SOCIALIZATION BLOG: Who is Cham?

My first boat ride... on land. (Photo taken in Tiwi, Albay)

Hi, blog invader! My name is Ma. Theresa Tibor. I prefer to be called Cham. My mother, Gemma Tibor, gave birth to me in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija on September 28, 1996. I grew up an only child. As my mother was working in Manila, my grandparents raised me up in Ligao City, Albay (in the Bicol Region).

Unfortunately, I was fatherless during my childhood. Also, my mother, who was a single-mother for 10 years, was most of the time far away from our home in Bicol as she had to work in Manila. During this time, I remembered how I became myself, I applied the concept by George Herbert Mead - the Preparatory Stage - where I imitate members of my family, particularly my youngest uncle and that's why I think I became boyish. There was this one time that I dressed like a boy and pretended to be a soldier or an action star, I think, my family started to tease me that I might be a lesbian. But, I don't think so because I still love being a girl. So, maybe I think, I just tried to apply the second concept by Mead: the Play Stage.

Tito Ding proudly hangs my medal.

And because I grew up without meeting my dad, Tito Ding, my caring and loving uncle served as my 'foster father'. He was usually my chaperon for everything.

Me (7y/o) and younger half brother (8y/o).

Fortunately though my grandparents took care of me through my childhood, it was only when I graduated from elementary that I first met my father. I was 12 years old then. Later, I came to know that he was working abroad since I was five years old. However, I was still thankful that I met my father who continued to support me, together with my mother, since then. I was already 7 years old when I came to know that I have a half-brother on my father's side. His name is Francis Louie Baldemoro, currently in his Fourth Year high school studying at Salle Learning Center in Polangui, Albay. Although we did not grow up or live under the same roof, we consider each other as real siblings.

My bubbly grandparents.

I have been to two different schools during my pre-school and grade school. When I was 4 years old, I attended a day care center in our village, in Busay, Ligao City. For my kindergarten, my family transferred me to St. Mary's Academy, in the city center of Ligao. However, I was soon backed to our barangay elementary school when I entered Grade 1.

Me and my "sexy" mom receiving my award.

Dancing gracefully during my day care graduation.

Awarded as the most outstanding pupil in our Grade 1 class, I was sent back by my proud grandparents to the Catholic school of St. Mary's Academy in Ligao starting my second Grade. It was at St. Mary's Academy that I spent the rest of my elementary years until I graduated in 2009. During our elementary graduation, besides receiving the award of being Third Honorable Mention in our class, I was also one of our batch's Journalists of the Year - that made me decide to take up Mass Media in college. 

(L-R) Posing on my sports wear; Lolo's 'unexpected' visit on stage while I was receiving my award; and showcasing dramatic talent.

By the way, while I was in intermediate, I joined a beauty search in our school twice. Luckily, I won First Runner-Up and was awarded as Darling of the Crowd, Best in Talent and Best in Production Number - which made my family proud of me.

My various awards through the years displayed on the walls of our living room.

All-smile pose with my circle of friends during grade school.

 It's me up there!^Click here for the winning piece video!

Upon my father's advice, my mother brought me to Laguna, then later to Manila for my high school. It was also an opportunity to live with my mother and my step-father.

In high school, at first, it was a bit difficult for me to adjust with the new city life, as well as the new school environment. However, as time went by I was able to adapt with the new environment and, in fact, met many new friends.

I was first enrolled at Fort Bonifacio High School in Makati City. I belong to a pilot class out of 30+ sections of First Year students. But because of great pressure for being in the star section and culture shock of waking up as early as 4:00 o'clock in the morning, I gave up on that school and decided to transfer in a catholic school, St. Peter Academy, in San Pedro, Laguna. There, I finished my Freshmen Year as the Second Honor of the class and got 25% discount of tuition fee for the next school year. But then again, my parents decided to bring me back to Makati and enrolled at Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino High School for my second year. What a great journey for me during high school! And yeah, it's good to be back!  

During my Sophomore Year, I was placed to a hetero section, which means I am with different types of students which includes fast as well as slow learners. I was young, wild and free during this time of my life because I just wanna be friends with a lot of people and I did not care if they will be a good or bad influence to me. I learned a lot things including tasting liquor, hanging out with friends until nighttime.However, I did not take any prohibited drugs! I applied the "Looking-Glass Self" by Charles Horton Cooley. I became a person on how I socially interact. Unbelievably, I still ranked as the Top 2 of the class out of 65 students. Phew!

One of my most 'magical' part of my Junior Year: Cosplay HP!

I was then given a chance to enter the crème section during my Junior Year. However, culture shock showed its ugly face again. But that time, drawing strength from the experience of my previous years, I strove to become as competitive and as hardworking as my classmates and thus, managed to survive.

A photo with Mayie.

Gladly, I found new friends and enjoyed my stay in the pilot section out of 32 sections. With the help of my ‘self-proclaimed’ best friend, I can call myself a survivor as I overcome my fears in facing variety of problems and of being independent. Oh by the way, she is Marigold Villaruz. Simply call her ‘Gold’, but she likes to be called ‘Mayie’ – one of my inspirations why I did become “Cham”.

Senior Year had come… I still belong to the crème section. That was the most challenging part of high school, when I was faced with two choices only: graduate or not to graduate! Of course, all of us want to graduate. Colleges and universities had been the hottest topic we used to talk about during this time. Originally, I really wanted to enter Ateneo de Manila University and study Mass Communication major in Broadcasting, but unfortunately, I was not able to pass the entrance exam. But yeah, big thanks to God! We survived high school after all the challenges we have encountered.

(L-R) Princess, Me, Danela, Mayie & Janella.

(L-R) Leslie, Cretia, Rose, Jonah, Mayie, Me, Princess & Fortune.

YOUNG, WILD & FREE!

I really did much enjoy spending my past few years with my former classmates from grade school to high school in different places. And until now, we still hang out whenever we find time. I hope the friendship we would forged during elementary and high school would last forever… Until we meet again in near or distant future or in paradise, so they say. And because I'm mature enough now, I feel ashamed of myself about what I'm used to be. I imitate my uncles, I never understand what others feel about how I speak to them. I've been so insensitive. Upon reading the concept by Charles Horton Cooley, I began realizing to respect other people's feelings. Yeah, it is very unusual for a person like me to speak things about this. But, I am “Cham”. I am who I am. I am who I wanna be. And I consider myself YOUNG, WILD and FREE!

Go ARCHERS!

As I write this, I am already 16 years old and studying AB Philippine Studies major in Filipino in Mass Media at the De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila. As you may know, I consider myself lucky to have beenaccepted at DLSU, as it is one of the best schools in the Philippines. (Animo La Salle!) I hope to graduate three years from now and put up my own hotel and restaurant and a broadcast journalist, at the same time.