Since I was born, most people have always mispronounced my surname.

I remember frowning at a teacher for laughing because she couldn’t pronounce my surname right. I was an incoming first-grader during that time.

I took the entrance exam in the school. I would eventually spend my First and Second Grade years there.

I don’t have ill feelings about the teacher personally. I honor teachers. I myself, am a teacher (I have a professional license to teach.)

However, during that time, It felt like my surnname was wrong because she couldn’t get the pronunciation right.

I remembered her face, that every time I saw her, I frowned.

Later on in life, I learned that a few have our surnames. (It’s not in the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos published in 1849. I thought our surname was there because my surname sounded Spanish. It was the other way around.)

Plus, some say that my surname has its roots somewhere in the Visayas, and those people are rich. I would need to check our affinity, but hey, there is really nothing wrong with my surname, right?

Until I thought, if there is nothing wrong with my surname, then I must bear it with pride, with respect to those who have gone before me.

On the other hand, as a host, I ask the other person how to pronounce their name, especially their surname. I want to say their name as it should be, because respect begets respect.

If others couldn’t pronounce my surname right, it is not their fault.

However, if others pronounce my surname right, I remember them and keep them as friends.

Because they are those who tried – and cared.

I challenge you to pronounce my surname right. DM me on Facebook, click on the audio message, and pronounce it. No prize, just pride that you pronounced it right. 😉