Introduction: Aniway B. Magbanua
Attempted a “Heroic” Endeavor: I go against my parents
I was born on November 30, 1999, the same date as the Philippines’ National Hero Andres Bonifacio. However, please do not assume that my name is related to that of the National Hero. It is not. My attitude or personality, as far as I am aware and concerned, are also not likened to his. In fact, my parents have told me that they did not wish for me to one day be a National Hero. They did not even wish for me to be heroic, and I admittedly do not like fighting or taking very big risks.
However, they did want me to live a life better than theirs. Admittedly, I would like that too. They encouraged me to work hard and study well to eventually have a stable job with a good salary (and they still do). Probably something along the lines of an engineer or a doctor. My interest didn’t fall anywhere near that though. I wanted to be a journalist – something my parents didn’t approve of. Why? Simply because I might end up assigned to a dangerous place and die early on (other than the unstable salary). If I died, then I wouldn’t have lived a life better than theirs, or have lived enough at all.
Which is why going against them, fighting for and pursuing journalism is one of the biggest risks I’ve taken thus far. What’s the risk? My parents’ wrath. I think a lot of people understand how scary a parent can be when their children don’t heed their advice.
“Ginusto mo yan. Pinagsabihan na kita.”
“Bahala ka. Mag-isa ka diyan.”
“Basta pag nahirapan ka, wag ka umiyak-iyak sakin.”
“Ibibitin kita ng patiwarik.”
Which is why I need to pass. Otherwise, I had just delayed the impending doom that is my parents’ wrath, not only for the reason that I did not listen to them, but also for not passing journalism which I had insisted upon. If I do not pass, forget about the idea of dying early because of being assigned to a dangerous place. Once my parents give me a piece of their minds, there might be little of me left. I would have lost the fight for my college course and would have died an unheroic death.*
As of now, we’re still waiting for the college entrance exam results. If there is a higher being who already knows the results (other than the exam administrators), they must be having fun watching me play out the irony of my still pending yet impending doom.
In any case, I still haven’t lost the battle. Please wait for further updates.
*This is an exaggeration.
