn’t love them. This was of course wrong and that I wanted to leave because I love them so much that I felt bad for not living up to their expectations. I also wanted to leave because I felt so caged inside that home which I was only allowed to leave if it was for school or if we were going to the church. When they have finally calmed down we had a talk and my grandfather told me to do whatever I wanted to do. To me it meant freedom and also a goodbye.

Ruzel Raqueño

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By: Jhelo V. Mercado

We all have that person that we look up to, the one who always inspires us do thing that we think we cannot do, or those thing that we think is impossible to do. Someone who brings out the best in us, even in the worst of situations. But while this is true, an impact made on our lives doesn’t always mean they inspire us. It can also mean that that person made a mistake that cause us to change or be the version of ourselves that we are now. That for me was true.

As a child, I admit I am one of those who are mature enough to know what is going on in my life. I am aware of the things adults thought wouldn’t make sense to a child who’s barely five. I always knew my family was not the best, we weren’t perfect but we weren’t also happy. People around me would label me as smart, and because of that I was pressured to always achieve things, to stay in the upper level of my classmates and to never be removed from the honor roll list. Perhaps many would think my mother was the one who keeps on insisting this to me but in reality it is my aunt. You see my aunt was a very intelligent woman, and being the eldest out of us cousins, I was the first to experienced being pressured. At first it was easy, I was still a kid, lessons those days were not too much of a world for me especially because I can consider myself someone who is an easy learner. But came the time when I thought everything is not enough. I was very active even when I was in elementary, so I had a lot of extra-curricular activities. And believe me when I say I am doing my best in every contest that I am in, managing to win even just a place. And then I was home where winning a place seems so unappreciated. My aunt would always tell me I can do better next time, that I should be 1st place. I was mature, yes, but I was also a kid; and being a kid meant you should obey what the adults say, so I follow and it came to the point that even winning 1st place and being among the top students seems never enough. By the time I graduated elementary and high school for me was a new environment, I said to myself I wouldn’t be what I was like before, so I was relaxed. I did not struggle too hard for grades and I didn’t have a care being in the honor roll. It was worth it. Maybe people would think that I am stupid for doing so but they weren’t the one who experienced what I experienced. They weren’t the one pressured by my aunt, my family, the people around me and even my whole school to always be on top. I was happy, I became an average student in high school and I was okay with that.

There is a reason why my aunt made a big impact on my life. I didn’t really put my mind into it but apparently, being pressured grows into you. Even without someone who constantly nags me to do my best; I know in my mind that I became someone who always wants to be at the top. I thought I resisted it, but it came to me that striving for the top almost came natural for me, like I was born with it. And so once again I saw myself being who I was back in elementary and I didn’t regret it. Not because of the pride that comes in it, but because I have come to accept something as vital as this in myself. That I am not who I am if I am not the Jhelo when I was a kid. Sure I can control it but embracing who I really was, I think is important than caring what other people would think about it. And so I thank my aunt for pressuring me in everything that I do for I know I grew up to be someone who is ready for whatever difficulties that may come. I survived and accepted that phase of my life and now it is time for others to do the same.

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by: Jonalyn Sarmiento

If I could put all the names of all the people that have a huge impact in my life to create one name, I would. But I know to myself that I will always choose my sister, no matter what. I remember when my mom was telling me how I will always want my sister to be by my side, I always call my sister instead of my parents. I even have a photo of me and my sister crawling together, and when I saw that photo, I knew that the person that I will never stop loving is my sister. Don’t get me wrong though, I know that I should include my parents, but it’s different when you have someone in your life that sticks with you through it all since the beginning. Although my sister and I fight over small things, I would still kill my pride and talk to her because it hurts every time she ignores me. My mom thought that I’m jealous of my sister, in some ways, yes. But at the same time, I’m proud that she is my sister and will always be. She helps me to be a better person, and she may not say things about it, but her action says it all. She doesn’t want me to be someone else, she wants be to be “me” at the same time, improve myself because she believes in me. I can feel it. She is a type of person that is a perfect fit for “actions speak louder than words”, well for me. She’s my idol, I like how hard working she is even though we have really strict parents that sometimes she cannot handle. She’s brave, knowing that a lot of people have tried bringing her down, and sometimes all the pressure from my parents is often on her because she’s the eldest. She still asks me if I’m okay even though I really am. Her ways of teaching me how to be strong is different, and I can’t explain it. I remember when we didn’t talk for like a month or two, I didn’t know what to do, I was lost, and it’s kind of a different “lost” when that happened. But I’m glad that we are finally talking, knowing that she will be far away from me. And right now, she really is not with me anymore, she is on the other side. At first, I was worried and scared because I don’t know what I would do in my last year in a half stay here in the Philippines because I know there are still many things that could happen, and of course, I will need and want her to be there when things happen. I stopped myself from crying at the airport because my mom doesn’t want any of us crying when someone leaves because according to her, it’s not a good sign. We want my sister to be successful in her new journey, and so I gave her was my time during the day of her departure although I have a lot of things to do, and I don’t regret giving her most of my time. I just kept in mind that I’m still going to see her in our graduation, and here I am, working hard, being brave, being me, and patiently waiting for that day to happen. I’m glad that even though she has things to do on the other side of this planet, she still gives me her time. She still finds ways for us to communicate, online. At first, I didn’t feel comfortable not seeing her around at home, but then I got used to it because we talk on viber. I can feel that she is with me. And even though my brother didn’t survive, she has been both a brother and a sister to me. My best friend, my partner in crime, my buddy, etc., and guess what? The hug that we gave each other int the airport, was our first one.

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Dianne Grace Canilao

People come and go whenever I’ve made friends or just simply getting a little closer to somebody and each of them made different levels of impact in my life. Ever since I was in first grade in elementary school I became best of friends with somebody and another every school year or every other school year, so that was how I acquired that people can leave at any time abruptly although it was never anybody’s fault.

The loved ones that came into my life and, of course, those who are already in my life before I was even born are those very important people that I can say that put huge impact in my life. My parents, of course. My mother, who is the best woman that I know, gives me nothing but moral and emotional support ever since I’ve had my anxiety and she understands me whenever I come through arduous situations even when I could not share what’s going on in my head. My father provides every need that a child could have and is patient and tolerant with my attitude towards life yet still not complaining and continuously providing even when times in life are hard. My current best friend, Ruzel, has definitely created room for herself in my heart that nobody else that I know can get into anymore. She is my other half and we went through a lot together yet she sticks by my side and I stick to hers.

These people made me feel loved and valid despite my anxious and panicky heart that could probably lead into something unbearable. Now, when I’m being asked who the person that gave the biggest impact in my life is, I say, it’s Sam.

After all the harsh and insufferable things I’ve been through, in relationships, self-hatred, unhappiness, and in life in general, he just made it all go away. Ever since I met him, I finally have a reason to be the most grateful that I could be at all times. He has now become my happiness and there is nobody else that I want to love but him. It’s either I have him or nobody at all.

He gives me that specific kind of love, or let’s say the most special kind of love that I deserve all this time, that I’ve been waiting for all my love life. Every time I look at him, all I can think about is how much I love him and how felicific I am to have him that no words can describe. He is beyond perfect in my eyes, he is so beautiful, and I cannot believe that he’s mine. Even his presence affects my current mood such whenever I am down, he just simply looks at me smiling with his shimmering eyes, I become completely fine that I forgot that I was in a bad mood before that.

He has become the love of my life and I have no idea what would happened to me if he’s out of my life. Happiness is my priority in life and that was the very first thing he gave me. The rest are just a bonus.

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By: Chloe Elijah L. Malicdem

Nineteen years living in this world, I have met thousands of people in different circumstances, accidentally, intentionally and naturally. I believe that there is a reason as to why people cross paths either for a short period of time or maybe for the long term. I also believe that the reason behind this is to teach us lessons in life. There are numerous people who have made an impact in my life. They are the ones who I look up to and whose words of advice and encouragement mean a lot to me. This is because I can see that they really “walk the talk”.

There is one particular person that, I can say, really made a big impact in my life and continues to do so. I look up to her and mostly rely on her when it comes to wisdom about life itself. Whenever she has stories to share, I would intently listen and take mental notes so that if ever I will be the one put in the situation as her, I would know what to do. Another reason as to how she continues to make a huge impact in my life is her personality. She is a goal-setter and a go-getter. When she puts her mind to it, she really works hard and puts in every effort to make it happen. I admire her for that. Whenever I would tell her my plans for the future, she would always encourage me and tell me words of affirmation for me to push through my dreams. The main reason as to why I consider her the person who really made a great impact in my life is because she is a woman of faith. I can say this in full confidence because I am with her every day. Each passing day, I can see how she lives her life trusting God in every decision she makes, in any situation she is in, and even in the failures she experience.

I know it is typical for a little sister to look up to her big sister and I am not ashamed to be part of that population of little sisters who do so. I admire her for being strong in every situation she is in. I appreciate her for being the best sister anyone could ever ask for. She is the epitome of a sister who is worthy of clichéd statement, “I want to be like her when I grow up.”

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by: Hana Ganzon

As a middle child, I rarely felt the feeling of familial love. Both of my parents give most of their attention to my siblings while I just felt like a spectator. How they treat us, their children, is very different. The eldest and the youngest are usually the favorites for the sole reason that they ARE the eldest and the youngest, while the middle child is typically neglected.

I remember my memories vaguely. It was summer and school just ended. I was around ten years out when out of nowhere, my Uncle “Papa Bob” and my aunt “Mama Noy” invited me to spend the dog days in their humble home. Normally, I get petrified whenever I hear their names. I don’t remember why I did it but I accepted their invitation to waste my remaining 2 months of vacation in their home. I packed my bags the day before I left our own home then the next day; Papa Bob fetched me in my mother’s office. I did the typical ‘goodbyes’ to my parents then proceeded to my aunt and uncle’s house. My three cousins who were about ten years (or more) older than me were there. I didn’t expect much in my stay there. Their main goals were for me to eat my meals faster and for me to gain weight because I was skinny back then. Spoiler alert, they did achieve those goals before reaching my 2-month deadline but I gained more than that. They opened me to the outside world because my parents are very strict. I had the chance to go to different places and eat delicious food. I had the chance to waste my time (for the first time!) in front of a computer or playing with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on a PS2 (lol). I got to learn a lot of life lessons and etiquette lessons from Mama Noy. The following summer vacations of my life were spent also in their home until I was too old to go on bakasyon-s anymore. They made me feel part of their family and gave me the love that I my parents weren’t able to fully provide. I love them just as much as I love my parents. They shaped me from the person that I am today, and I am truly grateful to them.

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By: Paulyene Adrienne S. Cayco

Being a part of the Light of Jesus family is one of the greatest things God has given me especially having to experience a spiritual group from the Catholic worship gathering known as The Feast. Indeed, it is true that you enter The Feast with a broken heart, and you’ll come out whole once again.

The past two years of my life were a struggle. It was those years that tears and pains have become a part of my system. It was also in those years that I really do not know the purpose of living anymore until I get to meet new people during the R101 week of university wide organizations in UST. At first, my purpose in entering UST Campus Feast was just to have a break from the struggles that I have in life. I want to keep myself busy during that time so as not to become sullen on my own once again. Moreover, the word ‘love’ and ‘healing’ were just abstract thoughts for me during those times. Nevertheless, God is really great because He allowed new and righteous people to come and enter my life.

Among all the people who I got to be with in the UST Campus Feast, Emmarie Joy Gerones is the one, who I could say, made a really big impact in my life until now.  We call her ‘Emms’ for short, but I call her ‘Achi Emms’ as a form of endearment while she calls me “Mei-Mei” back. It was me who thought of these endearments. “Achi” is a Chinese word which denotes the position of an elder sister or “Ate” in Filipino counterpart. On the other hand, “Mei-mei’ is a Chinese word for ‘little sister’. Achi Emms and I were just at the same age, but I call her ‘Achi’ because she is more spiritually mature than me. Achi Emms brought back the Light (God) into my life. She was the one who made me feel so loved. She was the one who reminded me that God will never be angry at me because I am His precious daughter. She was the one who made me realize that I am worthy to be like Jesus. Above all, she was the one who saved me several times from the many suicidal attempts that I had. I think without Achi Emms, I won’t be reminded of how precious life is despite the storms coming in.

Achi Emms is a Thomasian student from the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD). In the Campus Feast, she is one of the Executive Board and an active youth servant in all the Ministries. Yes, this may sound as an overstatement but she’s really part of all the Ministries: Warmth, Documentations, Music, Liturgy and Intercessory, Dance etc. One of the things that made an impact to me is the fact that she’s also a broken person yet she still manages to be a vessel of healing of God. Whenever I come to her for just a piece of an advice, she will already silently internalize for a few moments; afterwards, she would give a long yet heartwarming advice. What makes her so special for me is that I could really feel Jesus speaking to me through her. I remember I was told by the other members from the UST Campus Feast that Achi Emms was one of the few people who got to experience being filled with the Holy Spirit during one of the worship nights at The Feast. And according to Achi Emms, from that day on her mission became clear to her; that is, to be a reminder of God’s love and healing.

If she’s able to read this, then I would really like to say THANK YOU. Thank you Achi Emms because you brought back my life’s purpose. You may not be my biological sister, but I am more than blessed because you have embraced me as a whole in your life. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for not getting tired of hearing my sullen moments. Thank you for influencing me to be a vessel of God’s healing and love for others who are in pain right now, even though I am also a broken person. Lastly, thank you, Abba, for allowing me and Achi Emms to know and establish a relationship with each other so we could serve You more than ever!

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The person that has greatly made an impact n my life is my aunt, Elizabeth. She is the eldest among 12 of my aunts and uncles on my mother’s side of the family. Since I was young, I have always looked up to her because she is the most influential person in our family. What I admire most about her is her great devotion with fulfilling her role as the eldest. She is the most respected among her siblings and they always seek her advice whenever they have troubles. She had so much to shoulder not only because she was the eldest, it was because she had to endure a lot of hardships just to make sure that her siblings were well-fed. She married at a late age because she made sure that all of her siblings finished their studies first. She also endured a lot of hardships from my grandmother’s iron hand.

It’s rare for me to see her breakdown, she never shows any weakness. She works hard for what she strives to achieve. A lot of people depend on her for she is a well-known person in our province because they know her through her profession as a lawyer.

Even I get intimidated by her. I always avoid making any mistakes in front of her because she is a hard judge. Strict, she may be but I’m lucky that I get to see some of her humorous and down to earth side because she treats me like her own daughter. Behind that strong and intimidating mask, hides a passionate and caring woman who wants the best for her loved ones. She influenced my dreams of becoming a lawyer and she does her best to encourage me to pursue the career. I hope I can be as passionate and hardworking as her. She’s not afraid of being true to herself and she is a very straightforward person. She may say harsh things but I know that she only says those things to help me stay grounded. She may be as cold as ice at times but she loves with an open and warm heart.

-Kamille Salazar, 3ELS2

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-Marie Carmella Ingalla

I would like to say that my parents made a big impact in my life but they mean to me beyond being just an impact. They’re not just that but I owe my very life to them. If they haven’t fell in love with each other, I would not be existing right now. They were and will always be responsible for my well-being as a daughter. Since I grew up in a conservative family, I have learned to preserve myself in ways that a typical girl will not do. My mother has always taught me to be graceful and prayerful while my father has always reminded me to be smart.

With all these stories, I grew up believing that I could never be happy with anyone except my parents. I have been contented with the fact that I have them and that I will forever be dependent on them. Being so baby girl, I even promised them that I will be the first nun in our family. I was this tight and submissive to them.

I had an older sister. Thirteen years ago, she was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain cancer… she died 3 years after. If there was ever a perfect adjective to describe her, I’d describe her as beautiful, with a thousand more meanings behind it. She was too beautiful inside and out that everybody in our school wants to be just like her. They always look up to them. I have and will always look up to her.

Her death made a big impact in me. I was only 9 back then. I can still remember the pain of sleeping in a double-size bed alone, watching romantic-comedy movies by myself, going to prom twice without the help of a sister, doing English assignments not mindful of the correct grammar, getting bullied by my two older brothers, because I was alone and because I lost my sister at an early age. Her death was too painful that I felt losing myself.

My mother has always taught me to be graceful and prayerful while my father has always reminded me to be smart… because that’s exactly how my ate was. From her death until now, and up until I grow up, I have promised myself to live up to what she left. I can say that what I am now is because of what she was before, and I think that is something, that is an impact I will forever carry within me.

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Venice Bautista
3ELS2

Every important people that I cherish have impacted my life somehow but if I have to choose one that stands out, that would be my brother Israel. He’s my only sibling and I am the eldest. Israel came into my life in the age of four and I was very excited child when my parents told me that I was going to have a baby brother. I was always helping my mom with baby duties like holding the bottle of milk while feeding Israel, bathing him by pouring water on him in the gentlest way a four year old can, and putting powder on him before putting him in a new diaper.

My parents would always teach me how to be an “ate” and at some point I got tired with always having to be responsible, understanding, and sacrificing my needs first before him. I was a child and I didn’t fully grasp the idea of being an “ate” and why it’s important for me to be the better person. But I finally understood the significance of my role when my parents started to fight a lot. It took a few years and the fighting almost broke them apart, taking the whole family with them. When my parents fought, they’ll forget about us and I had no choice but to take care of myself and my little brother. I often did my best to distract him and not let him witness the fight and because of that we got to spend a lot of time together making our sibling relationship closer and stronger.

My parents might have been the ones who taught me how to be an “ate” but it’s my love for my brother that made me learn on my own how to really fulfill my role. Being the first born and a big sister didn’t just teach me how to be responsible and understanding, it also taught me how to be a leader, how to be patient, how to really listen, and how to be compassionate. However, don’t get me wrong, Israel didn’t give me an easy time and we still fight from time to time but he really shaped me into how I am now and I couldn’t ask for a better sibling than him.

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When asked about who has made the biggest impact in my life, my father is the first person who came to mind. I could name several reasons for that. First and foremost, it is because he is an excellent father. He had gone through so many difficult situations and all of that was because he wanted to give me and my sister a beautiful life. He has always wanted to provide us with everything we need even if that means sacrificing his own happiness. He is a very hardworking person. He grew up in a very poor community somewhere in Mindanao. He had experienced eating sweet potatoes from morning until night in a whole week because of poverty. He once told me that he started working when he was 11 years old and that work required him to carry loads of wood from the top of the mountain to the plains in exchange of a small amount of money and candies.

Second, my father is a wise person. He knows a lot of things. He can cook and bake. In fact, he has become a certified baker in Australia. He also knows every important thing that the head of the family must know. He knows how to fix things. Next, he can always make me laugh but he is also a very serious person. My father always makes jokes and I love him so much for that because he makes me happy. However, when he’s angry, I feel like it’s the end of the world; his voice and face are really frightening. Last, he is a very respectful person, he knows his responsibilities, and he loves me more than anything in this world.

My dad is a complicated person. Sometimes, he would just raise his voice because of something that annoyed him. Sometimes, he would laugh like a crazy man. Nevertheless, I am proud to be his daughter. He has made me realize that life is not easy so I must work hard for everything that I want to gain.

-Diane Iris Candelaria
3ELS2

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by: Krizia Reyes

Impact, “who made the greatest impact in your life”. Answering this question for me is a way of bestowing a person a key of who you are. Of why you have become and why are you doing what you are doing.

I am the youngest of three siblings, my brother and I have a 12-year gap while my sister and I have a 10-year gap, my mom gave birth of me when she was 38 and my dad  40. Having said this, being the youngest in the family you feel most of the protection of everybody, they are not exactly strict but I am influenced by what my parents wants for me. But I’d like to argue that influence and impact are two different things, influence is when you are swayed into doing things and impact is when you do something out of your own will because a scene in life has made your heart, beat a lil' faster for a second. That’s why I’d say my sister; she’s made the biggest impact in my life.

My sister has always been there in my roller-coaster journey of life; she’s my teacher, my mentor, my guidance counselor, my second mom and my confidante. She has seen me in my most joyous moments and in my midst of breakdown. When I have difficulties she would often hug me or cradle me like a baby and say all the nicest things in the world.  She never lets me go, never left my side even if I take her for granted at times. She’s the most caring person that I know; she would go above and beyond what is expected of her that’s why someday I hope I can do the same. Someday I’d like to be as selfless as she is, I’d like to make an impact on other person’s life as she did to me, and I’d like to repay her the great things she has done for our family –for me.

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The person who had a big impact on me is my aunt. She became a big part of my life because she became the substitute mother when my parents are at work. She became independent at a very young age. She nurtured me and brother to become the disciplined individuals as we grew. She taught us basics values and deeds as we are educated along the way. She has done so much for us.

We want to return the favor as she gets too old and might eventually leave us. We want the same impact that she made for the family as we support her in her daily routine.

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Lorraine Tiu
3 ELS 2

Same with Hannah, the person who made the biggest impact in my life is my little sister. When it comes to seeking advice, the person i trust the most would be her. It's just that somehow, she knows stuff more than me and is also more emotionally mature. Just to share, our bedrooms are actually interconnected and whenever she's not there in the adjacent room beside mine, it feels kinda empty. I got so used to her presence that i would feel incomplete knowing that she's not there watching K-dramas or laughing about something funny on Facebook.

She's the person who makes me laugh the most and I consider her my best friend because she knows everything about me. I literally keep nothing from her. She knows the password to my laptop and my phone. She's my go-to person whenever i have something on my chest. She comforts me by always keeping it real with me but still accepting me for who i am and that is an impulsive, and sometimes naive big sister.

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by: Luigi Tolentino
3ELS2

If I could name the person who made the biggest impact in my life, it would be my younger sister, Zia.

The reason behind this is because, being an only child for so long, 18 years to be exact,  made me feel independent and self-supporting. I would always think for myself in the things that I do knowing that having no siblings is not that bad. I was sort of on my own for those long years. I felt the loneliness when I was in my late high school years when my mom and dad discussed with me that I’m the right age to be left alone at home because I had to stay in my cousin’s house before. They said that our house should be occupied when they’re away.

The feeling is different from having a companion when you go home from school to being isolated because when my mom and dad had to go to work, I would just be in the house doing chores to lessen my boredom and surf the net after. I had this routine for a very long time and I started to think that even though I don’t have any siblings, I have my cousins and high school friends to keep me company. But, I know in myself that having a brother or a sister will have a greater feeling and it will never be the same with having just your friends.

Having a family member to talk to when you have problems, especially family related, is not the same as having them with your friends because when you do this with a brother, for example, it will have a deeper meaning when it comes to them because there are certain family issues that are too personal to be discussed with your friends, so you come to your brother because you know for a fact that he can fully understand you because he knows the feeling and you can count on him for advice because he can relate to you.

The day that Zia came after so many years, I felt a big brother instinct inside me that there will come a time when she would come to me ask me for favors or advice, and that I have to be prepared for that because as I’ve said earlier, there are things that only a brother or a sister can give to their own. There are guidance and encouragement that only a brother or a sister knows better than their parents.

That’s how I knew that Zia made the biggest impact in my life.

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Venice Bautista
3ELS2

Every important people that I cherish have impacted my life somehow but if I have to choose one that stands out, that would be my brother Israel. He’s my only sibling and I am the eldest. Israel came into my life in the age of four and I was very excited child when my parents told me that I was going to have a baby brother. I was always helping my mom with baby duties like holding the bottle of milk while feeding Israel, bathing him by pouring water on him in the gentlest way a four year old can, and putting powder on him before putting him in a new diaper.

My parents would always teach me how to be an “ate” and at some point I got tired with always having to be responsible, understanding, and sacrificing my needs first before him. I was a child and I didn’t fully grasp the idea of being an “ate” and why it’s important for me to be the better person. But I finally understood the significance of my role when my parents started to fight a lot. It took a few years and the fighting almost broke them apart, taking the whole family with them. When my parents fought, they’ll forget about us and I had no choice but to take care of myself and my little brother. I often did my best to distract him and not let him witness the fight and because of that we got to spend a lot of time together making our sibling relationship closer and stronger.

My parents might have been the ones who taught me how to be an “ate” but it’s my love for my brother that made me learn on my own how to really fulfill my role. Being the first born and a big sister didn’t just teach me how to be responsible and understanding, it also taught me how to be a leader, how to be patient, how to really listen, and how to be compassionate. However, don’t get me wrong, Israel didn’t give me an easy time and we still fight from time to time but he really shaped me into how I am now and I couldn’t ask for a better sibling than him.

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Boom. Just like that, we became best friends. || Salazar, Kasandra C. 

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Boom. Just like that, we became best friends. || Salazar, Kasandra C. 

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When we moved to Cavite, everything had to be new. We had a new house, new neighbors, new people to interact with. Being the new kid is daunting, well less for me because I had a twin to share the experience with. We were enrolled to the same school the neighbor's kids were enrolled in.
My twin and I, we came from different elementary schools. She came from a private school, I came from a public one.
We were enrolled into a private Catholic school, run by nuns. It was harder for me to adjust to the kind of atmosphere a private school has.
I was a bit of a loner then until came Marleoj. Marleoj had the same set of friends I did and she considered one of them her bestfriend. Unfortunately,
they had a falling out when her best friend betrayed her and lied to her after Marleoj defended her honor. Most of our friends came to the best friend's side.
I saw how alone Marleoj was and I knew how it felt so, I went to her side. She was grateful for my company and boom. Just like that, we became best friends.
What an impact Marleoj had on me, I clung to her because I did not have any other friends I would call 'real'. I learned a lot from her. She's a city girl and her family likes to travel during vacations.
She looks up to her mother a lot and whatever she learned from her mom, she would relate to me. I don't have a close relationship with my mother
so I envied her relationship with hers. Her family took me in as sort of a part of their own.
We have had a lot of big fights but both of us would never really want to let each other go. A lot of fights happened especially when we weren't able to go into the same college and we
kind  of drifted apart because we communicated less. I like to think of her as my soul sister. We know that we would never let each other be lonely.
She's the person who probably knows more about me than I do myself. My confidante. She's too good for me, too good for anyone. Maybe that's why she still prefers not to have a romantic partner.
She has trust issues, sprouting from the trauma of betrayal her former best friend did to her.
I envy her righteousness and her courage to fight for what she thinks is right. A fighter, that's what she is and a survivor at that.
People are either drawn to her or are taken aback by her straightforwardness. I admire her for that.
She has motivation to achieve her dreams, something I lack because I don't really know what to do with my life.
She gives me encouragement and pushes me to find what I really want to do in life.She taught me how to stand on my own ground and to love myself.
My confidante, my stage best friend, my soul sister, she will always have the biggest impact on my life. I hope she stays with me until the end.

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If I could choose one person that does a big impact in my life it would be my father.  I am a really huge daddy’s girl, and I often hook to his arms like a koala.

Since I was a child I would often try to copy him.  Maybe one of the reasons why I am taking this course is because of him. He was an English teacher before he was a principal. During his stay in my elementary school before promotion, he was the adviser for editorial cartooning. Then I thought, maybe joining the school paper would be fun. However, it did not really go well because of my poor writing skills back then.  There was also a point in time when I tried running for presidency because he would often told me stories of the landslide success of his party during the elections. I even used their party name. Too bad I am not really cut for it. In college, I joined a debate org because of his stories as an excellent debater back in his days.

In addition, he was the one who inspired me to draw.  I would always watch with awe whenever my father draws. I would often accompany him to mural competitions. I could still remember how I would steal one of the sponges that my father and his students use while copying their way of painting trees.  It was nice watching him transform simple pencil strokes to amazing pictures. He would often teach me some technique on his free time. Whenever I have a drawing assignment I would just come up stairs to his classroom and beg for him to do it. It was on 4th grade when he told me that I am too old for my parents to do my assignment. Then I tried my luck in drawing the map of the Philippines, surprisingly it turns out good. From then on I would often show my drawings to him, praising my works in turn.

He was my inspiration. He was my role model. He was my dad.

-Hazel Cabardo
3ELS2

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I was 16 years old, madly in love with a guy that obviously wasn’t right for me. My mother couldn’t get a hold of me because I made that guy my world so since I wasn’t listening to my mother, she then made me come to the condo to have a one-on-one talk with my grandma. I was so chill that time knowing that no one could ever make me think twice, but everything changed when I got there. My grandma welcomed me with “You are loved, isn’t that enough?” and then I paused for a moment, I am clueless, I am out of words when my grandma started to talk to me and made me realize the great things that life could offer me at that young age. I know it is God who touched my grandma’s heart as well as mine. It was God’s grace that dwells in my grandmother, and I’m very sure of that. I am very thankful to my grandmother because with her help, guidance and love, I was able to get through it in an instant. Without hesitations, I broke up with that guy with an ease heart, and now I am more thrilled and excited as to what the surprises of life might offer me. Now I know why they did that, why they lectured me about it because at a very young age, they don't want to see me being frustrated about something like that. I thought I'm just the one who's in pain, but they were also feeling the same way.

Thea Trishia L. Santos
3ELS2

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It would be unfair to credit only one person as the biggest impact on my life; many have shaped and influenced my life, turning it into what it is now. My family has shaped my life, turned me into someone independent and adaptable who can accept and adjust well to the changes and unfamiliar environments I encounter. They taught me to dive headfirst into difficult situations, even though anxiety would pull me back. They raised me liberally, so that I learn to take responsibility for my actions and the consequences it brings.

The friends I made in high school that are still in my life now taught me how to be loyal and how to keep in touch with people you value, and how to give importance to things that really matter in life. They were there for many life milestones and provided companionship in difficult times; I now know how to be a companion to others. The friends I made in college taught me to take life into my own hands, to be comfortable in my skin and to be selfish once in a while; I used to let people walk over me but they taught me that putting myself first is not always a bad thing. They taught me that I will meet difficult people in my life, but it is still possible to love them. They made me more understanding and more considerate. All these people have made a huge impact in my life.

Rhafaela Bacal 3ELS2

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Man in white

He was a man of few words. A very quiet man, whose silence earned him other people's respect.

I never saw him wear anything but white. In his 92 years, that was the only color he would have in his closet. He was always well dressed and well mannered. He was vain and I love him for it.

When he was 79 years old, he was diagnosed to have cancer of the prostate. The family was devastated. Being the eldest and the only one left in the Philippines to take care of our parents, I took the responsibility of bringing him to the hospital every day for his radiation treatments. He was a good patient, never complaining, always following what the doctor says.

In response to his sickness, he became more religious. He prayed the rosary every day and asked people to pray for him. He was given five years to live, he defied science, for he lived up to 92. Indeed, prayers seem to work more powerful than any drugs. His was a classic example.

In 2012, I needed to go to New Zealand to take care of a grandson, my first. It was so difficult to leave a sick father, but I also needed to be a mother to my daughter. The day of my departure, as I kissed him goodbye, he asked as to when I would be back, to which I replied, "just in time for your birthday". He looked at me and took me by surprise as he held both my hands and kissed them. I guess that was his way of thanking me for all that I have done for him. I was humbled by him.

Two weeks later, he died.

We are a family of few words, never vocal or showy of our emotions. That day, my father showed me what love, gratitude, gentleness is all about. The words ceased to be abstract.  He lived them.

Annette Ward

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My brother is the person who’s made a huge impact in my life. Of the three younger brothers I have, the eldest of the three is the one I’m closest to. He is younger than me but I think he is more mature in so many levels even as a kid he was always so level-headed. He approaches everything in life cool, calm and collected. He is responsible in ways that I can’t be as the eldest of the siblings. He is confident, smart and sarcastic and he really doesn’t care about what other people think of him. He doesn’t have any trouble making friends in fact, he doesn’t even have to make friends, people naturally come and make friends with him. I admit that I am jealous of the way he could shine without even trying whereas I struggle to even stand out in a crowd. But what I envy in him the most is his incredible sense of responsibility. He tends to take control of situations and if he does so, he can carry out tasks until the end even without anyone’s help. All these qualities are probably why everyone in the family, even me calls him “kuya”

After all these years of watching him grow into a strong and confident young man has been an incredible joy. He has made a great impact on me because of the life that he leads which is something I wish I can do someday and if I am being honest these are all of the qualities that I look for in a man. If I were to marry someday these are the qualities I would want him to have and I’m proud to say that my brother has made me realize all those things.

Hannah Lesly S. Carido

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I rarely share my thoughts and feelings with anyone in my family; however, there is one person whom I am very close with. The lady, who gives me life advice, even when I don’t need them, and the one I used to go to sleep with at night, she’s none other than my grandmother. Growing up with a strict and protective grandma is never easy. I will always get called in the middle of a street game, during noontime, to take a nap beside her. She will always scold those boys teasing me and those girls who tried to fight me. But behind all those strictness, is a woman who loves me dearly.

She has made a big impact on my life simply by showing me love. I know everyone can show that, but with her, I felt unconditional love. I learned how to give love to the people around me. I learned that loving is not choosing whom to show it to, but to give it to those who need and deserve it. I wouldn’t be where I am today and who I am today without her guidance and all of our late night talks where she shared all the experiences she had when she was young that molded her into the woman she is now. Sadly, my grandmother passed away last 2014, I wish we had more time together, but all the things she has inspired me with will stay in my heart.

Patricia Bringas 3ELS2

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Euri Camus

3ELS2

Who has made an impact in your life?

Actually, a lot of people made big impacts in my life both positive and negative but I’m gonna’ focus on the positive side. There’s this one person I cannot forget who influenced me a lot and even inspired me to take up English Language Studies. That person was my English professor in AMV, Ma’am Elizabeth Kapulong. She’s an amazing teacher and when I told her that I shifted programs, she told me that I’ve found the place where I should be. I remember the first time I recited in her class and like everyone else, she was a bit shocked about the way I talked and it’s funny that there almost wasn’t a class where I wasn’t called to recite.

Ma’am Beth made an impact in my life in such huge ways. She’s one of those people who believed in me and she inspired me to do what you love in life and do whatever makes you happy. Now, I’m in ELS and I couldn’t agree with her more; I do belong here. I’ll always look up to her and I already got to thank her for inspiring me to choose ELS. Today, we haven’t seen each other in person but every time I’m walking and I see her hurrying to AMV, it gives my heart great joy and I say to myself, “ Ma’am Beth, thank you so much.”