Recently, while scrolling the home page of Facebook, I came across a post by an acquaintance . He accepted a challenge by a friend of his to write 20 things about him and post these on his page.
That got me thinking about myself...if someone will challenge me with that too, what things would I write about me?
Hence, this blog post today. ...these will be the 20 things I would like to share about me.
1. I was named after my papa's younger sister who died very young. Their house caught fire one day while my lolo was away at work . My lola lost consciousness while trying to save the younger kids (the older ones were either in school or out of the house playing somewhere). Their neighbors rescued them and helped put out the fire. My lola's forearm (right or left... can't remember) was badly burned and her baby that time, named Miriam, died in that tragic incident. When I was born, my grandfather wished that I be named after their dear little one who perished in the fire. His wish was granted, but my mother suggested that the spelling be changed from MIRIAM to MERIAM.
2. I am the first apo of my paternal grandparents, thus a bit spoiled by them while growing up.
3. I don't like cooking. I can cook a few dishes when necessary but time in the kitchen (all those cutting and washing up ) for me is always a waste of my time - which I'd rather spend sewing, reading or writing.
4. My nickname is Gingging - my father's choice. Family and close friends call me that. High school classmates call me Yammy, and one male good friend who's now in Heaven called me Gingards.
5. My first solo number (when I was about 8 or 9 y.o.) was during a Christmas event at the small church in the farm of the American missionary to Cebu, Rev. John Dunlop, up there on Naga hills. My lolo (their farm manager after he retired from his government agriculturist job) requested me to sing in their program. I sang the song that was popular that time "White Christmas", acapella . They said I did very well. But that was the first and last time I sang solo in a program. Will surely hyperventilate if I'd ever do it again.
6. Our family had a puppy born around the same time my mama was pregnant with me. They named him "Igang". Thus, Gingging and Igang were inseparable growing up. My sis and I grew up around assorted pets - dogs, cats, birds, pigs, chickens...
7. I was very "matabil" or "tabian" as a child,... talked to anyone willing to listen to my chatter. Still am...:)...My ma said, "lizard" was my first English big word. (probably because of the small house lizards I saw on the ceiling).
8. I can dance and love to dance to ballroom tunes - boogie, twist, swing, chacha..etc. ( I know , I'm that old...) My mother often told about that time when I was around 2 or 3 y.o...and she took me to the local market one afternoon...the song "Limbo Rock" was playing on the jukebox, and she said I slid down from her arms because I wanted to dance so badly. She let me, and needless to say, was able to gather an appreciative crowd around us. One older lady chided my mama, "Mabuyagan baya na imong anak, Day!"
9. ABBA tunes has always been my favorite exercise music (and background music during cleaning times) .
10. When I am nervous or stressed about something, I bite my nails.
11. I hate mashed avocados...reminds me of something gross.
12. I can eat an entire pack of ripe strawberries in one sitting.
13. I LOVE nutty chocolates.
14. I'm very bad at sports....can't even hit a volleyball or a badminton shuttlecock thrown towards me.
15. I love to sing with others....choirs, groups, etc. Was a member of the Children's Choir at school and church choirs, and later as an adult of Eklektone and Faith-in-Action Singers (both singing groups for evangelism and music ministries) .
16. My favorite subjects in school were Music (I hated it when I got sick on Music days), Bible and Reading/Language. Math and PE were way, way down in my list of fave subjects.
17. If I would have to splurge on something , it would be on BOOKS. I love books. My mother was a very good storyteller. She'd read to us ( my sis and I) when we were kids and encouraged us to read and borrow books from the library often. We were gifted with books rather than with toys, sweets and clothes.
18. I love oldies music. This is because we used to wake up to oldies music (Matt Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Engelber Humperdink, the Platters, etc. ) played on my Papa's radio on Saturday mornings.
19. The happiest and most carefree days of my young life were the two years I studied (Grades 4 and 5) in Mandaue City Central School. Except for the two years when we lived in Mandaue , I mostly grew up in Cebu City and went to Cebu Christian School ( a private Christian school) for my kindergarten ,elementary (partly) and high school studies.
Those two years in a Mandaue public school were the times I experienced taking tricycles rides with classmates; hanging out with friends and classmates in their homes and backyards picking and eating caimito; watching sunsets near the Bantayan sa Hari ; watching a cock derby at the local "buwangan" for free - courtesy of my classmate's mom who peddled bibingka in the premises; raking rock salt on dried sea beds with classmates so we would be given free salt by the sea bed owners to take home or eat with sour fruits; watching big ships come into harbor while hanging out with classmates who lived near the pier area, lining by the streets to watch artistas pass by in motorcades from the airport...ohhhh happy happy memories !
20. I never wanted to become a teacher. My dream was to become a journalist or someone who works behind the scenes for tv/radio/stage productions.
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