me, myself and I

JOHN MARCO MEDALLADA Me, Myself, and i

Hi, I'm John Marco Medallada just a kid who dreams big. I was born way back on September 5, 2004, and time flies so fast, I'm already 17 years old. I'm a pure 100% fresh Filipino kid from Paranaque City. I was born at a Clinic at Barangay Don Galo, Paranaque City since I was born' now I lived at 8130 Diovic Bldg. Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines. My mother; Ma. Divina Medallada, and my father; Antonino Medallada, raised me to be confident and strong, physically and mentally. I heard many stories from my parents that I'm a very playful and interactive child when I was 3 years old. They told me that I pooped in my mother's face when she's asleep. They also told me that I played the TV remote as if I think it was the helicopter's main rotor. They said that I'd rotate the TV remote until it's continuously swirling. I also love to ask my parents when they are heading to a certain place. There was also a time when my father is heading to the Meralco to pay bills, I ask him first where was he going then he said that he was going to Meralco, as a child, I don't even know what was Meralco that time so I respond that it was \"Meral mo\" because that time I'm at the stage of pre-operational and between toddlerhood and Play Age. My father is a Taekwondo Coach so, at the young age of 4 years old, my father introduced to me Taekwondo. He taught me what is Taekwondo, through this Taekwondo, my life changed. From a simple kid to Athlete. I experienced especially during training, I'm afraid to be called because being called is embarrassing because it means you're not doing the exercise correctly. But for me, I assume that time there will be a punishment if you're doing the exercise given wrongly. But one time, during training in my childhood, I didn't know that I'm doing the kick, wrong so my father called my name and I felt nervous because I thought I will be punished but I suddenly realize that my mind is tricking me. Instead of giving punishments, my father as my coach taught me the right way to kick properly. So, that time my mindset during training suddenly changes from fear to doing the wrong exercise to accepting my failures because by noticing and understanding your failures you can be a better person. During also the sparring in training, I'm always ending up crying with my sparring partner. After all, I have pride in the gym because I'm the son of the head coach but still I'm ended up being beaten up during sparring and it became my nightmare for years, my pride became fear. But when my father pushes us (with my sister) to enter the PTC or the Philippine Taekwondo Contingent where all members are Black belts from age 11 years old to 16 years old and the training there is like military and the motto is \"One for all! All for One!\". I experienced during the training of one mistake is a mistake of all where each mistake there is a punishment. I gained many experiences from the 3 years of training course. My mental and physical developed like a warrior where I can't feel nervous during sparring and competitions because we endured endlessly sparring rounds in training. I started to join PTC batch 19 when I was 12 years old and I graduated at the age of 15 years old, last September 14, 2019.

Since I was a kid, my dream is to become one of the best Taekwondo athletes. Since Elementary, I'm joining DepEd Palaro, since then, I really want to reach Palarong Pambansa because I only just reach the Regional Meets. Until I reached High School and started to train in Poomsae and I discovered that after months of training in Poomsae, I discovered that I'm good at this state, I experienced faster progressed better than Kyorugi event. In my first tournament in Poomsae in my Junior High School journey, we got bronze in Cadet Mix-Pair event in the 2018 National Poomsae Taekwondo Championships. t's very memorable because of this Tournament, I fell in love with Poomsae. My first bronze medal in National Tournament. Since then, I continue to eagerly focus my training in Poomsae My last National Tournament in Kyorugi was the 2018 National New Face Taekwondo Championships where I got a silver medal. After my last National Tournament in Kyorugi, I've committed myself to focusing on Poomsae. Also, because of my nightmare in my childhood, where I felt pressured and underestimated, my personality changes where I've become fierce and arrogant and the care to my teammates are selective where I only acknowledge those who bow to me and those whom I have only beaten in sparring. I just also, train for my own greatness and don't have any love. Those times I felt like I'm cool inside of the gym because I've improved a lot and the pride that I have is not for the Team but only for myself. As time goes by when I reached grade 9 that was last 2019, my maturity in faith grew. Because of that 1 sermon of our pastor where he stated that as a Christian, I need to serve others and love them. A Christian must humble himself until your humility will trample you by others to evangelize them. Through that sermon, I realized that God is not happy with what am I doing in my life. So, I repent that time, and step by step God helped me to change my attitude. After months of training in Poomsae, I competed in my first PSAP Palaro because when I was in Elementary I studied in San Dionisio Elementary School and I graduated Elementary there and It is a public school. I only compete in District Meets where my rivals are public schools, and I only met PSAP players in the Division Meet. But this time I was 13 years old (Grade 7) and that was 2017. I compete in my first PSAP Palaro in the Kyorugi event where I got Gold because my opponent is just a blue belt and I'm a black belt and that time I'm hungry in Victories for the school so I beat up my opponent where I dumped him in scores. After PSAP Palaro, I reached once again Division Meet where private schools vs. public schools. I compete as a PSAP player and once again I won, against a public school jin. After Division Meet, I compete in the NCR Palaro or the Regional Meet where Cities vs. Cities in NCR region. As a newbie in High School, and a young Taekwondo Jin, my opponent in Regional Meet will be up to 17 years old. So, that time I'm very nervous and I accept that I can't reach Palarong Pambansa because my anxiety ate me and I didn't give my best in my first fight where I play lousy and listless. As a result, I lost on my first fight in Secondary Boys Fin Weight Division.

As I move on, after the competition, that time my stress reliever is playing online games in computer shops. My favourite playlist that time is BTS music and my bias was Jimin, before I look up to them because they are really good at dancing so I immitate them by covering their Dance practice even though my body are so stiff but because of the inspiration I just danced. But then my taste in music suddenly changes when IV of Spades made it to the top popularity in YouTube. Through their sophisticated personality, I fell in love in OPM where I first listened to their track called \"Hey Barbara\" I just became a fan after listening to that track. Until now 2021, I'm still a fan of their music even though they're only 3 and on hiatus. But good thing, Zild and Blaster releases their solo projects that I really enjoyed a lot. Because of IV of Spades, I became passionate at playing instruments where I learned playing guitar and bass by asking my classmates. In short, I'm a self-taught musician. I also experienced joining a band. Well, honestly, I created Coach Dulce the band Wayback 2018 because I was inspired by IV of Spades. I created the band because I have skills in playing Coach Divine (My mother) Drums which I was taught in my Elementary days. I saw some of my classmates and batchmates in 8th grade, that they are singing in a Jamming so I jammed with them as well, and I blend in with beats using an armchair. At first, we only jammed because we enjoy music but then there was a time when the school is looking for acoustic bands and they will conduct a try-out for PSAP Jingle Music. So we as young music-loved people, encourage each other to give it a shot. So we ended up suggesting our band names to 'Devinity' which means the 2 sections that we belong to; Devotion and Dignity. The OG 'Devinity' consists of 6 members which I'm the drummer and the leader of the band. But then in 2019 our lead guitarist and bassist transferred to another school due to financial shortage. So as the bandleader, I searched for our 2 members and I find Jezekiel as the lead guitarist and David as the bassist. We experienced joining in the school's activity during Foundation Day, the Battle of the Bands. We didn't make it because we were eaten by our nervousness. As a result, our performance was not good where there are instances that technical problems that occurred during our performance where the bass guitar's amp ain't working in I the drummer, missed some notes, and delayed. In short, we are all embarrassed on the stage. Even though we performed well in our rehearsals. We ended up on hiatus after the event. We understand that we are good at acoustic performances than band performances. But still, the lessons that we learned, the fun and good memories, remains. Let's go back to my Poomsae Journey! In the middle of 2018, I compete in my first PSAP Poomsae Palaro where I got Gold in Individual and Mixed-pair events. After the PSAP Palaro my coach collab with coach Dulce Perez, Coach Dulce is a very respected lady, she has a son and both of them are members of the National Poomsae Taekwondo Team. Coach Dulce agreed to the collaboration because her gym is located in the Paranaque City area. Coach Dulce trained both me and my sister at the maximum level. We experience National Team style Poomsae training a very hard training but good thing me and my sister are graduated and experienced PTC. For me, it is just normal training but with a twist because Poomsae requires flexibility and a strong body as a whole.

Because of the collaboration of my 2 dear coaches, the bond becomes stronger. After months under the intense training of Coach Dulce and Kuya Patrick, I improved more not just only in Poomsae but the lessons that Coach Dulce taught us every after training. Coach Dulce was always motivating us to continue the progress that we are undergoing. As I train and give my best every training, I observed that my muscles and veins in my arms are noticeable unlike when I was at 12 years of age, and suddenly my height increased because I believe It is because I'm at the stage of Pubescent that time. But, those times my 'Adam's Apple' was still not appearing. My 'Adam's Apple' appeared and my voice became deep when I was at 15-16 years of age and I'm in 9th-10th grade at that time. As I endured all the pain in every training, all the sacrifices, commitment, and hard work it was all paid off as my first NCR Meet or Regional Meet Poomsae, me and my sister, we achieved Gold in Mixed-Pair Event in 2019 NCR Palaro held at Marikina Ayala Malls. PARANAQU(IENCTOAMEPKLEWTOE)NDO TEAM This is one of the very memorable moments that happened in my life. Before I was just dreaming and praying the feeling of winning Gold in Regional Meet and reaching Palarong Pambansa. Thank God my prayers have been answered. Truly trusting in God is the key to Victory not by my own will and strengths but by the grace of God and His will be done in God's perfect timing that timing was last 2019. As I continue on my progress, I was given an opportunity to represent Paranaque in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Luzon-leg Qualifiers held at Isabela. But, the opportunity given to me was wasted because I didn't take the competition seriously which lead to lousy performance and both Coach Dulce and my mother did not satisfied with my performance because they know that It was not my true potential. The 2019 Batang Pinoy is memorable also to me because I learned from my mistakes and wrong mindset. My mindset was just to enjoy like I was on a trip but I forgot that It was a competition. I neglected that time.

There was also a time when I cannot help my desire to play League of Legends after the day of my game. I go out to the school where we are staying to find a computer shop. At first, my mother agreed but then the 1-hour gaming is not enough so I sneak out to play in a different computer shop. But then 1 parent reported to my Coaches and said that I was at the computer shop then after they got home, I was scolded and punished at night after the whole team spunks me using their belts and I felt very embarrassed that time. After the Batang Pinoy, I made a resolution on myself that I will never repeat my mistakes in Palarong Pambansa that will be held in Davao City. A month has passed until the 2019 Palarong Pambansa. I trained and focused on my training really hard because I don't want to mess up in the said event. I've met many athletes in Palarong Pambansa especially in NCR Team and until now we are still connected. I believe because of the inspiration while staying in Davao to bubble training for 2 weeks, I really did my best for God's glory. Once again after all the lessons that I learned, love, dedication, and commitment that I did, God's will once again be done. I and my sister finish bronze in Mixed-Pair Category not only us but the NCR Taekwondo Team is the back- to-back over-all Champion. It's a dream come true experienced I never thought before that I would reach this far from a year of commitment in Poomsae. After my Palarong Pambansa Journey, I did not stop to train I train more harder because my next goal will be a member of the National Taekwondo Poomsae Team. Same progress that I'm taking, I may reach Palarong Pambansa but still my skills in Poomsae was still not enough it's still be needing of improvements and I'm still hungry for greatness. Some normal people they prioritize their studies rather than other things but I, I priotize more in the sports rather than my studies. I do efforts for my studies but I give my all best for the sport (Taekwondo). I really love my sport not just because of winnings but the lessons, struggles, and sacrifices behind the Journey in the progress. As I continue being a student-athlete, I just do my best to maintain my studies and trainings. I train 5 times a week and my rest day was only monday and tuesday. Every Wednesday to Friday after classes I immediately preparing for my training and I need to travel for almost 1 hour and it depends on the traffic and passengers. So, after my training in weekdays, I'm doing my assignments in the evening. and in the weekends, I train in Saturdays twice, first in 9:30 in the morning until 11 am and in the afternoon, 4 pm until 7 pm. In Sundays I train once in 4 pm until 7 pm as well. I grind and grind for my improvements.

After the progress that we are preparing for the 2019 National Poomsae Taekwondo Championships, we ended up bronze in the Junior Male (Black), Team category. It was our first time to team up and achieve a medal. But Bronze was not enough. We train harder. Until in the last 2019 National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships, we got the sweet Gold and I also got a bronze in the Individual Junior Male (Black) category. But during the progress for this competition, I was injured due to a lack of stretching before proceeding to kickings. It's very painful because It was my first time to experience an injury in my glutes and the physician declared that I have a Gluteus Maximus strain and it is located under my buttocks. But the injury did not stop me from doing my best performance inside the court. Truly God helped me that time I experienced his grace, he answered my prayers. This is very memorable to me because not just achieved the medals but I experienced the help of God for me to endure the pain of my injury during this competition. The Victory is truly for the Glory of God. As I achieved Gold in the NCR Meet and in the 2019 National Inter-School Taekwondo Champs, I was given another opportunity to experience trying out for the National Team, but due to my injury, I only reached the final round in the Evaluation and overall I was 7th place out of 15 players and only they chose top 4 to become the official National Team member. I didn't feel bad that time because I understand my situation, I just continue my therapy until I get fully recovered. My strain lasted 4 months of healing from November 2019 - March 2020. Then by the 1st week of April, the Pandemic began and we experienced a lot of challenges and difficulties but during those bad times, Instead of mourning and complaining unto God, our faith as a family became stronger and we draw nearer to God. We surrender all unto Him and we let God work in our family. During Pandemic I learned to read more of His words, and I had a great time reflecting on myself and later I realized that my attitude in the past years was so toxic and through God's Words I was changed. As I meditate on the words of God I spiritually grew and my character changes from the toxic, unapproachable, and boastful heart to soft-hearted and love because the love of Christ is in me.

I learned to forgive others, especially to forgive myself. I thank God for the time that God had given me during a hard time of Pandemic. Through this Pandemic also, God used me as a vessel to share the Gospel of Salvation with my neighbor and childhood friend. Also, the work of God will not be stopped, I was more receptive to power from God when God made a way of listening to sermons, and Fellowships through Online Via Zoom and Messenger Group. God protected us from Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic until today, I thank God because we did not experience having covid infections. As the transactions during Pandemic become online, the school as well becomes online and not just transactions nor schools but also the competition had made online. As I experienced the online school, I did not experience hardships because my last year's online schooling was not hard at all because It was peaceful. I just study on my own with no one else disturbing me. But I believe I was inspired and motivated that time because those times I'm very near to God. Same as well in my Online Competitions, I had a great time focusing on my skills to improve my performance. In these Online Competitions at first, I cannot keep up because It was a new system. But as I experienced more in joining monthly Online Competitions, I can observe that I'm more improving as the Kyorugi (Sparring) was alternatively changed to SpeedKicking which a player will kick any kick as fast as he can and as creative as he can and there is a target of a maximum number of kicks and punches in 30 seconds for Colored belts and 1 minute for Black belts. For me, It was a good chance opportunity to tilt my nightmare in Kyorugi. So I joined in SpeedKicking Competitions sometimes and more often in Poomsae. After months of practicing the concept of quality combination kicks, I was able to achieve my first silver in SpeedKicking and that was recently the 2021 National New Face Taekwondo Speedkicking Championships. For my first medal in Poomsae that was 2020 NCR Poomsae and SpeedKicking Taekwondo Championships where I got my first bronze in Online Competition As I continue to strive more, I've been given an opportunity to compete and represent the Philippines in the recent 2021 Asian Online Open Taekwondo Championships where the Philippines is the host. I played Poomsae only because the entry fee is pricy it was worth Php 1,500.00 for each event. I chose Poomsae because I have a great chance to achieve a medal rather than in SpeedKicking. Surprisingly, I achieved Gold in the Individual Junior Male, Black, Poomsae. This was also very memorable because I achieved my first International Competition, Gold.

As I continue to pursue my dream, I want for my Senior High School Year to be a student-athlete in UST but because of the pandemic, after all, I completed my requirements even the USTAR and I was pre- registered that time, suddenly Coach Rani (Head Coach of UST Taekwondo Poomsae Team) said that the scholarship for the AY 2021-2022 was not still sure due to Pandemic. I've felt lose that time and I just want to quit Taekwondo because being part of the known Taekwondo University that are competing in the UAAP is a privilege. My world at that time became upside down. But since Coach Rani said \"in College\" another hope rose up and the fire inside me became warm again. So, after I didn't make it to UST-SHS, I look for the other University and there I saw San Beda University Taekwondo Red Jins was offering online open try-outs and I know in myself that I'm gonna be chosen because of the experiences in Online Competitions. Since then, I'm currently studying at San Beda University-Rizal. in SHS and I'm planning to enter UST or NU in college in God's grace it will be done. As I was given another opportunity to represent the Philippines in International Competition, I gave it all because there were no entry fees. So, I just did my best in Poomsae to give pride and honor in the Philippines in the recent 2021 Kim-Unyong International Taekwondo Championships (online) and in 2021 World Taekwondo Culture Expo Taekwondo Championships (online) where I achieved Gold in both tournaments and I'm very thankful for the opportunity that PTA has given and for the strengths that God has provide in me. \"Rank\" Becoming a varsity at San Beda University, was a privilege because I helped my parents with our finances and the training in San Beda is more on SpeedKickings/Kyorugi. I believe God put me here to improve more in Speedkicking and somewhat there will be another reason that I can't still figure out. Becoming also a Red Jin, I was given an opportunity to represent San Beda University in an Online Competition where I got bronze in 2021 National Online Age Group Poomsae and Speedkicking Championships. 2019 and 2021 were probably the best 2 years that I've experienced in my life. As I achieved medals in different competitions I also observed that I was improved in the sport. Achieving medals is not the main purpose of a sport but the lessons, dedication, commitment, and hard work is all matter whether an athlete will give up or stand up to become better and better being an Athlete is about consistency in every training and pushing your limits to another level. As Tim Notke said, \"Hard Work beats Talent when Talent doesn't Work Hard\". But the best moments in my life were the years 2017 and 2020. 2017 because that was the year I understand the Salvation that God has done for me. That was the year I realized that 2000 years ago, Christ died for my sins and by His blood, I was redeemed and through that, I have the assurance to enter the Heaven in near future. 2020 because was the year that God tested my faith by the Pandemic and I had a great time to reflect on myself and able to unlock to change and improve my character. Until then, life must go on. This Chapter is not the end. God has a brighter future for me and for everyone. 'Till next time, Goodbye, for now.