All about me

To a Curious Reader Like You—Yes, You!

Thank you for visiting my site and taking the time to get to know me!

I was born in September 1991, and my parents named me ‘Cloydane’. I live in a small town in the province of Davao Oriental, CARAGA, which is not too rural, but certainly quite far from the city. I’m a Filipino, and I belong to a tribe called ‘Mandaya’.

My early childhood memories are vivid. I started kindergarten—what we call 'Day Care' in the Philippines—when I was five. It was an unforgettable time. My teacher, Ma’am Vergie, stands out in my memory as a patient and kind woman. I wasn’t the quickest learner, but she took the time to teach me how to write my name. That’s what I remember most. I was shy and rather average. In a town where everyone is related, it was amusing (but not unusual) that my teacher was a relative too!

My primary school years were a mix of challenges and achievements. I faced bullying, but I gained confidence through extracurricular activities. In Year 6, I became a Girl Scout leader. I sometimes think I was chosen because my parents could afford it, rather than for my leadership skills (lol). I transferred from a government school to a private one in Year 3, but after a year, my brother and I moved back to the government school. He said he felt unchallenged at the private school (I’m still not sure why).

Secondary school gave me more opportunities to grow. I was never the top academic student, especially compared to my high-achieving siblings, but I found my strengths elsewhere. I got involved in most school activities, especially in dance and theatre. I was even part of the school’s marching band as a twirler, performed in dance theatre, and dabbled in journalism. I voiced over a few commercials—nothing major, but it was fun! I wasn’t always the first choice for everything, but every small task felt like an opportunity and a blessing. In our small town, everyone knew each other, and I became known for being active in performances.

University was where things started to shift for me. I worked part-time while studying, and this is when my dream of becoming a preschool teacher began to take shape. I gradually learnt to compete academically and fell in love with learning. I was determined to exceed the low expectations some people had of me. I’ve always enjoyed proving people wrong and rising to challenges. Working while studying taught me the importance of financial independence, but after graduation, I had to rely on my parents again while preparing for my licensure exam. I’m proud to say I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Preschool Education and passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers in September 2012!

My first job was as a substitute teacher in a private school, teaching Primary 1. It was only for two months, but I earned a bit of money! After that, my parents encouraged me to apply for a job in a government school. In the Philippines, you need a teaching license to work in government schools, and to my surprise, I ranked highly in the application process, despite feeling like I hadn’t performed well in the interview and teaching demonstration. I even considered giving up my slot to someone who had volunteered, as I hadn’t gone through the volunteer programme. But I held on, and in 2013, I started my full-time teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher in a government school.

However, after two years, I left my job. I may have been heartbroken or maybe just restless—I’m not entirely sure (lol). I had the urge to travel and see the world. Leaving was difficult, especially since my principal had grown to like me, despite initially being unsure about me. She even encouraged me to pursue my Master’s Degree, which I started but never completed. I’ve always felt I needed more experience before earning that title. Gossip and negativity eventually pushed me to leave, but I believe time heals all wounds.

I moved to Thailand with the help of a friend and found work there. After 11 months, though, I started looking for opportunities elsewhere. Thailand was wonderful, especially my Foreign Teacher In-charge, who treated me like family, but I needed a job with more financial stability and growth. So, I took the IELTS and applied for jobs in another country. That’s how I ended up in Singapore.

From 2016 to 2018, I worked as a Preschool English Language Teacher at a Montessori school in Singapore. Since March 2018, I’ve been working for one of the most well-known childcare providers here, and I continue to grow and learn in my role.

In 2020, I got married, and now we have a beautiful daughter, Candace Yzabelle.

I live by a simple motto:
“If you want to achieve something, give your best in everything, no matter how small.”

– Cloydane, 2022