(JHONNALD GONZALES RAMILLANO
A mighty Warrior)
by:Jhonnald Gonzales Ramillano
I am Jhonnald Gonzales Ramillano, 16 years old and was born on the 22th day of January year 1996. I was raised by professional people, a seaman and a teacher. My dad,
Ronald P. Ramillano, took his path towards seamanship, and my mom, Ester G. Ramillano is an ever-loving and dedicated teacher. I would always say that we are not the perfect family to fit in yet I’m proud to squeal out that I was raised in this sort of family. Still, I’m thankful. It is where I found engulfing love, tender care and endless passionate words of advice pouring out from my dad and mom’s mouth.
Thinking when I was younger, memories came flooding back- experiences I have acquired were totally flushing me in. I was a little kid dreaming a million of unending goals; a thousand diversity of stuffs; a hundred sort of talents and skills that sooner I would experience. I was hungry for everything, as hungry as a lion in hunger. I was trying to reach every little thing. I’m hoping that happiness can be found through fulfilling many dreams and goals in life. In my youthful days, I have told my mom that I like to be a priest. I’ve thought that to be such, I would have been living a life so simple. Yet as years pass by and as time is fleeting, everything seems to face changes, seems to take other chances and better opportunities. I vacantly stare at my dad and a struck of brilliant thought came flowing deep within me. I want to be like my dad. I want to be totally like him. To take what he had taken, to act as how he acts, and to be as tall as him. To be successful as he was, and to be as wholesome-handsome man I have reflected in him. I want to travel from place to place, to migrate from where we reside towards different varied continents. I want to sail on the big laughing sea and on a smooth flowing ocean. Honestly, I want to be a seaman- a man of the sea; A man who have spent his whole time, taking people from their places to an enchanting world.
And as I have reached 1st year on secondary school, I have engrossed myself to something entirely about sciences- take it as general science, biology, chemistry, botany, marine biology, and physics. I like being stuck inside the laboratory; the boil and the noise created by chemicals were as a pleasant music to my ears. I want mixing one substance to another. I feel that I was just a professional Chemical engineer mixing different chemicals. But, it was not my great desire. Totally, thing do really change just as the season does. As I step 2nd year High school, and as I learned how to bring myself to people around me, I enjoyed my view looking at my firmly standing teachers and instructors. I have just imagined, if I would be in their place, would have I enjoyed it?
Maybe, it’s a yes. It’s an arduous kind of job yet satisfying when your persevered goals are productive and fulfilled. Their loud screeching voice weren't enough to cover their students around the classrooms. Throats are as tiny sliced meat continually being sliced by this hard feeling trying to deal with student’s noise. If I would pursue taking Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English, my living would entirely revolve around words, grammar, making essays, speeches, and a huge number of seminars. And perhaps, I would be trying to cope with the modernized daily routine, teaching skills and strategies.
In the midst of day dreaming, I heard a convincing voice telling these words, “ All our lives, we lavished our time setting our eyes on the books, making long essays and stories and proving different thesis, group studies and investigatory projects. Then we are to take BS Education as our course? We are to study again? Making thesis? No way!” It totally convinced me to take another option as my future college course. And as I turn to 4th year high school, my mind was set to the idea that I would be taking BS In office management. And again, things are versatile through a running time. Nothing is permanent; everything is just for temporary, again ‘TEMPORARY’.
It was in the month of April when I stopped thinking about anything. My relaxed mind goes with my relaxed body. When I was about to enroll for college, finally, no more hesitation; no turning back. I’m now here and have to decide. The college course that was written in my student information sheet was, “BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering.” I started to glimpse at that paper, again ‘ENGINEERING’. What the?! Taking BSECE as my course has never been in my mind, it had never ever crossed neither my thoughts nor my idea. Actually I have no choice. I was destined to be here, Taking BSECE as my course.
As the door welcomes me to my college life, I am filled with all uncertainties on what awaits me here. I’m quite unsure and hesitant of continuing my rolled path as an Electronics Engineer Student. But no matter what happens, I just have to trust out sovereign God and myself in taking this new maze of path. My journey towards fulfilling and savoring the sweetest success in all hardships that I, my family and friends have been through begins here. Again, I’ll tell you it was not my desire to be here, engineering that comprises head-aching mathematics was not really my field, I even hated it. But despite of this great challenge that envelops me, I still have to enjoy this infinite ride; I have to fasten my seatbelt, sit back, relax and enjoy the journey. I would stir up laughters and a little bit of foolishness.
I just started to learn million things in life. It is the time that I was struggled by pain and was touched by bitterness. Problems came pouring in my life. Sickness we never expected to have begun rising. And that time, I urge to ask God for every little or big help. Because I know, none can understand me but God alone. I am living because of His Grace. He is my life and I am nothing without Him. That’s why even trials come and pass my life; I would always implore strength and mighty wisdom from the Lord above. Rain may fall down and come with thunder that strikes us. But I’ll always remember, right after all these tears, trials, grieves, pains, sufferings, shortcomings, and downfalls in life, I’ll just remained standing despite all the things that discourage me.
I am heading towards the future, still surviving the present day and keep on cherishing our gold yesterday. After the rain, there would always be a rainbow; there would be a sun that dazzles our little eyes, and a beautiful sky for us to look at. How beautiful the life is! Darkness may come in the midst of our exhausted life but it always reminds us, “Behind darkness there’s light.”
I am looking the days ahead, still hoping. I have kept my fingers crossed craving for better years. Ever since, my life was set to fire of troubles; to different life trials and many regrets. Yet all of those were wiped away by God’s love for me. Yes, God loves us. He loves us more than how we love Him. Even without our idea, God would always love us. Time would come that we may forget God on our way to our dreams; we may even resist His touch and concern for us. We are just ‘NUMB’ not to feel His greatest display of love. Because of him, I could stand firm, I would always stand right after I’m stumbled. He is the potent reason to live. He encourages me and never fail to love me. He loves us in an infinite time. He loves us unconditionally even without loving Him back. My life with Him is totally different to my life before. When problems started to trigger me, I have no doubts, no fear at anything because God is giving us new chance; hopes in heart and new life to start with. Dusky days of my life were turning to brilliant ones. Years with deep and heavy burdens turned to life filled with light, guidance and hope. My heart is still passionate and eager to live. I strive for what is right and best. I am holding the assurance that in everything we plan to do; in everything we are longing, God make things possible. I can’t do this all by myself, but with Him I could do ‘ANYTHING’. It is even written in the Bible in Philippians 4:13,
“I can do all things through Christ Jesus
That strengthens me.”
I am much inspired by God. Every little thing I do must be for Him; must be worship to God. Aside from the fact that God inspires me, I am still working ahead because someone touches my inner being. She never fail to make me smile. To see her pretty, innocent face was a great blessing to me. Her name is Rachelle Anne. She is now on her study in Mapua Intitute of Technology and was also an engineering student. She took “Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering” as her course. I have never seen her since our Graduation day. We have no meetings at all. I patiently chat her in her ‘Facebook’ account every time I’m enough to rest just to keep her in touch.
Back when we were in High School, she had graduated with ribbons and medals around her neck. She was our class salutatorian this batch 2011 – 2012. She had joined many contests, seminars, and activities. That’s why; she was awarded with different titles, certificates and medals. She won first place on the Division Level of Photojournalism here in Pasig City. She was one of our school’s Math club officers. A year little over 2010, she was declared as the ‘Biologist of the Year’ in our school and in year 2011, she was awarded as ‘Chemist of the Year’. And beyond all of those, she won my heart. Beyond all physical beauty, intelligence and stuffs she owned, it is her pleasing beauty inside. What makes me look at her is the cute figure she carries.
Let me tell you, she just won my heart, but I have never won her heart. She even hated me since we are classmates way back 2009 when we were still first year high school. She was annoyed by my figure; in the way I speak and bring myself to people. She hated my boastfulness. She just hated the entire ‘ME’. As we began stepping our 2nd and 3rd year in high school, I have done so much just to make her feel how much I love her; I couldn't even sleep when she ignores me every time. It is when we are in 4th year High school when my life was totally transformed. From a foolish-boastful man turning to good and anew one. She even noticed it, yet nothing happened; nothing changed. She still doesn't love me. But I told her, “You don’t have to love me back, I just enjoy every single day I spend with you, I just enjoy what I do, I don’t expect anything in return, and I just love you. That’s all.” What she had done in my life was a big change. She even inspired me to go beyond myself, to go far from my comfort zone. This is what I always remember about her,
“You taught me how to give when I no longer seem capable of giving, you taught me how to love again when I no longer seem capable of loving, you taught me how to be when I no longer seem capable of being me. “
Even in these days forward, I am hopeful that life has to smile on me. That someday, somehow someone could love me. Someone would patiently be with me. Many people have come and pass my life but only few are truly beyond compare. Rachelle is Rachelle. I can never find such again. She is extraordinarily amazing and enchanting. There’s nothing else is like her. She still holds my heart now. I still love her.
And now, I am content with what I have. I have God, my family, friends and love ones. People like them are gems of life that we have to cherish truly until the rest of our living. I am now pursuing my studies as a future Electronics Engineer. Even hard times do pass my way, I still have to smile and face it. Before, I have hated numbers, any solutions, calculations or whatsoever. But today, I really have enjoyed it. I realize even how dumb you are at things, you can do and learn things with perseverance, diligence, patience and love in heart. Actually, I even got the highest midterm exam in Chemistry, College Algebra, and in Physical Fitness. And I also got the highest midterm grade in our Engineering Drawing and in Chemistry. I was just reminded that I did it because of God. It’s neither my wisdom nor my knowledge that brings me up. It is neither my intelligence nor my ability that makes me brilliant, it’s not totally about me nor about what I could do, but rather it’s about God and about what He has done for me.
I have learned so far in this life that nothing is impossible if we are with God, if we just let God to touch, guide and love us. I have learned that life is not really we expect it to be. Things could change, much stuff could trigger us. We just have to move with the flow. I am now holding this sand so that not one drop spills itself in the land. I do cherish everything. I live every day as if it is the last precious day to come that I may do my very best each day, to extend happiness and to fulfill greater things. We can never really tell what life would be. But it doesn't bother me. Life is like every trip in a train, it has to face its end journey. But even though thing could lost and vanish, there are greater things ahead better than anything else. I just have to say, live life to the fullest and always follow God’s Steps. We have only one life to live, and we should make the best of it.
