| Home | Personal Data | Autobiography | Gallery | Favorite | contact |
May 20, 2006 — I was born in Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines, a place blessed with vast farmlands, fresh air, and a simple yet peaceful way of living. I am Shiela Marie Bunagan the second child in our family, growing up alongside my older brother named Joshua Mar Bunagan and our youngest sibling named John Carlo Bunagan. Our life was ordinary but happy, filled with small moments that I still cherish until today.
When I turned six years old, a big change happened in our family: my mother decided to work abroad as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Singapore to give us a better future and provide for our needs. While she was away, my father, my aunt, my older brother, my younger sibling, and I moved to Manila so we could pursue our studies there. My aunt took care of us and looked after the household, while my father worked hard as a security guard to support our daily expenses. Despite my mother’s absence, we never felt unloved or neglected because our family always stuck together and made sure we were happy and comfortable.
I have so many fond memories from those years in Manila. Every Sunday, which was my father’s day off from work, he would take us out for fun. We would ride our bicycles all the way to the nearby playground, laughing and enjoying the fresh breeze as we pedaled along the streets. One habit that became our favorite family tradition was making “love letters” for our mother who was far away. My brother, my younger sibling, and I would spend hours decorating them—adding colorful drawings, writing sweet messages, and making them as beautiful and creative as possible. We truly believed these were being sent to Singapore, and we poured all our love and feelings into every design we made.
Everything changed when I was in Grade 3. One day, while looking through our things, I accidentally found a pile—an entire collection—of every single love letter we had ever made. I was surprised and a little confused at first because we thought they had all been sent to our mother. But then I realized: our father had been keeping and treasuring every one of them all along. It was in that moment that I understood how deeply he appreciated every effort and every little thing we did. He kept them not because they were not meant to be sent, but because they were precious to him. From that day on, what used to be a once-a-week activity became something we did three times a week. We put even more heart and creativity into each one, knowing how much they meant to our father.
I also remember very clearly my very first day of school in Manila, when I was in Grade 1. I was filled with so much excitement that I could hardly sleep the night before. Even while it was still dark, I was already preparing everything I would wear and bring the next day. At six o’clock in the morning, I was already wide awake and ready to go—even though classes would start at seven. Our school was quite near our house, so it was easy and safe to walk together. That first day was wonderful; I was eager to meet new friends and learn new things. When school ended, I went home happily with a new friend I had just met. To my surprise, I found out he was our neighbor all along! From then on, every school day was special. My brother, my younger sibling, my new friend, and I would walk to school together, side by side, laughing and talking all the way. Those daily walks became some of my most cherished childhood memories.
Time went by quickly, and when I reached Grade 3, another big chapter began for us. My father decided that it was best for us to move back to the province of Isabela. We packed our things, said goodbye to the friends and places we grew to love in Manila, and returned to our hometown.
When I was in Grade 3, our family setup changed again. My father stayed behind in Manila to continue his work as a security guard, while my siblings and I transferred schools. I enrolled at Villa Luna Elementary School (Annex) here in Isabela. We only stayed there for one year, but that short period was filled with difficult experiences that I will never forget.
The setup of the school was very different from what I was used to. Grade 3 and Grade 4 classes were held in just one single room, which meant my older brother and I were together in the same classroom. Being new to the place and the environment, I felt extremely afraid and uncomfortable. The students here in the province had a different attitude compared to the classmates I left behind in Manila; many of them were arrogant, rough, and acted like bullies. Since my brother and I were newcomers, we became easy targets. I was often bullied by other students, and my brother always had to step in and get into fights just to defend me and keep me safe. It was a scary time, and I felt lonely because everything was so unfamiliar and harsh.
To make things worse, our daily allowance was drastically reduced. Back in Manila, we used to receive ₱20.00 in the morning and another ₱20.00 in the afternoon, plus extra money for snacks. But when we moved here, we were only given ₱5.00 in the morning and ₱5.00 in the afternoon, with no budget for food at all. We did not know how we could possibly budget that amount, especially since food prices were the same or even higher. Later on, I found out the painful reason why: the money intended for our food and needs was being diverted to fund my grandfather’s vices. They were taking the money sent by our parents meant for us, and using it for something else instead. I felt so sad and helpless knowing that we were suffering and hungry because of someone else’s bad habits.
Thankfully, we had a relative who truly cared. Our grandmother from another province learned about our situation. She reached out to a friend of hers who owned a small store right in front of the school, and arranged with her to always give us food and snacks whenever we needed it. That act of kindness saved us; without her help, I do not know how we would have survived those days with empty stomachs.
When our parents finally found out about everything we were going through—the bullying, the lack of proper care, and how our allowance was being misused—they were very worried and upset. They immediately decided to pull us out of that place and transfer us to the care of our father’s side of the family, hoping that we would finally find a safer, kinder, and more stable environment to continue our studies.
From Grade 4 to Grade 6, we transferred to the care of my father’s side of the family and enrolled at Lanna Elementary School. It was here that a big change happened for our family—my father also decided to work abroad as an OFW, flying all the way to Dubai to provide a better life for us. This chapter of my life felt much lighter and happier compared to the difficult times we went through before. What made it even better was that I was now living and growing up with my female cousin. For the longest time, it had always just been my siblings and me facing everything together, so having a cousin to talk to, play with, and share moments with made everything feel much easier and warmer. Our days flowed smoothly, and for a while, everything felt peaceful and secure.
When I was in Grade 5, my mother finally came home from Singapore. We all hoped she was back for good, that our family could finally be complete and stay together in the Philippines. But sadly, things took a sharp and painful turn. One day, I received a message on Messenger sent directly to my own account. I cannot remember the exact words written, but the message carried a heavy blow—it said that my father was happy abroad with another woman, and attached to the message was a photo showing him hugging someone else. Seeing that image and reading those words broke something inside us. It changed everything.
The joyful atmosphere we had slowly faded away. The closeness we once shared as siblings started to disappear. My older brother began spending most of his time with his new group of friends, and we drifted apart. We no longer had those long conversations or the quality time we used to have. The only connection or bond left between us was playing mobile games together; it became the only way we still interacted. Despite the pain and the changes happening within our family, my mother stayed strong and remained here in the Philippines. She stayed with us, endured everything, and supported us until my brother graduated from elementary school. I was in Grade 5 back then, and seeing her stay by our side gave us comfort, even though deep down, I knew our family was never going to be exactly the same again.
When I reached Grade 6, my mother had no choice but to go back abroad to work, leaving us once again to fend for ourselves while she continued to make sacrifices from far away. Even though we were already used to her being away, it felt different this time—heavier and sadder—because of everything that had happened between our parents. The family bond we once treasured was already broken, and her departure marked another chapter of us growing up without her physical presence, trying our best to move forward despite the pain and changes we were going through.
When I entered Grade 7, my first year of Junior High School, I transferred to Cauayan City National High School here in Isabela together with my youngest sibling. My older brother, however, stayed behind in Lanna; he was already in Grade 8 by then. Living arrangements changed drastically again: my youngest sibling stayed under the care of our grandparents, while I lived and boarded with my aunt here in Cauayan. Because of this setup, I was only able to go home and be with my younger sibling every Saturday and Sunday.
I was always worried about him, and I constantly checked on his well-being. I knew very well that our grandfather had a drinking problem, and I feared for my sibling’s safety. True enough, as I suspected, my younger sibling would often tell me that he was being hurt or mistreated by our grandfather. It pained me deeply to hear this. Around that time, I was already the one managing and holding my own allowance, and I made sure to share and give money to my sibling whenever I could, hoping it would help. Eventually, when I asked about his situation again, I was relieved to know that he was no longer being deprived of food or allowance—at least that part was better now.
This period was a huge adjustment for all of us because, for the first time, we siblings were completely separated from one another. We were scattered in different places, living with different relatives, and facing different challenges alone. It was a lonely time, but I had to be strong and finish my studies.
Moving to Grade 8 marked another chapter in my life. By this time, I had slowly adjusted to the environment and the people around me. I became more sociable, outgoing, and expressive. From being a shy and quiet child, I transformed into a noisy, energetic, and sometimes even mischievous student. I was no longer afraid to speak my mind or show my personality.
I remember one specific incident that I will never forget. I got into a conflict because a girl got jealous and mistakenly thought I was getting close to her boyfriend. It was the very first time someone tried to confront and “attack” me. She came with a group of friends, and I was all alone—surrounded and outnumbered. It was a scary moment, but thankfully, a true friend stepped in and protected me. Nothing bad actually happened to me physically; they never even laid a hand on me. However, they constantly threatened me, gave me intimidating looks, and made indirect remarks to scare me. That experience taught me to be careful with the people I trust and showed me who my real friends were—the ones who stayed and defended me when things got tough.
Then came the pandemic. Everything suddenly stopped. Classes were suspended, and the whole country went into lockdown. It was during this time that my older brother came home to Isabela. Since everyone was required to stay at home, I also returned to our place. For the first time in a long while, my siblings and I were together again under one roof. We stayed together, endured the challenges of the pandemic, and supported each other through those uncertain times until we reached Senior High School.
Senior High School was a much lighter and more enjoyable chapter for me. I enrolled at Cauayan City Stand-Alone Senior High School, where I took the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand. I found it very easy to adapt and make new friends; connecting with people had become natural and effortless for me. I met different kinds of people, built strong friendships, and made many happy memories during these years.
The most memorable moment was my graduation. After years of hard work, struggles, and changes, I finally reached that milestone. The best part was that my mother came home from abroad just to witness and celebrate my graduation. Seeing her there, proud and happy, made every sacrifice worth it. It was a beautiful celebration and a perfect ending to my secondary education journey.
Now, I have stepped into college. When it was time to enroll, I only had one school in mind and only one goal: Isabela State University-Cauayan. I honestly cannot explain it, but I had this very strong, unshakable confidence that I would be accepted there—it was as if my heart and mind already knew it was meant to be. And sure enough, I was accepted. Today, I am proudly a student there, taking the Information Technology – Web and Mobile Application Development (IT-WMAD) course, pursuing my studies and working hard for my dreams.
Looking back at my journey—from being born in Cauayan City, to living in Manila, moving from one province to another, facing bullying, dealing with family problems, and surviving being separated from my loved ones—I realize how much I have grown. Every struggle taught me resilience; every separation taught me the value of family; every hardship taught me to fight for myself and for the people I love.
As I look toward the future, I have a clear dream. Inspired perhaps by how my parents worked hard abroad and by my own desire to explore and grow, I want to work overseas someday. I dream of traveling to beautiful countries, seeing the world, experiencing different cultures, and building a successful life for myself and for my family. I know there will be more challenges ahead, but just like before, I will face them with courage, confidence, and the lessons I have carried since I was a child.
[Bunagan,Shiela Marie G.]
All Rights Reserved. © 2026 | sielamariebunagan.online