Friday rumor trail
Make a list of inaccuracies, misimpressions, or other rumours that have circulated about you in the past. If you choose, you can set the record straight here, or perhaps you'd prefer to foment more disinformation to maintain your mystique.
Since Marce did mention gossip about her past, let's get through it:
1. I was a streetgirl: The truth is, I was born in, and spent my early childhood at Manila's second worst slum. My family had a house, or a shanty of some sort. We never lived on the pavement.
2. I was an illegitimate child, which was why my father hated me: Actually it was because my father had hoped for a son, after having 2 daughters. I was also born at a rather inconvenient time for him; he was supposed to leave for Dubai and work, but my mother convinced him to stay and be more hands-on in raising me.
3. Since I spent my teenage years at Our Lady of Angels Academy, I must be a rich kid: Far from the truth! I was there on scholarship.
4. I ran away from home at eighteen: I was disowned and thrown out by my father after my mother left.
5. There is a madness in my family, since my sister had to be hospitalized before she was twenty, and I had to seek psychiatric care in my mid-twenties: Now, genetics may contribute to psychosis, but as far as I know, Suzie's depression with psychotic features is an isolated case. As for my own psychiatric history, I had to go into therapy for my PTSD, which was induced by an incident I will explain later.
6. I dated James Medina: He wishes this was true. The only man I ever dated was Emil.
7. A whole subset of rumors concerning my latest brush with death and the aftermath:
7a. I seduced one of the Aldaba boys, which was why they did not kill me after I was kidnapped: I hate this rumor in particular. The Aldaba boys raped and nearly murdered me; I only survived because I escaped
7b. My family accepted a pay-off from the Aldabas in exchange for my life/not being harassed: They never offered us money or anything, not even proof of life.
7c. I had my son taken away since I was declared psychologically incapable once I came home: My mother and my mother-in-law took turns caring for him while I was recuperating, but they never took him away from me.
7d. Emil wanted a legal separation after my return; I only trapped him by conceiving our second child: The last thing Emil ever had in mind was to leave me. Our marriage had its rough spots while I was recovering from my psychological trauma, but he was there the entire time and never talked about taking some time away. As for the circumstances of Alix's conception, it happened in less than ideal circumstances, but we had already been talking about trying for a daughter even before my kidnapping
8. I tried to abort Alix, so that was why she was born prematurely: Definitely not true. I was still frail when I was carrying her, and thus quite unable to carry any child to term. It was a miracle we made it as far as 7 months.
9. I only became a prosecutor at the regional trial court because I 'got close' to the boss: I was recommended by my law school mentors, and I did subject myself to the screening process. Besides this rumor just shows how sexist people can still be, to think that a woman cannot advance in her career without selling herself.
Since Marce did mention gossip about her past, let's get through it:
1. I was a streetgirl: The truth is, I was born in, and spent my early childhood at Manila's second worst slum. My family had a house, or a shanty of some sort. We never lived on the pavement.
2. I was an illegitimate child, which was why my father hated me: Actually it was because my father had hoped for a son, after having 2 daughters. I was also born at a rather inconvenient time for him; he was supposed to leave for Dubai and work, but my mother convinced him to stay and be more hands-on in raising me.
3. Since I spent my teenage years at Our Lady of Angels Academy, I must be a rich kid: Far from the truth! I was there on scholarship.
4. I ran away from home at eighteen: I was disowned and thrown out by my father after my mother left.
5. There is a madness in my family, since my sister had to be hospitalized before she was twenty, and I had to seek psychiatric care in my mid-twenties: Now, genetics may contribute to psychosis, but as far as I know, Suzie's depression with psychotic features is an isolated case. As for my own psychiatric history, I had to go into therapy for my PTSD, which was induced by an incident I will explain later.
6. I dated James Medina: He wishes this was true. The only man I ever dated was Emil.
7. A whole subset of rumors concerning my latest brush with death and the aftermath:
7a. I seduced one of the Aldaba boys, which was why they did not kill me after I was kidnapped: I hate this rumor in particular. The Aldaba boys raped and nearly murdered me; I only survived because I escaped
7b. My family accepted a pay-off from the Aldabas in exchange for my life/not being harassed: They never offered us money or anything, not even proof of life.
7c. I had my son taken away since I was declared psychologically incapable once I came home: My mother and my mother-in-law took turns caring for him while I was recuperating, but they never took him away from me.
7d. Emil wanted a legal separation after my return; I only trapped him by conceiving our second child: The last thing Emil ever had in mind was to leave me. Our marriage had its rough spots while I was recovering from my psychological trauma, but he was there the entire time and never talked about taking some time away. As for the circumstances of Alix's conception, it happened in less than ideal circumstances, but we had already been talking about trying for a daughter even before my kidnapping
8. I tried to abort Alix, so that was why she was born prematurely: Definitely not true. I was still frail when I was carrying her, and thus quite unable to carry any child to term. It was a miracle we made it as far as 7 months.
9. I only became a prosecutor at the regional trial court because I 'got close' to the boss: I was recommended by my law school mentors, and I did subject myself to the screening process. Besides this rumor just shows how sexist people can still be, to think that a woman cannot advance in her career without selling herself.