Precious Is So Precious, Here's Why

Highly valuable and also well taken care of. Like luck that is rare. Like a star that is admirable. Just like gemstones, I am precious. You would never have thought that knowing me could be so beneficial.

On every 18th of January, I’m reminded of the story of a baby getting crowned as soon as she was born. On top of her head sat her crown, not made of jewels, but of an umbilical cord. The cord that seemed like a royal accessory wrapped around her little head made it harder for her mother to deliver her normally into this world. She said that the C-section she had to go through was risky, but the baby girl was worth all her pain. For of all the things she held, nothing else was as precious as me.

Being the first child of Engr. and Mrs. Tabangcura, so as the first niece, the first grandchild and the very first great grandchild of my maternal family, I was showered with lots of love and affection. My grandmothers wished for me to have a joyous and noble life. Consequently, they also performed silly superstitious beliefs on me. 

At five months old, I was ready to begin eating solid foods, so they fed me a chicken’s first egg, perfectly hard boiled. At eight months old, I was mumbling my first words, so they took a key, and put it in my mouth as if they were unlocking something from my insides. There were numerous notions that they had, and when I asked them about these, their reason was because they were convinced that doing these things, which I considered to be weird, would make me the best at everything I'd do along the way. Despite not having firmly believed in those superstitions and ‘anting-anting’, I really do appreciate their efforts into setting me up to become the person that I am today. I think that I’m a blessed one to have a caring and loving family like them.

At the age of two and a half years old, I'd shown signs of early and fast brain development, so my parents had sent me off to Kumon. Back then, I was fascinated with figures and curious about new things. However, my parents have had high hopes for me to become an honor student. I had failed to live up to their expectations; that's why they took me out of that program after six months of attending. At a later age of three, they tried to enroll me at the University of Northern Philippines, but I’d been rejected because I wasn't able to meet the age bracket for preschool admission. I was ignorant of the situation during that time, yet all I knew was that I’m determined to study, so I prevailed upon my parents to send me to class. My grown-ups had then decided to just enroll me into our school barangay. I was the youngest and shortest among the other students there. Even if treated by others as a ‘saling-pusa’, I still pushed myself to be the daughter my parents would be proud of.

At the age of 4, I was finally able to be accepted into the University of Northern Philippines. I was doing well in school considering that I’ve been a consistent Top 5 student. Despite delivering a speech during our kindergarten graduation, I was cut off from the list of students to be admitted in Grade 1. I remember the sight of my Mom almost on her knees, as she pleaded with the teachers to allow me to continue studying there. Sadly, I was still rejected.

The moment where I was nearly losing myself in the face of my unlucky fate, we had received a call from the school principal of UNP. Like a fairy godmother appearing during Cinderella’s weakest point- in the case of the film- she introduced herself as my paternal grandmother and the embodiment of my hope. She’s allowed me to go to the ball— I mean, to be enrolled in my dream school on condition that I proceed as though the limits of my abilities do not exist. I popped off in my elementary days. Thanks to those magic words that have ignited a fire within me. I had found my purpose and it’s the fuel that has set me ablaze.

I am Precious Elysha B. Tabangcura. I am currently a Grade-10 student at Ilocos Sur National High School. I’ve been living my life for fifteen years now. My journey from the day I was born up until today was indeed a roller coaster ride. Because I could experience pain and challenges, I’ve been full of ways to overcome the next. I was also able to learn that it is because people can’t afford me that they had to reject me a lot of times. Everyone I’ve met, the struggles I’ve suffered from, and the achievements I’ve received were the ones that made me realize my worth. My whole life itself may not be perfect and just all smiles, but it is something I highly value. I describe myself as precious, because I am—Precious.