Knowing the Unkown

                  I was the product of the combination of genes of my parents named Arlene and Rowel Alfonso. I’ve been existing in this planet for more than nineteen years since the 9th of June, 1992 precisely in the town of Pampanga. Fourth among the six siblings, a son known as Patrick Jayson.

                

                 The origin and history of my name has been a big question circulating in my mind since then. I’ve asked the two heads behind it but they have just provided a very vague answer, “Wala lang, simply because it sounds great”. What a sigh, they just liked it for no reason.

                But I’m still raising my eyebrows; contentment neither reigned nor entered in me. And as the hands of the clock continue to move, and as more numbers are being added on my age, my longing for the genuine answer has been ceased. I’ve found the origin of the words being attached on my identity.

                I've educated myself that "Patrick" came from the Latin name Patricius, which means "nobleman". It was first adopted in the 5th century by Saint Patrick, the Ireland’s patron saint. Meanwhile, “Jayson” is the contemporary of Jason. It is Greek and Hebrew of origin which means “healer”.

               A simple smile has been painted on my face upon encountering the words “healer” and nobleman”, words that I’ve never thought that would be the meaning of my first names. Healer? I can’t even heal the headache of my parents being brought by some of my wrong doings. Nobleman? Sounds crazy. Hahaha. How an individual may be labeled as a noble one? Having dignity? Being chivalrous and magnificent? So am I? I really can’t say…

               However, let us be reminded that names may just be words, consisted of texts, consonants and vowels, with different syllables and varying stresses. Names may then provide impressions, but don’t let these impressions last. Instead, let our deeds and milestones which we can bear on one’s life be the mark and modifiers of our shadows. Such as the man behind the name Patrick Jayson, he is leaving his footmarks as he walks through his journey of being good student to his teachers, a caring brother to his sisters, a loving son to his parents, a sincere and loyal individual for his friends, and a well-functioning member of his society… :)