I was born in Quezon City on May 26, 1987, the youngest of four children (3 sons and a daughter) of Jose and Eleanor Redor. My father is an architect who, then, usually goes to different countries abroad to make a living for our family, but now, he helps my mother in the management of our business. My mother is a pre-school teacher by profession who currently owns a small pre-school in our community.
Back then when I was still a child, I remember that whenever we go to places, I always tend to observe everything that interests me. I always imagine many things, just like an ordinary child does. My mother would always describe me to her friends as a very observant boy. At an early age, I’ve been taught by my parents and siblings how to do household chores. Because of me being observant, I easily learned things as I see the adults do it. I helped mix and cook pancake, washed the dishes, clean the house and even helped in washing the clothes. I enjoy and feel fulfilled doing these things. When I was in grade 3, I learned how to go to school by myself riding a jeepney. I am very thankful that my parents taught me these things at an early age getting me ready to be an independent man someday.
Every Sunday, our family would go to church and hear mass together and after that go to my paternal grandparents’ house to have a small get together with the families of my father’s siblings. We would all eat lunch and merienda together while children play all around the house. At my mother’s side, it’s very unfortunate that all of her siblings are already in the United States and we haven’t got the opportunity to get together as a whole family with our cousins.
My school days were spent first at Twinkle Toes Preparatory School from 1991-1993 wherein my mother was then teaching. There, I won 3rd place in the declamation competition when I was just in Kinder. In 1993, I transferred to St. Mary’s College, Quezon City, a Catholic School administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary, for my senior kinder education and stayed on through my grade school and high school years. I am now a graduating high school student of batch 2004.
From grade school up to high school, I have always been included in the honors’ class except for the 1st quarter of grade five, I worked harder and smarter and was later transferred back to the honor’s section in the 2nd quarter. I have received several academic awards, service awards and recognitions through my primary and secondary education. In campus, I participated in the “Linggo ng Wika†activities by joining the chamber theater performance when I was in second year. Lately, I vied in the “Lakandiwa’t Lakambini†competition bagging the title of “Lakan ng Visayas†as the 3rd place. I have also joined several off-campus events and competitions such as Claret’s Inter-school Computer Competition wherein which I won a bronze medal for PowerPoint presentation-making and a silver medal for Visual Basic programming. I have also been part of the RVM Youth Camp in which I learned about media awareness. I could not have done this with just the intellect but the most important is the will and the perseverance to attain a certain goal.
In my grade school days, I have been an active member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines for six years. I was stimulated to join the organization because when my eldest brother was in high school, I could see them having fun all the time and they engage in many activities as a whole organization including rendering service to the community. Through the Boy Scouts, I have become a good follower and learned to be of service to the community. Since I joined the organization, I learned that leadership is service and it means to serve with the highest degree of responsibilities and selflessness. In third year, I participated in a clean-up project of the Parents-Teachers Ugnayan. Presently, I’m an officer of a service organization of our school, the Scout Community Leaders, which renders service voluntarily, not only to the high school department, but also to the whole institution. My co-officers and I lead our schoolmates towards an environment wherein discipline and orderliness is observed. Truly, it is very challenging to be a leader because, much is expected to those who are given more responsibilities. Being a leader, I tend to be like a high-rise building that everyone looks up to. One slight mistake in the structure and I will go into rubbles. A very strong foundation is therefore necessary.
Even before I became a Scout Community Leaders officer, I pursued a position in the Marian Student Council as chairman. I considered running for the position because I am confident that I have been truly imbued with a spirit of leadership towards others. It was indeed a very tough run for me because the other person running for the position has already been a member of the Marian Student Council since her first year in high school. Many people talked to me against running for chairmanship and facing a better known person. Some of them discouraged me and told me that I should have just settled for a lower position or just back-out of the elections. Even though these comments kept coming, I stood by my decision. After the election, the ballots were canvassed. I lost, but I gave a positive response to the result. Even though I did not succeed to be the chairman of the student council, I succeeded in keeping my decision firm and I learned something about myself.
Not only did I engage myself in service organizations but also in a cultural organization. I joined the SMCQC Concert Chorus (presently SMCQC High School Singers) unexpectedly when I was in the last quarter of my second year. Before I joined the group, I haven’t discovered yet that I have a talent for singing. When I attended my first rehearsal, I felt at ease because all the members were very accommodating. I noticed that the group had a special bond between each and every member. As time goes by, I eventually got on with the flow of the group and adopted the attitude and dedication of the group. It is also with the group when I began to sing in Sunday Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Parish. The group wouldn’t have been this good without the person of Angelito Ayran, Jr., our choirmaster. It was from him that I heard the saying, “Don’t go for mediocrity, go for excellence.†These were some of the words which I chose to live by. It is also from him that I learned more about life and friendship. Music really did bring out my emotions and feelings which helped me express more and express deeper.
Motivating a person is better done while one is still young because everyone's foundation is built while one is still in childhood years. One fulfilling experience that made me a better me and helped me define myself more as a person is when our class conducted catechism classes to grade four students of General Roxas Elementary School, a public school. From the preparation up to the time we left General Roxas Elementary School, I learned more about myself. The children changed the mood of my life in that short period of time that I was with them. I felt the mission God gave us, being a steward of His creations. From the preparation to the class proper, He covertly reminded me of my faith in Him. After this event, I still continue to discover some of my responsibilities towards other especially the poor, the oppressed and depressed members of the community. This means that along with my personal growth, I become actively involved in seeing to it that the less privileged have their own fair share of enjoying their part of God's Family. In that certain event, God used the children as His instrument for Him to work on my belief, for me to learn how to love.
Despite joining several organizations beside the academics, I never fail to find time to do recreational activities in my spare time. Hiking and similar outdoor activities are very appealing to me because it not only gives me the thrill and adventure, but it also gives me the chance to be one with the nature which God gave to all of us. I’m also into different kinds of sports. Because of my curiosity, I always want to try something new. When I’m just in the house, you would probably see me in front of the computer, surfing the net or chatting with friends. I would also probably be playing Play Station or watching movies while lying on the sofa. Sometimes, I read comic books by Filipino artists especially Pol Medina Jr.’s “Pugad Baboy†of which I have the complete book series.
As I run the final stretch of my fourth year in high school in St. Mary’s College, Quezon City and step into a new level of education, I would like to think that I am a contemporary Ignacian Marian leader who continuously grows in faith and life in the context of my cultural heritage in dialogue with other people and cultures, service-oriented and committed to excellence.
