I’m originally a self-proclaimed Cebuana Poet and writer. Way back when I was in Cebu – my hometown-I wrote every day. I wrote corny poems, short love stories-the one that makes someone’s twitter-patted (kilig), I wrote articles which were even published in our school paper. I wrote everything under the sun-my crushes, my pain, my emptiness, my anger, everything. It’s my way of releasing my stress. That was-writing-was my outlet.
It all changes since we lived here in Manila, year 2007. I’m finding it hard to release what I’m feeling, I cannot concentrate. I can’t find the right words to write. That’s why I felt suffocated, kasi wala akong nagiging outlet. I’ve got no one to talk to, not even my mother. All my friends were in Cebu.I find it hard accepting new friends because I still cling to my past. I became a stranger in a place where I don’t have a choice but to call it HOME! I felt alone. Out of place. Lost.
Yet, I know I don’t have a choice but to continue my life, to survive in this world of chaos and adjust with the current culture, a culture which is totally opposite to the one I was acquainted with. Pinabayaan ko ang passion ko, kinalimutan ko. There even came a time that I couldn’t construct a good sentence. I couldn’t form a paragraph.
Tapos, naiisipan ko nalang magsulat pag may iba saken. Mostly, I want to write when I’m pained. Then, whenever I would start to scribble-it’s nothing, a scrap. I couldn’t put my feelings into words.
Up until now, hindi ko pa din naibabalik yung burning desire ko for writing. Feeling ko tuloy hindi na ako ‘to. I mean I know I’m changed but I don’t like those changes in me.
Hindi na ako yung leader type na Joanna. I’m often tired of accepting responsibilities. Nakontento ako just as a member. I miss my old self. Yung strong will ko to be a leader who accepts challenges and responsibilities with all her heart. Now, I’m almost afraid of challenges-and it is so not me. I am not the kind of person who just sat in a corner silently and just accept ideas. I was the one who likes to debates, I always had a new and unique ideas and I am active, I love to move and run and direct plays at school and organized programs and activities in our school. I always had the desire to be the winner,to be the best. Not so perfectionist though but I’m no mediocre also. That was before. I guess I left part of myself in Cebu, in my past. And now even if I go back there, it would never be the same, I will never find that part of me again.
the tipsy royal pen 