my auto biography

Midday of Saturday, in the eight of April 1989, when the Philippines was busy, a baby boy was born to the Baniaga family in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The baby boy was baptized by Rev. Fr. Dionisio Esluzar in Catholic Church of San Nicolas de Tolentino in Cabanatuan City on December 24, 1989, eight months after his Birth. His godfather was Ramon Pangilinan and his godmother was Jovita De Guzman. He was named “Harry” by his mother.

He was the youngest of the five children of Larry Pimintel Baniaga and Erlinda Lacanilao Custodio. Both father and mother were model Filipino parents- industrious, affectionate, hospitable and civic-spirited.

His father, Larry Pimintel Baniaga was born in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, on March 1, 1952. And his mother, Erlinda Lacanilao Custodio was born in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, on March 21, 1953.

God blessed the marriage of Larry Baniaga and Erlinda Custodio with five children- two boys and tree girls. These children were as follows; Maria Lourdes C. Baniaga (March 29, 1976), Grace C. Baniaga (November 6, 1977), Louie C. Baniaga (July 21,1979), Sarah C. Baniaga (February 2, 1986) and Harry C. Baniaga (April 8,1989).

He, like man Filipino boys, had many beautiful memories of childhood. He always makes an origami, catch tadpole, and flew some kites, playing text cards, pogs and some Filipino games. He always plays in the afternoon, when the sun is not bashful. In the morning, He usually watches cartoons and educational series on TV like Sineskwela and Hiraya Manawari. He loves to read fiction books, fable, folklore, myths, books about the dinosaurs and some comics. Drawing was the one of his favorite hobby aside from singing when he was a kid. He always said to him self that “he will become a great painter someday”, but when he grew up, he forgot that delirious idea.

His first teacher was his eldest sister. He learned how to pronounce and write the ABAKADA, and later on, he learned how to read faster and how to calculate numbers.

The first formal schooling of him was in Cabanatan East Central School, a very popular public school in Nueva Ecija. He studied in this school from 1996 to 2002, a brief interlude in his boyhood which was full of significant memories.

The first day of his schooling is very hard for him. There were so many children like him sitting on the bench. He didn’t even recognize his seatmate that day. Only after the teacher arrange them alphabetically. He was on the second bench, so he clearly hears what the teacher is saying. The most significant thing that he use in grade one was the small green board with a handle. The class always uses the green board to answer what the teacher wants. They always write the ABCD’s, and also for the word quiz and mathematical problems.

Most of the time when he has a vacant, he always go to the playground of the school. He likes the slides there, because he only sees a slide in school. With his classmates, they usually go there when break time and also after the class. So, when he got home. His polo and t-shirt are full of dirt and it smells stinks.

The most terrible and strict teacher that he encounter is when he was grade four and grade six. The grade four teacher is teaching mathematics. Unfortunately he is not good at mathematics. One time, the teacher gave the class a recitation about table of contents. He didn’t memorize the table of seven and eight. He wishes that the teacher didn’t recite him that two table. But unluckily, the table of seven and eight was the teacher chose to recite him. For him, that day is unforgettable.

At the time he reaches the fifth grade in school, he began to love music. He learned a lot of music from his music subject, specially the folk songs. He loved the beat of the folk music’s. This is the time where the music for him is so interesting.

The most challenging year for him in pre-school is on the six grade. The English subject is very difficult for him, because his teacher is very strict in terms of discipline. All of his teachers in six grade is serious in terms of teaching. He got a good grades in Science, Filipino, home Economics, Values, MAPEH and Makabayan, the rest is average.

He obtains his secondary education at Nueva Ecija High School, a public school in Nueva Ecija. The schools forge and mold him as a strong person and sharpen his skills.

His poetic heart comes out when he stared making poems in second year. He is the best poet in his class. Because of that, he is chosen as “Best in Filipino of the Year”. It last until fourth year. Second year is the start of his magnificent and colorful years in high school.

He always participates in the programs that the school conducted every Monday. Sometimes he is the emcee, but frequently he dances with his friends. He always a leader in any group in the class. Because almost all of the activities in their room, his group ruins. He is a leader, director, a writer, an actor and a responsible member also.

By the end of third year, he joins an audition for a dance troupe. With passion and grace, he passed the audition. For one year he is part of the Nueva Ecija High Scholl Dance Troupe. The first dance that he learned is jota Caviteneo but this dance is too rough for him, so he quit the dance. The second dance is Kumintang, this dance is appropriate for him. This is the only dance that he dances up stage for whole one year of being a dancer.

He finished his last year in the Nueva Ecija high school with glory. He graduated as fourth honorable mention on April 4, 2006.

After graduating from Nueva Ecija High School, he had to go the Eduardo Lopez Joson Memorial Collage in order to prepare himself for a career, he take Secondary Education. In the twenty six of June year 2006, the first day of his college life. But in first of July in the same year, almost six days in ELJMC, he left the school. This is the start of his one long year vacation.

In his vacation, he learned how to cook. Three times a week, he goes to market to buy foods. This is the time where he learned a lot in housekeeping.

In May 2007, he, who was then 18 years old, matriculated the Araullo University taking a degree of Hotel and Restaurant Management.