WHEN UNDERDOGS TAKE A BITE

There are reasons when people are thrust into your life. Even those complete strangers will become like your very own.

In 1978, as I was a struggling student in college because of too much  inner and personal confusions about the me that people came to know, eventually. I find myself cuddling a newly born nephew in a very crowded bus as I went home on a college break. He was a few days old and terribly suffered a serious infection from unsterilized equipment it used to cut his umbilical cord. He survived with all those needles pricking his head and other parts of his body.

He became like a son to me. As he was growing up, it was also the time that I left college so I was the one whose hands he holds all the time. We were inseparable and my nurturing instinct shielded him. He was fragile and showed signs of slow retention caused by that severe infection.

I looked like I'm not capable of loving. On the contrary, I am fierce in protecting those that I love. He slept with me all nights in his young life. We have each other's devotion and his trust in me was immense.

But life is a constant change. There came a point that I needed to leave. It probably was the most devastating moment in his young life. As I packed my bag to find job and to eventually venture on my own world after two years of binged drinking. I needed to build my own life as the sun gleams again for a promising future. He was following me all across the room crying incessantly clasping all his clothes wanting to come with me.

I can't take him not just because he was still a child but also, I have to venture on an unknown world. I hardly visit that scene in my life because it was painful. Our separation must have done so much damaged in him he never finished school. But I knew that my sister took care of him patiently and untiringly.

I'm passionate about people especially when they share their pains and agonies caused by inflictions because you never know this person. Fienness is one of those who completely become my business in terms of pursuing her dreams. Her shyness and fragile nature  brought this girl a little closer.

Everyday is a discovery of a very determined young soul wanting to beat the odds. Underdogs, if not that I knew she's wicked behind my back, often fights back with a bite. I teased her a lot about being a "Juvenile" and then she'll come swinging back accusing me of not hearing about puberty.

In that very short period of time that we knew each other. I exactly know what I needed to do- pick her up from the ground and let her soar with my social media passion and the love of her family. My support for her is unconditional although she will spit on my ears the thing like, "What? I am spending Christmas Eve with you guys? That is the worst that ever happens to me!" That after being told she's gonna grace the culmination of Simbang Gabi for a special rendition of 2 songs during the midnight mass at St. Gertrude's Parish on December 24th.

Well, what does anyone think of that? Revenge. I always serve it cold. I told her she can't probably sing Ave Maria because the notes are too high. I think I saw her digging in my laptop and browsed the highest version of that song mumbling about not trusting her. Yeah, that song she asked me to listen will leave her throat red on Christmas Day.

That is Fienness Mendoza set to flap her wings on November 21, 2015 at Delta  Toronto East on her maiden flight as a solo artist. Be there because the world will be watching her.