A Twist of Fate

It was in the afternoon of October 31, 1974 when the  fateful accident happened that 
brought a lifetime change to the once beautiful and adorable, young adolescent girl called "eigh"  by her friends and family. Back in our hometown in Liloan, Southern Leyte, 
Philppines when I was still a high school sophomore, we use to clean our classrooms everyday. Our school was a private school, but it was part of our youth civic action program that we were given assignment to clean our rooms and do some civic activities in our town. We just 
cleaned our public cemetery in time for the All Saints Day celebrations, where we accumulated numerous amount  of used candles.

We melted it and made into a home-made floor wax. It was a usual 
routine for us.  At the  time when the accident happened, we did it in 
one of our classmates' house and not in our own home. When the 
home-made wax was ready to be brought to school, one of our 
classmates placed  it back to the stove, when she saw the top portion solidified. The container caught fire because there was already kerosene mixed to the melted candles. When I get inside the house from the back door, I was astounded from what I saw and while everyone was running away, I put some wet rags to the burning container to have the fire 
subsided and brought it out of the  stove and throw it  in an open space, to put off the fire easily with water. Unfortunately, while doing so,  the wind suddenly blows hard, and before I knew it my school bow tie already 
caught fire.

I was brought to a neighboring hospital after a one-hour pump boat ride. 

At that time, there was no facility in our town for burn treatment. The next two week was spent in the hospital recuperating in anguish and in pain. I was sent home thereafter for continued  medication and treatment. 
At home for months facing  an obscured  future. While at home, I was
on a self-study so that I won't miss the school year. Friends visit after class either to say "hello" or just simply out of curiosity to check how ugly I become. My teachers  were kind enough to come around and to give the exams. Six months passed, and the wounds healed leaving a disfigured face full of  keloid scars including my neck that made it impossible to do the usual body movements. At this point, all suitors were all gone with 
the wind. It was a very disheartening experience for a young girl at thirteen. Fame and adoration cut short by unsafe practices and a lapse of judgement at a tender age. 

Did it make me bitter or better? Right at those moments, yes, I was bitter.  

I will be lying if I'll say that I am not. I  had it all. God gave me not just a smart brain but a beautiful face. I was really so devastated  seeing my face in front of the mirror full of scars. At a certain point, I wanted to end my life. Perhaps, my father sensed it. He pitied me and how I look. He brought me to a plastic surgeon in Davao city, Philippines to undergo a skin grafting operation so that I can move my neck freely. It was a successful one. Although, some portions  of the keloid scars are left in some areas of my face and neck, I tried to lead a normal life after the procedure. I went back to school to finish my high school, studied hard to graduate as class Valedictorian.  Amorous relationship took a back seat.

Stares from strangers while studying in Cebu City, Philippines
became irritating.  In college, against all odds, completed my degree in Chemical Engineering as a Dean's Lister. Another set back  happened  when  the Latin honor was not conferred to me during graduation due to some Technicalities. Again, did it make me bitter? Yes,  I was disheartened, and I promised myself that  I will do good in the licensure exam. I landed in the 11th place, with only a fraction of a point short of 
the tenth place. Ahh..maybe, my best was not enough but i was grateful for it. Secret relationships come and go during my college years.

Life's journey continues riding on it's peaks and valleys, until I was accepted for a job with a Steel Manufacturing company in Iligan City. I worked hard until I became a Sr. Staff Engineer of  our QA-Pasig plant.  Friendships and close relationship blossomed but was not meant to last a lifetime. I was still  waiting for my soul mate to cross paths. Till one day, my knight in shining armor came along unmindful of how I look and the two becomes one in 1988. At the peak of my career, I was again at the cross roads of my life and  had to make a choice between family and a booming career. As a woman, a wife and a mother, I choose the path less traveled by most successful career women.  It was not an easy choice and a very unpopular one, but making a happy HOME was where my heart is and the chance to nurture a young and fragile marriage comes at the forefront of my priorities.

Am I still bitter? No, I'm a BETTER person now. Life's twist and turns made me find the man who loved me and accepted me for what I am. I thank God for all the blessings, as I enjoy life in my golden years, traveling and seeing the beauty of the world through my husband's eyes, across the oceans of challenges. Today, we look forward to 2015 when our only child completes his degree in Doctor of Medicine and be ready for service a year later.

In hindsight, things made me realize that  in living  with life, we simply have to go with the flow.  Strengthening and nurturing on the asset that is left and stop looking back  on those things that are gone is a sure fire formula to moving on. Learning to embrace my uniqueness, and overcoming the bullies inspired me to give my BEST in everything I do. Indeed, it is true that when the outside beauty fades or is lost, a good character, a loving heart  and kindness  are essential ingredients for success.

Note: This article is written and dedicated to my niece Athena Honey Barton for her school project...

Image Source: fredmutebi.org