No, it’s not because of my attitude and how I treat other people. But, I was hated, simply because I was physically different.

When I was young, my birth mark was very visible than it is today. Half of my face is covered with hair, it’s also darker than the other side, so, people tend to notice it. But, for me, it’s not something I would care about because I have it ever since… Until I entered adolescence, when I became more self-conscious. When I cared what other people would say. When the littlest comment about me mattered.

I kept hearing ugly words like two-faced or buhok sa mukha. Whenever this happens, I hide in silence. Then eventually vent out when I come home on such awful days. My only best friend back then was my Mama. I tell her the details of how my day was and that it was so hard to keep up with their standards of being ”beautiful”. Every single day was a struggle. And, it even came to the extremes wherein I asked mama if I could transfer to another school, but, it never happened, though. I chose to be strong despite of how ugly they treat me. I chose to be strong despite of how reality is.

I was even bullied during classes, when they placed a paper filled with liquid correction right before I was about to take my seat after recitation. They did it perfectly because I didn’t notice it until lunch time/break. Good thing I had my friend who told me that my dark blue pants has a huge blot of white ink on my bottom. I cried because I only had three pairs of pants. I cried because I thought about what my mama would do to take it off even if it was too late. I cried because they were too much —- too much pain, too much bullying, and too much for a young girl like me.

Until now, I cannot forgot the painful experiences I had simply because they were the people who helped me to become who I am right now. A strong person with a big motivation. A person who got through with life’s challenges. A person that held on to God better than everyone else would.

Thanks to all of you who thought I was weak. Thanks to all of you because I’m a lot better than I was before. Thanks to all of you who pushed me to become the person who you thought I was never ever going to be.