Life has two versions

Life has two versions. One is called autobiography. The account of the person’s life as he lives it, writes it, remembers it. This includes his thoughts, how he sees things and acts according to his own being. The best source of information about a person’s life is naturally the person himself. This is his own history. His story.

The second version is a biography. The account of another person’s life, from the eyes of other people. The sources are so-called friends, neighbors, relatives, family, and could be simply from the author’s perception of how the person lived his life. This version may be full of inaccuracies. The information gathered is second hand, third hand, fourth hand. The tsismis hopped from one bad mouth to another so by the time it reached the 5th fellow, it could be tainted with inaccuracies and sensationalism. A story to be interesting must have some spices. And this is what people do when they pick up a scoop, they add spices to tickle the next person’s curiosity and envy.

A person’s life is very different from the eyes of other people. I will use my own life as an example.
People’s perception of me is based on what they see from the outside. The things that I say and do may come off differently based on their perceptions. I am doubly sure that even my own siblings have a different perception of who I truly am. To elaborate further, I am actually appalled one time when I had a big argument with my husband. His perception of me about an issue was so unfair because that’s not who I am. And to think that we’ve been sharing a room and bed for 30 years. It hurts me so much that after all this time, he thinks of me that way. I realized, it’s not what I say or do, it’s what he thinks I said or have done. This validates my theory that life has two versions. My version, and other people’s version of me, including that of my own family.

The things that happen in a person’s life, the mistakes he/ she makes, the good things he/she does, may be totally different from how other people perceive it to be. Good deeds may come off as bad deeds and so on.

The good thing about my life is that I am still here. I can write my insane life story, which is partially contained in my online diary Oh My Buhay, referred to as a blog by hundreds and thousands of people. Although I don’t give a damn about what strangers like to think about me based on the photos I openly share with the public, at least I still have the prerogative to say something, correct it, defend myself or just don’t give a shit. It’s entirely different when it comes to my parents. It makes my blood boil when people disrespect the memory of my parents. Felicing and Cardo have long been dead. They cannot defend themselves.

I still cherish their memories and we make every effort to keep our heritage alive by keeping in touch and by caring for each other.
I am proud of our family. Felicing and Cardo must be happy with how we all turned out to be. We don’t have perfect and grandiose lives. We all have our respective challenges and struggles. But we don’t bother other people for us to live and eat. We all try to be good persons.

Hundreds of people from Binangonan may have a different perception of my parents. Who they were, what they did, how they lived their lives.
If they had issues when they were still living, those were their issues, not yours, not mine. My father died when I was 39 years old and he won’t be here anymore to write his autobiography. His account of his life, his version, the true version. He alone can answer that.
Even my own siblings would have a different account or information about our parents. My brothers were always away. They were in college and soon set out on their own. My sister was too young to mind things and she moved to the US soon enough. I was the one left there, a witness, eyes and ears. I had heard dozens of times my father’s own version of his life. How he came about. His being. And for me, that is the most important version of his life’s account. I wish I could share in public my father’s story. That would be a good read. But what for? The true story will definitely come as a shock to others and I don’t want to cause them hurt. Like what I’ve said before, my parents are long gone. Tapos na ang buhay nila. Tapos na ang istorya nila. I do not appreciate any one disrespecting their memory.

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22 thoughts on “Life has two versions

  1. x x x While it’s also hot in Manila, things are different. I don’t go out when it’s too hot so I don’t get migraine attacks. I don’t walk to the parking lot. I just don’t walk at all. x x x

    The aforementioned which is lifted from your previous article is an example of why what you call autobiography is the most inaccurate of all in terms of best source of information on a person since most of the time it is self-serving. Your stories regarding yourself are too embellished that complete strangers might think that you are even richer than Nini Ynares who had been also a resident of your town.

    And are you saying that you are being transported at least to the parking area on a hammock like Mabini while in Manila because you don’t walk at all?

    1. People who are narrow minded and teeming with envy are the only ones who would think that way.

  2. My kind husband carries his lazy-to-walk wife that’s why his back is always painful.

  3. That ‘inggit ka lang’/envy remark thing is so childish. And it does not fit you anymore. Remember you’re nearing to become a senior citizen.

    Whereas I would just like to read, sometimes I can not help but comment when the writer writes phantasm. And I already refrain from bringing to your attention your grammar. (Do you still remember when you offered to me to be your copywriter/editor?)
    Another thing. You keep on giving the temperature in Fahrenheit scale. Most of your readers are in Phl and not from US. How can they appreciate that when they are used to Celsius scale. 115F is 46C. Knowing that the hottest place in the Philippines is Tuguegarao during summer where temperature reach ‘only’ up to 43C, while Manila seldom reach 40C, and you have fever when it is 37C or more, that 46 in degree Celsius will be better appreciated by your readers. I doubt if there are many of those who know that they have to deduct 32 then multiply by five divided by nine. (Of course you can say that you just write what you heard or read there)

    Consider mine as constructive criticism.

  4. Then your blog will just be about your kitchen, dining room,fence etc. Come on! What’s happening to you..

    But I have to congratulate you that your blog is a nice read. I am not saying accurate and I am not expecting an accurate one since it is an ‘autobiography’. But it is nice.

  5. I think what she said speaks for itself. When she doesn’t walk to the parking lot it is because the car is being brought around. It is different in Las Vegas. When I lived in Alabama I sometimes drove my car to the mailbox because it was so hot. But in Vegas you have to get around on foot.

  6. Ms. Annie doesn’t have to explain herself and doesn’t owe readers anything, especially from potential bashers. This is her blog. walang basagan ng trip. kung gusto nyo gumawa kayo ng blog. As I’ve said, lima lang ang blog sa pilipinas at isa ang OMG doon.

  7. Hi Deb,
    Thank you for your response.
    Most of my posts are in Tagalog. Reading Oh My Buhay will make Tagalog your second language.

  8. I read 5 blogs 1.OMB 2.Tina Tagle 3.Chuvaness 4.fashion pulis 5.mommy fleur.Just ignore the trolls.You give us your loyal readers happiness by showing glimpses of your life.Thank You.
    OMB is my favorite…obvious ba?!

  9. Wow what a troll. This is Miss Annie’s blog..nakikibasa lang tayo sa kung ano man ang gusto nya i-share. Your comments reek of jealousy and bitterness.

    Siguro everytime Miss Annie updates her blog, mangisay-ngisay ka sa inggit while reading it. :))

  10. re: Reviewer’s comment
    If you really want to criticize constructively Oh My Buhay’s blog,you should have sent her a private message. It’s her blog, she can write whatever she wants to write. I’m just surprised you are actually following her stories when it seems like you have misgivings to what she’s writing. Projection? Must be cathartic to spew ascerbic comments! Ever heard of hyperbole? Oppps, no,everyone writes in plain and simple English, right? Btw, omb’s readers are from all over the world, whether it’s fahrenheit or celcius, it doesnt matter! There is a plain and simple fahrenheit and celcius converter online, try it so you don’t have to compute so your life will be easier! Ohhh, my migraine trigger: comparing omb to the matriarch of one of the political dynasties of the one of the most corrupt countries in the world? Priceless! ROTFL!!!!!! Just keep entertaining us Ms. Annie, fahrenheit or celcius, walk or not, hammock or not!

  11. An, you don’t even have to post Reviewer’s puerile comments. Oh My Buhay is your blog.

  12. Either reviewer was bragging about his weather computation skill or auditioning to be your copy editor. hahaha!

  13. Ma,

    your hater is back. So funny. My particular favorite is the lesson on the weather. Siguro to dumb it down for your hater next time, you should just describe weather as hot/cold or rainy/sunny or cloudy/clear. Para their elementary mind can comprehend it. It’s funny that they care so much about the weather or maybe para lang may masabi. May math lesson pa. hahaha. gosh. too funny.

    Who is Nini Ynares? Do complete strangers know who Nini Ynares is? Sana man lang they compared you to someone widely known such as Demi Moore.. Julia Roberts.. mga sexy “nearing to become” senior citizens that we actually know! Kung magembellish ka nalang rin compare yourself na to Hollywood Actresses! Ohh you can be Goldie Hawn and I can be Kate Hudson!! Dad can be Rock Hudson and shoti can be.. well. shoti. haha.

    1. Hi Anak,

      Weather—- My readers are from all continents. I have no energy and time to convert what I say to their own system of measurement. Yes, majority of OMB readers are from the Philippines. But I am currently in the US. Can you imagine if every time I bought something or paid for my food I would say, “I ate ramen for dinner, ay ang mahal 1,500 pesos”. Weird naman. Other readers might say, “bakit pesos ba ang gamit sa America?”

      Nini Ynares is the wife of Ito Ynares, childhood friend of Tito Tots. Nini is I think the incumbent governor in Rizal. She was Antipolo mayor before, followed by her son who also became Rizal governor. I could be wrong, basta lahat sila were all mayors and governors. She’s the sister in law of Mayor Boyet, the kumpare (ninong of Kuya Owell) and barkada of Tito Ben. The current Mayor now is Cesar, the elder brother of Boyet (now Vice Mayor) and Cesar is the husband of Tita Rose Callanta. Naku anak, humaba na ang family tree info.

      Their political clan is the richest in Binangonan and most likely in the whole of Rizal.

      Just because I don’t walk to the parking lot when in Manila, Reviewer already concluded that I consider myself richer than Gov. Nini Ynares. Medyo his comparison exposed the opposite of his posturing as a learned individual. That is a bobo kind of thinking. Even people who only take the tricycle, ayaw din maglakad sa init. In the Philippines, one doesn’t need to be a billionaire, multi millionaire, millionaire to afford a driver. Sa Binangonan, marami akong kilalang OFW merong driver.

      We never compare ourselves with super successful individuals. Every person’s life is different. We are comfortable where we are in this world. We are grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us. The opportunity to provide employment to hundreds of people thus indirectly helping their respective families is a big privilege and responsibility. We are grateful for the opportunity to uplift their lives.

  14. Reviewer. Walang may pake sa sinasabi mo. Pati english mo bulok. Trying hard ka masyado maging smart pero walang katuturan sinasabi mo. Kaya quiet ka nalang. Or mag blog ka rin ng sarili mo para lahat ng mga opinyon mo dun mo Ilagay. Wag ka magulo, tnx

    – MH

  15. Dear OMB,

    Wikipedia says …..

    8 Deadly Sins List & Meanings
    Envy = the desire to have an item or experience that someone else possesses
    Gluttony = excessive ongoing consumption of food or drink
    Greed or Avarice = an excessive pursuit of material possessions
    Lust = an uncontrollable passion or longing, especially for sexual desires
    Pride = excessive view of one’s self without regard to others.
    Sloth = excessive laziness or the failure to act and utilize one’s talents
    Wrath = uncontrollable feelings of anger and hate towards another person
    Reviewer = one miserable silly sod who is so obsessed with FAHRENHEIT and CELSIUS Scale and a wannabe copywriter and editor.

    Tightest hugs,

    Marifé

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