TH
E Q U E S T
One day, I woke
up into the world and started to wander around and found its intricacies.A
maze that is hard to solve and get out of and meeting all the obstacles preventing
me from escaping.
I was born in
the island of Maui. My father immigrated to the Hawaiian islands in the 1930's.
He worked hard in the vast sugar cane plantations of all Hawaii because one
day he'll have a family of his own. That was 65 years later when the aunt
of my mother showed him her photograph and everything was changed since then.
Three and a half
years after birth, my family moved to the Philippines in 1976 and established
residence in the beautiful province of La Union. My parents are Ilocanos of
hardworking class. While I was in the Philippines, I have adopted the culture
and the way of life of a Filipino, and adapted it to become a Filipino, and
thus become adept to be a Filipino.
I had schooling in the countryside where I excelled in my class. My first
day of school was very uncomfortable in Santo Domingo Community School. I
almost peed my pants in my fear of my teacher. After graduation, I attended
the Luna National High School, a public school. There, I won the popular vote
of the studentry in my bid for presidency in the student body council and
also been appointed as the battalion commander of my CAT-1 unit in the rank
of a colonel upon graduation.
While in school,
I portrayed the life of a student who is in search of excellence. I've been
an associate editor of The Gravel, our school paper. I joined many writing
contests and won an award. I enjoy the company of my pen because that is the
extension of my being.
After my graduation
in high school in 1988, I decided to come back to Maui to pursue my educational
goals. I tried to pursue a career in medicine but one night I had a dream...there
was this voice...that said, "You will be a great person in the future,
follow what your heart is leading you." I woke up from that dream
and found myself a man of destiny.
As I went on
through the years I've been involved in the mass media from print to the infobahn.
The realization of "information at your fingertips" is no longer
a myth.
I have written
numerous poems, several novels in English, in Tagalog, and in Iluco. I organized
GUMIL-Internet, an association of Ilocano cyberwriters and cyberpoets, to
promote the literary prowess of the Ilocano. The guild's goal is to help support
and preserve Ilocano literature for the next generation. I am also the Co-editor
and the Co-founder of the e-zine Burnay, the e-zine
of the modern Ilocano.
From that point
on, I have accomplished a lot of things in life. I made new friends who have
the same wavelength, the vision to succeed, the desire to make a difference,
and the persistence of vision. Despite of the hurdles I faced, I sprinted
every hurdle to get into the finish line.
In 1991, I graduated
from University of Hawaii-MCC with a major in Liberal Arts. I received an
award from the school in my Excellence in Computer Technology because of my
contribution in the County of Maui. I have also been a member of the Phi
Theta Kappa Honor Society Psi Sigma Chapter.
In 1992, after
vacation from the Philippines, I landed a job at Kinko's Corporation as a
computer services manager. I've learned so much of what technology has done
for humanity. I've learned the value of the computer as a tool to help man
in his day to day life.
The milennium
has finally arrived. Have you heard of the Y2K Bug? It scared much of the
Western and Eastern hemisphere which has sole reliance on technology. I'm
in the arena of information technology and visual arts. Im a techno-creative
being born into this real and virtual world interacting with society in everyday
fashion.
Through the years
of my employment I have been awakened by the fact that I have to move on further...I
have realized that I have the spirit of persistence and perseverance of an
ENTREPRENEUR.
My wall hangs
a poster with the words..."It takes guts, imagination, and perhaps
luck to start one's own business instead of looking for a quick income job.
These are the risks of an entrepreneur.
There were lots
of stumbles along the way but this did not detract me from moving forward.
Inspired from this and with the guidance of the learned men and women who
were in my path served me towards my quest.
Wealth may be
essential to life but what profiteth a man even if he gains the whole world
and feels empty? The passing of my father in 2001 was a turning point in my
life. I was then ready to face a new life and start a family. My father didn't
live to see the one who would be the mother of my children and a loving wife
and a friend for life. When she is found, this would be the moment in my life
that would find me completion.
After the first
half of 2001, with Divine Intervention, my career has prospered. I've joined
the hospitality industry with my portfolio of skills. With a positive outlook
in life, my ship's mast is ready for the wind of change. I'll be sailing to
a vast expanse of a bright future.
I have the passion
for beauty and perfection to be an artist, a visioner. a dreamer, a realist.
My destiny is yet to be told on my quest for success and excellence.
