On March 29, 2005, my mother, Mrs. Pronilda Bulan, gave birth to me, the most handsome son she ever had, or at least that is what my parents always tell me jokingly. I grew up in a household full of laughter, teasing, and warmth. My father, Mr. Richard Bulan, was always the funny one in the family. He had this habit of turning even the smallest things into something we could laugh about. Because of that, our home never felt dull or empty. It was always filled with noise, laughter, and the smell of home-cooked food.
My father also started a small tradition we called lugaw day. Every Friday afternoon, after school, he would take me, my older brother, and my older sister to the porridge shop nearby. It was a simple routine, but to me, it was something to look forward to every week. After eating, we would visit our grandparents house, where we usually spent our weekends. Those moments became some of my favorite childhood memories.
I was very close to my grandparents, especially my lola. Every Saturday morning, she would walk to the river to wash our clothes. My brother and I would always follow her, not only to help with the laundry but also to take a bath in the river. Of course, we were not very good helpers. Most of the time, we would swim in the deeper parts of the river instead of helping. My lola would always scold us for playing around, but even as she got mad, she could not hide her smile. It was her way of showing love.
When we got home, the fun did not stop there. I often played with the kids in our neighborhood, and one of our favorite games was using pellet guns. I almost got shot in the eye once, and I still remember the fear I felt that day. Luckily, it missed. My father later bought me a toy shotgun, which became one of my most treasured possessions. I once challenged a neighbors kid to a pellet gun war. During our little battle, I ran out of bullets and tried to escape, but I tripped and fell. My toy gun hit the ground and broke into pieces. I was heartbroken, but that moment taught me to laugh at small failures.
As I grew older, I developed a love for basketball. My father supported this hobby and would often buy me a rim and a small ball to play with. However, those things rarely lasted long because my older brother and I would always end up fighting about who was better at playing. Our friendly rivalry turned into real arguments at times, but looking back, I think it made our bond stronger. Competing with him pushed me to improve myself, not just in basketball but in everything else I did.
During my Grade 8 year, I experienced one of the scariest moments of my life. We lived in Carabatan Chica, near the Cagayan River. One day, the river overflowed, and water started to reach the edge of a cliff close to our home. Out of curiosity, my brother and I went near it to see how high the water had risen. I slipped and almost fell into the river. My brother quickly grabbed me and pulled me back to safety. It was a frightening experience, and I realized how fragile life can be. Since that day, I have been more careful and grateful for every moment I get to spend with my family.
By the time I was about to enter Grade 10, the world changed. COVID-19 began spreading in our city, and soon, everything was on lockdown. Our barangay had checkpoints, and we were not allowed to go out unless it was necessary. The empty streets and quiet nights felt strange. I remember lying in bed, wondering if the world was really ending. But as months passed, I learned to adapt. During those long days at home, I decided to start exercising and doing calisthenics. It became my way of coping and staying motivated despite the uncertainty. Slowly, I began to see changes in my body and realized that progress takes time and effort.