Just like any other talent, gift or skill, one is either born into it or groomed/nurtured/educated to have it.
With regards to my own sense of style and fashion, I believe it's been with me since the day I was born. They say I'm pretty unconventional for someone who was born middle class (my parents didn't have their own money but my grandparents are rich. So in a way, I experienced both good and bad times). But I didn't mind them. I had my own style and I liked it.
At such an early age of four, I was already tinkering with my mom's beaded jewelry and cheap make-up. My mom used to sew and she sewed cute little dresses for me which I gladly wore. As I grew up and resources became scarce, I hated it when I had nothing new to wear or when my clothes didn't match. It proved to be quite challenging on my part since I was surrounded with rich classmates and friends. But I held my head up high and maintained my unique identity albeit a scholar. So what if I didn't have money? My heart was overflowing with hopes and dreams and that's what mattered the most.
This is me on my 3rd birthday. That was the last time I celebrated my birthday. The next 22 years were spent scrimping and not celebrating it at all due to lack of funds...
With my sister Abba and brother Mac... I used to be the tallest among us three...hehehe.
It slowly dawned on me that if my parents can't buy me nice clothes, I can at least make myself some nice ones trying to stitch and sew some old pieces the moment I learned how back in Grade 5. It was the height of the 80's fashion then but I was "remodeling" some of my Mom's old pieces from the 70's. I remember that time, they even made me President of the Sewing Club in school (St. Scholastica Academy of Marikina) in 1989! It was pretty awesome!
Every summer when I was a kid, we visited our grand folks at Cagayan de Oro. They live in this mansion-like house and we traveled all the time to Bukidnon and Camiguin. So I guess you can say that even at an early age and despite the fact that my parents were poor, I was already cultured and well-traveled... that's the Sexy Nomad in me.
Looking back, it's just weird how I never dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. It could have been me or my style turning heads on those runway fashion contests. I could be the first Mich Dulce of this country! Lucky Mich she was born with money. I wonder if I was born filthy rich too. Who would I be now...? *wishful thinking* Hmmm...
Thanks to my step lola who used to be a powerful and influential person in the field of Education, I was able to meet the Navy in one of my earlier trips to Camiguin.
Though I was inclined in the arts at that time (having been the President of the Art Club back in Grade 4), what I wanted was to become an astronaut. It was sooo not connected to my line of interests. I guess I just got mesmerized by the planets, galaxies and stars that I read. Really mind-boggling!
Back in Cagayan de Oro during my high school years... living with my Step Lola and cousins...
That's me and my bestest friend Mer on the left and my beautiful sister on the right.
This was the days of Ang TV when I'd sport Jolina-like outfits.
Mer and I just finished watching an ANG TV concert and went backstage to meet some of the stars... That's one of the guy celebrities behind us (Jao Mapa)
I even sang with one of them --- Jane of Ang TV.
Anyway, when I went to Cagayan de Oro for High School and sort of experienced a "better" life (you know, with all the maids and drivers at my beck and call when my grandparents weren't around), I was able to mix and match clothes that my step lola bought for me. Even then, my high school classmates branded me as the Jolina Magdangal of our batch. I wasn't only a geek (having graduated Class Salutatorian), I was a fashion icon too. Ahhhh...those were the days of my wonderful youth and promising potentials. And now that I'm no longer young, but not yet so old either (I consider myself a young thirty year old as Samantha of Sex and the City would say ), I may have outgrown my days in hot pants and 4-inch clogs. But this unique confidence in my own fashion and style is something that runs deep in my blood and will stay with me until the end of my days.
Hopefully, I will find it in myself to be more of who I am now. I believe each one of us has that potential to greatness whatever we do and wherever we are. I am finding that out now. I hope you'll be with me in my journey.
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