BIOGRAPHY – Abigael Joy M. Rendon

Just because I’m not smart doesn’t mean I’m not going to succeed

she said lastly.

Her disposition in life cannot be judged by mere observation. Yes, you can know her but you cannot understand the way she is. However, upon noticing the person she is, you will eventually learn certain things. Often times, she has everything to say about anything; from time to time, she could just be so quiet that you’d definitely notice her silence. Just like any other people, she’s got problems in life – problems that she chose to keep behind her smile and –struggles that she chose to keep behind every laugh. She’s strong and brave on the outside, she’s fragile and sensitive on the inside. But what makes her special?

            Born on September 9, 1999, Abigael Joy grew up in Davao Oriental. She has attended the same school in her whole elementary level which is just a walking distance from her home. Entering the secondary level, she was looking forward to enter a new school as she finally gets to travel because she used to walk to school before, she can finally stay at school for lunch since she used to go home when she was in grade school every lunch break, and just like most students, she wished for an increased allowance.  Her expectations were satisfied and she was happy. Little did her parents know, Abi is an active student. She started playing volleyball as a kid and her interest in the sport continued in high school; she was even recognized in her school for that field. In the latter years of her junior high school, she has engaged in dancing. She even participated in Kadayawan Festival (2014), a popular annual festival in the city of Davao. She admitted that she was not initially permitted by her mother to join, but she persisted to attend the workshop without her parents’ knowledge. Eventually, she told her mother about it and gained her support. That became remarkable to Abi as her mother’s reaction wasn’t the one she has expected – she thought that she’d be scolded for disobeying but it just happened that her mother supported her wish to join.

            That may be the highlight of her high school but it would not be completed if she didn’t have a high school love. Yes, she had a relationship – a digital one. Although text messages were the only communication they had, she was happy. The intricacies of the relationship did not matter to her as what they had already satisfied her happiness. Even it is now irrelevant, Abi seemed to be so glad upon sharing that story – probably it’s the memory that still lingers in her mind. Talking about happiness, her interest in dancing earned her a medal that made her parents proud.

            In her life, she has had struggles that made the person she is now. Her mom had to work in Laguna where her aunt lives; Abi didn’t want to be left so she begged to come along – that she would face anything and work by herself if necessary. Among the six children, her mother chose her as Abi’s older brother and sister are now living on their own. Her younger sister and two younger brothers were then left with their father. Living in Laguna with her aunt was manageable until the difference in language became a barrier.  Abi was an upcoming senior high school student by the time she and her mom went to Laguna and stayed. She was enrolled in a private school within her Aunt’s town. At first, Abi had a hard time coping up with the new environment – new school and new people – she used to speak in her native language, Mandaya. Though Tagalog isn’t new to her, she was mocked with her native accent. It was tough for her; moreover, after a few months, her mom had to return home in Davao as she missed her children and learned that they were becoming neglectful of their studies. Abi could not just leave with her mom since it was already half of the academic year. She was entrusted by her mother to her aunt for good. She finished 11^th grade and returned home in Davao during summer. She wanted to continue her senior high school in her hometown but conflicts had arisen regarding the subjects she has taken and hasn’t taken yet, so she had to return in Laguna to finally finish her schooling.

            She has a good relationship with her aunt and her aunt’s family. Her mother is still the one who financially supports her education; she regularly sends Abi her allowance and Abi did not experience any major deficiency.  She receives financial support from her mother whenever she needs. Abi made sure that she tries her best in school and that she remains a good person to others. As her parents do not have a permanent job – only earning from their agricultural farm – Abi was contented. She only did a little talk about her father and often shares more about her mother. There was this instance in her childhood that she asked her father for money to buy some paper but he refused to grant her request. It became traumatic as she was told to stop her schooling. Abi was determined so she asked her close relative for money instead just to buy some paper. Abi later discovered that her father had actual money at that time but only refused her.

            It wasn’t the only time Abi became hopeless. Her sister’s misfortune made their mother hopeless. She wasn’t able to finish college as she had failing marks. Her family eventually found out that her sister had long failed since her first year; they only learned about it when she was already on her fourth year. Their mother decided to stop supporting her sister and thought that all of her children would only end up like her. Despite that, Abi isn’t discouraged to continue studying. She dreams to be able to finish her study once and for all as her eldest brother was only able to finish 6^th grade. He stopped studying because he was bullied by his speech disorder. He was accidentally hit by the vehicle that their father was driving. It is diagnosed that his overconsumption of medicines caused the speech defect.

            Abi had these struggles yet she is seen to be jolly and considered to have a cheerful personality. Though she wishes others to remember her by the things she has done to them. As a child, she was already exposed to commerce; her family has a background in agriculture and trade, and she used to sell goods at a very young age. Abi isn’t highly ambitious like the others. In fact, she has clear and simple goals in life. She even openly stated her four general life mission: First is to study and finish with a degree, second is to achieve success with her family, third is to follow the will of God, and last is to make her family happy. Iglesia Ni Cristo serves as Abi’s religion; she admits that even she misses her worships, she made sure that she still prays to God every day. People’s appreciation makes her happy. Hearing her mother’s voice is another happiness she always seeks. She gets sad whenever the people she never expected turn their back on her. Losing her loved ones is what she fears the most. She believes that success is not easily earned, that you have to pass through the eye of a needle to be able to achieve it. She also believes that we shall not make our poor family background as an excuse to hinder growth and success. As Abi aims to make her parents proud and to prove her mother that she won’t end up like her sister, she firmly stands that “Just because I’m not smart doesn’t mean I’m not going to succeed!”

1 OCTOBER 2017

-TBWS