Regret

“I remember one year ago, I was still with them…,” this was my thoughts while riding the bus back to Baguio last Holy Week. I was riding on a Philippe Rabbit bus with Ford, Billy, Callen, and Lumawig that time; and as I notice all the sceneries passing by my window, I can’t help to think on what if’s about my life. I realized…”Its time…its life…you can’t actually go back and re-experience the same exact moment in your life.” Somehow, I regret the choices I have made in the past.

Last time I was nearing the peak of my archery career. I met new people that inspired me to be better; I met places I never even knew I would go to; I received incentives and recognition—including news paper articles from local to national—from left and right; I was even interviewed by a news reporter and watched my self on TV. I am missing all those GLORY days.

Back in high school, I was with the science class, but I was bored of studying. I was bored of all the repetitiveness in my life; I wake up in the morning, eat my breakfast, take a bath, change to my uniform, go to school…then go back home again...and doing the same thing all weekdays. I looked for many things to inspire my spirit or to enjoy my life a little bit, but I did not found anything that interested me. Then I found my sport.

During my third year, our PE teacher offered us an orientation for archery. We started with a population of 60 students on that Saturday’s orientation. Our number was quickly cut down to 30 plus students the next Saturday. Since then, every Saturday was our practice; but every time we have it, our numbers went smaller and smaller. I remember last September 2006, only 12 of us—me and my batch mates—remained and kept practicing. I saw others leaving the program because of our hectic schedules and academic requirements. But I did not actually cared that much for my grades, I only wanted to pass, and only gave enough (ahhhmmm… barely enough) effort to pass my subjects; so I kept practicing.

Eventually, I won my first medal—my first ever medal of my entire life. It was these two gold’s that made me realize, “I may excel at this thing [archery] if I continue”; and so practiced more and joined the school’s varsity.

I trained very hard to be better compared to Mark, Baguio’s top archer within my category. But every time I improve, he also improves even more. I was always 3 to 10 points behind when we compete. I reached many competitions and exhibitions because of him. I went to 3 national level competitions with him—Palaro’s ’06 and ’07, and the POF ’06—but left our gap winder. He became so good that I was 20 to 30 points behind when we compete.

I also had my three batch mates with us until the last POF-CNL Meet ’07. Rosa, Kim, and Vina are like sisters to me. I was with them since the first orientation. Who would believe that I was actually with those three seven times a week? We would be occasionally practicing at the athletic bowl until 6 pm if not loitering around Baguio, then stay at Danes until 7.

It was sad though. We (four) already planned to stay and study at Baguio and start our own team at SLU when Rosa decided to stay at UP Baguio. I was discouraged that time; I thought our pact should last for a life time; moreover, I was called by the NTMA and said that I was chosen to be sponsored.

That event led me here in this academy. At first, it was hard; but I learned to accept it as time passed.

I still see them though when I visit Baguio on vacation, but it is different when you are not used to be with them for such a long time.

Arriving at my home that Holy Week’s Thursday (I forgot how they call it), I went to Athletic bowl to see them once more. Rosa told me that she is planning to transfer at SLU.

What if I did not entered this academy and instead went to SLU? I could have beaten Mark at last. I could be enjoying the life of an ECE or Mechatronics student at SLU. I could have gone further with my archery skills, met new people…went to more places. I could have been with those three “sisters” of mine. I must be very happy and contented if that happened; but I know nobody can turn back time….its life. I can only promise to my self that one day I would return and be with those three again, beat Mark, and prove to my self that I am still an archer.