I am named Pauline Marie Enriquez Pamaran born to my lovely and hardworking parents; Joel Mondragon Pamaran and Ma. Socorro Enriquez Pamaran. Our family is quite big with six members. I have three older brothers making me the youngest and only girl. My brothers are named Kevin Klyde, Joel Jr., and Kier Paolo, sequentially. I believe my parents did some family planning since the age gap of my brothers are two years each and the age gap of me and my third brother is four years. After my three brothers and before my parents learned they were pregnant, they actually decided to ligate mother, but when they knew that I was going to be a girl, everybody celebrated, “Finally, a girl!”
My name Pauline is the French feminine variation of Paul which means “small”. Unfortunately, this seems to be proven true considering my height of only 5’1. I was named after my mother’s nickname “Paulette”. My own nickname is Niña derived from Sto. Niño. Since I was born in January, the month of Sto. Niño, my grandfather wanted to name me Niña, but my parents already decided to name me Pauline, so as to not sadden my grandfather they made it my nickname. I was born on January 28, 2001 in Pagadian City, stayed for 4 years in Zamboanga City, my parents’ hometown, and resides in Davao City until today.
My family once owned a banana and a shipping company. When I was six, and still doesn’t have a mind in the world, I was photographed by my tita and tito. I didn’t know that they would use it for one company box that would be shipped to different countries! That was the only time “I” (because it was just my face and was not physically present) that I got to go outside Philippines. The only time I also got to go outside Davao (and I mean Mindanao, since we go to Zamboanga occasionally) is when I get to represent Davao in competitions.
I can say that I am true to people who are true to me. I am a good friend who would be there when someon needs me and wouldn’t leave them behind. I am shy but hyper when comfortable. I want to say that I am a late bloomer, and I believe that someday, I would stand out and show my skills and potentials without hesitation. I believe that my mistakes prove that I still have room for improvement. I always bear in mind to learn from these mistakes to do better in the future.
My family means a lot to me because I believe that when everything goes downhill, and when everyone will turn their backs on me, my family would always be there for me. My family is my constant. I always liked to believe that I look like my mother but many people say otherwise and that I look like my father. Maybe it is because of the face shape but my momdefend that I get my intellect from her. One can clearly say that I’m a mommy’s girl but I am actually a lowkey Papa’s girl since my mom is strict but dad lets me have some fun sometimes (he is the most likely to allow me to join activities).
I love pets, especially dogs. When we still lived in Nova Tierra, our garden was big and we had many, many, pets. Dogs, birds, fishes, and even 2 snakes (that we donated to Crocodile Park and got free tix for a month!). All my life, I guess we had a maximum of 20+ dogs, some died, some were given to friends, and some unfortunately was caught by the pound. My favorit were our Labradors and our bulldog-shitzu breed, Princess, who died 3 years ago. She was our longest living and last pet. When we have our own place again and not just a rent that does not allow pets, I would want to take care of a Pomeranian Husky or a Chowchow, they are just too cute.
My extended family both in mother’s and father’s side lives in Zamboanga City. My mother actually has a Batangeña blood, while my father has Yakan blood. I am more close to my mother’s side of the family since I grew up with them, and you could actually just enumerate them. Until today, I still get confused with my family tree on the Pamaran side since my father has other 11 siblings that has many grandchildren already having children, also I don’t interact with them often since most of them live in Basilan. I only get to see my relatives in reunions, if we visit Zamboanga, or when they travel for a vacation here in Davao.
I really trust easily and I find it hard to see the real people surrounding me. So far, my group of friends right now, are who I can say that I will be thankful for for being part of my life. I realized that people change, and although we may not always be as close right now in the future, I still hope that we won’t forget each other and still get in touch from time to time. I also had a bestfriend, I still consider one of the closest people to my heart even if she is not anymore with us, but with God. I know that she still guides us from above and is happy with her mom. The special friends I have right now are really for keeps and I know we’ve got each other’s backs.
I find it cute that I got my first kiss (which is not from my parents, ps. cheeks only) from our neighbor’s baby that was born minutes after me. I also remember my first visit to the dentist, I was crying real hard because of a loose tooth. I never learned how to ride a bike because my first attempt made a huge bruise on my knees. My first trip outside Mindanao was in Manila, and it was my first experience with snow (artificial, ice) in Snow World. My first trip with the family is when we went to Camiguin, we swam in a falls and visited the Sunken Cemetery. My most memorable first is my first ballet and piano recital, where my family was in the audience and proudly clapping for me.
There are two songs that I can relate to. First is “I Can” by Donna Cruz. I can deeply and sicerely connect to. The lyrics goes like this,”I can live, I can love I can reach the heavens above, I can right what is wrong, I can sing just any song, I can dance, I can fly, And touch the rainbow in the sky, I can be your good friend, I can love you until the end.” Second is “This is Me” by Keala Settle in the Gretest Showman Ensemble with the lyrics, “I am not a stranger to the dark, Hide away, they say, ‘Cause we don’t want your broken parts, I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars, Run away, they say, No one’ll love you as you are, But I won’t let them break me down to dust, I know that there’s a place for us, For we are glorious.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time nare not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evila but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” Psalm 46:5 “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” These are Bible verses that help me throughout my everyday life.
My 17 years of existence proved to me that life is a roller coaster of emotions, a wheel of ups and downs and a one hell of a journey. I may live for 40 more years, in these years I hope to find what my purpose in life is and come close to self-actualization or the realization or fulfillment of my talents and potentialities. I will live my life based on what Walt Disney said, “Keep moving forward.” My life story does not end with the period of the last sentence of this text, I have still lots of time to make the next chapter of this journey a meaningful one and with the right people, at the right moments. I may be named “small” but with my will I can achieve big.
THE VINTAGE PRINT 