Seratina Luz Villongco lived happy as a child. She never dreamed of becoming popular, nothing near it even. At a young age, she's already taught that wise women ought to remain silent, demure and collected. She was subjected into a role where she can't speak her mind most of the time. She felt suffocated but as time goes by, she got used to it.
Her mother was controlling. It keeps on reminding her of how a woman should act, dress and speak. Even if seratina wanted to complain, at the end of the day, she'll stop herself and stay silent like how she's expected to be.
Everyday has it's new wonders. She explored life and learned that there is more than what her parents are limiting her to see. She found new friends, adjusted to new surroundings, with every small thing she discovers, the farther she stray from the Seratina a lot of people knew.
Later on she realized what she really wanted to do. She found her passion in writing. At the age of sixteen, it was the first time she felt she had a purpose. She wrote about everything she couldn't speak of. Things she could only imagine doing because of the limitations people set for her.
She knew about her father's dreams of her. The man has always been vocal of his expectations that her daughter would enter the chaotic life of celebrities one day but never once he pressured her for it. Atina appreciates that as he is the only person who did not put her on a pedestal. For her father, she was human and she is allowed to create mistakes.
Her father died not long after. She saw the world crumble right in front of her eyes. It was her lowest point. The day she lost the only person who understands, the only person who listened. Her longing bloomed the interest on the only thing her father wanted.
It was okay at first. Her career started steady, she attended multiple workshops to improve herself. She got a lot of modeling gigs because of her undeniably unique beauty. She got her first tv role along side another newbie actress whom she treated as a sister. There are hate directed towards her as she plays the antagonist but it was expected, it was necessary. It means that she's doing her job well.
Every passing day, she could feel the restrictions again but this time, they were more controlling that her mom won't compare. Their words came as bullets and she has no bulletproof vest to armor herself from it. She can't stand for herself as she is yet again expected to just let it pass. She can't talk back even if the people were being rude. She can't fight back when the hate is being too personal. She can't complain, she remained silent because whatever she does, right or wrong, the blame would always be on her.
Females would be females. They should act demure, dress modest, think wise and speak with class. They are expected to listen. They should compromise with the standard of beauty and society. Women should remain silent in order to be considered gradceful and smart.
But women should know when to fight.
They should know when enough is enough.
Atina wished she's four again. When she's unaware of life and her eyes are filled with hope and wonder, not tears. She wishes she's back to being nothing but a ray of sunshine that knows nothing about the world revolving around her. She wish she could remain ignorant.
She realized that a woman isn't just a woman alone. Females contains power within them and that made her think that it might be the reason why people deemed women to be silent.
For a long time Atina was advised to stay silent and let every issue pass. She welcomed every rejection with an open heart. She was told to just let people be. Atina obeyed like a loyal dog, she was a scared soul wanting her career to bloom, forgetting the life she currently has.
She wish she's four, close her eyes and forgive.
But they are not children anymore, stealing candies, fighting over toys.
If there is something she learned from this experience, it's speaking up. It's standing for herself. The best thing she learned was to break free from the chains that are limiting you from being the person you truly wanted to become. Atina realized that you can never please everyone you cross paths with.
She isn't just a woman. She is a woman.
Seratina Luz Villongco. A woman of courage. There is strength in vulnerability. Tranquility in the eyes of a soldier. Hope in an uncertain situation. Voice in a world devoid of hearing.
She's thankful of everything that forced her eyes open.
Rocks may fall upon her but in the middle of the debris, a flower blossomed
