What’s In a Name? My Story…

Note: [The photograph used  was a gift given by a friend  on my 28th birthday (Dec2006...]

What’s in a name? Our name is the embodiment of our self. Its a factor essential in reconciling everything about us, as we continue to discover the real us. How did I get my name is another interesting story.

 

My parents registered me with the name “Leofina”, from the combinations of their names Leopoldo and Josefina. But then, my grandfather interfered. It sounds absurd, but when I asked about it, he told me that he wanted to be the one to give me a name because I was his first grand child. He wanted me to be named, Frances Jane. I just can imagine howoutrageous he became when he learned that my parents registered me already in Sta. Lucia. However, my grandfather still went on to the registry office in Sta. Teresita, and filed a registration for me inspite of the news that he got. There had been minor changes, though… instead of giving the name Frances Jane, he considered the wishes of my parents. And so I became Leofina Jane (or Fina, or LJ or Jane, etc) courtesy of my grandfather. This got me thinking that maybe, I got my streak of stubbornness from him,:-). However, in spite of that strong-willed character, there’s much compassion and fairness in my “Lolo”; he wasn’t selfish enough to disregard what my parents wanted.

Whenever reminded about it, I can’t help hiding a smile, as it just shows that his blood runs in my own veins. He died when I was in my 6th grade.

Knowing all these aspect of my life had helped me to know more about myself. It was like a beacon light that penetrated some of the blurred, dark chamber of myself that was still undiscovered. With these revelations came the wisdom and understanding that opened the door to the hidden unexplored chamber of my being. There are more revelations to come, that I am very sure of. The only difference now, is that I would not be hearing it from other people. Of course, it would not include my friends’ point of view, as I know that there are certain things that other people would see in a different perspective that would also be essential to further enhance my character.

For now, I have the capacity to be my own critic, as I always do now. For me, knowing my limitations and strength, knowing things that I failed to acknowledge or given importance, acknowledging failure and defeat, all these would be essential in knowing and understanding myself. As I go on with the remaining days of my life, I would still be learning more of the many facets I failed to notice, for me to know more the person in me.

With such long full name, my colleagues, friends, acquiantances and family sort of created different “nicknames” from it. My family and friends back home called me “Fina”. My college buddies chose to call me “Jane” they say it’s easy-to-remember. My colleagues at work got accustomed in calling me “LJ” due to the initials i used in internal memos and papers; etc. Well, its a name within a name, I guess, I just hope that they see me as the person that is me, no matter what “nickname” they used to address me.

©2007leofinajanegalleta