Opening Salvo: The Day I entered the Stage
Few minutes before noontime on the 27th of October in 1991, I took my first gasp of air as my mother successfully brought me out to this world. It was that point in time that the stage was set for me to experience a series of scenarios that led me to who I am today.
You may be wondering why “AmPyng”? What does it even mean?
It actually is a portmanteau of a Cebuano word “Amping” which means “Take care” and my nickname, “Pyng”.
I am a product of a broken family. I don’t have father to grow up with. A year after my birth, my mother finished her studies and after graduation, she went to Taiwan to work. There, she married to a foreigner. Since birth, I was raised by my grandmother. She was a typical Traditionalist whose parenting style was more like an iron fist. I could say that her love for me was strong. Sometimes, too strong.😄
I could still vividly recall all the fun moments during my childhood wherein my grandmother will run after me with either a broom or a slipper because I always escape afternoon naptime ang went to the river with my friends. I could still hear her shouts which echoed through the pristine and peaceful riverbed. I may sound exaggerating but yes, she shouts so loud up until now.😂 But I love her. She’s the one who brought me up and takes care of me since infancy. That’s why “amping” is very significant to me because that is what we usually say every time we go out. That word is so important to me because every time I feel as if the world is leaving me behind, she’s always there to say “amping”. I am bringing this concept for myself as well because I love taking care of others. I joined an organization where I can extend tender loving care to those who are in need of it: the least, the last, and the lost. Because of that, I promised to myself that if there are people who are in need of help, so long as I am capable, I will help because that’s how my grandmother set the stage for me. And this is what I would like to share to you—the stories of love and care that I experienced and the experiences of other people. I strongly believe that you encounter metanoia in every person’s story.
Scene 1: Opening Song
It was on my fifth grade that my teachers discovered my talent in singing. Although I don’t sing professionally, I am often invited to perform to certain causes. I really could not say that I am good at it but at least I can hit the right notes…sometimes not. I remember the very first song that I sang on stage was “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion because that was what my grandmother chose (She was very supportive) and because puberty did not hit at that moment.😅
My penchant for music helped me a lot to recollect my life, and put meaning to it. I am not really a music lover but I find music very therapeutic. When I joined an organization, I used my talents to help other people by performing and organizing concerts. It was fulfilling because what I thought a talent that is just beneficial to me, can be beneficial to others, too. Currently, I stopped performing because I have to focus on my career first which is equally important. If I aimed to put food on other people’s tables, I have to put mine, as well. I was taught that the very first requirement in service is good health. You cannot serve well if you can’t take care of yourself, right? Actually, there’s a plan this December for a Christmas Concert on Christmas Eve. Who knows? Can’t wait to share it to you, soon.😉
Scene 2: Stage Left, Stage Right
All my life has been a series of discoveries. I tried things I’ve never done before because, naturally, I am very curious. Well, as what Aristotle said, “Human, by nature, is curious.” I turned to business because of our plantation, then learned Philosophy because I love Metaphysics and Anthropology, and then went to Psychology. The very main purpose why I studied psychology was because I want to learn how to hypnotize and, if possible, perform astral projection.😁 I am very fond about these kinds of stuff. But as years went by, my purpose became profound. I recalled my purpose. With this, I learned and experienced listening to people whose stories were very not usual to me but very eye-opener. It became an avenue for me to really study and prepare myself to become a Psychologist.
When I had my internship, my professor told us that all profession is a “nursing profession” because we provide service…we take care of others. As future psychologists,“we are the nurses of the soul.” Those words reverberated to my entire being and it became my vocation in life: to become a nurse of the soul.
Scene 3: The Performers
I am not who I am today without the help of the greatest people in my life. Of course, number one on the list is my grandmother and mother.
My friends have been very much helpful in making my life worth living. In good times and in bad, there are there to listen to me. When my grandmother had a mild stroke, it was as if all my strength was drained and I became so weak. They were there to support me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It really is true that friends are the brothers and sisters that you never had. However, it is inevitable that we have to go our separate ways temporarily because we have to build ourselves. And along the way, I also met amazing people.
Currently, I am working in one of the biggest food manufacturing companies in the country. I have been supervised by amazing leaders and met great people with great minds. Actually, I am hoping that I could get a little bit of their greatness.
I love working here because it provided me with new perspective in life. When I was studying, I really thought that life would be better after graduation. Ironically, it is not. When adulting life slaps you, it slaps you big time. I really thought that life gives you enough lemons. There are times that life gets too lemon-y. But these amazing people provided me strategies and tools to survive hardships in the real world. To be honest, working here, building up my career, is one of the best decisions I had in my entire life. Although my goal remains to become a psychologist, it is also timely that I get to meet them because my mindset is no longer on the theoretical side but on the real one.
One of the most important persons that really created an impact in my life is my lover who has been my greatest propeller to help me move forward. We have been together for 1 year and 5 months. Still new but going stronger. Soon, you’ll get to meet my one and only. So, stay tuned. :D
Scene 4: Credits
What I really would like to share to you all are the stories of different people whose experiences of love and care will really give us a fresh perspective in life. Regardless of origin, we all have different stories to tell and each of it has a moral lesson that even fairytales could not provide. I hope that what I impart to you soon will create a ripple that will not only affect one but multitude of people.
With this, I would like to express my gratitude to Ms. Patricia 
I’m very much excited to share to you beautiful stories of wonderful people.
Take care, ‘cause I care!
AmPyng! :D
