I am Revelen and proud. at last.

When I was little, I always wished my name would be as common as Jennifer, Jane or Mary. Or as conventional  as Karen or Anna. My Papa, maybe out of exasperation about me complaining, even did a little promise of having it changed one day just so i can zip my mouth. I even remember, with clarity, how my sister, who's lucky enough to be given a name that doesn't spark occasional taunting and curiosity, would tell me that in our cousinhood, Kuya Antoy (who is Antonio) and I are the only ones who have names that do not belong to their category. Yet, Kuya got his from his Lolo and Papa leaving me in the other category alone.

 In school, however, my GS and HS classmates, who have been my classmates since forever, seemed to have accepted it and none bothered to ask. I just found it quite irksome for some new teachers who had the nerve to ask me why such. 

Things became poles apart in college. From orientation (even up to now,my last year), I have been constantly reminded that I have a zany name. Some even thought I am Reverend. In moments like these, I can't help but ask Papa, why not Kristine?! 

For the longest time, my name is the topic I have been eluding from. I don't write my real name on Friendster nor Facebook because I don't want anymore chaffing. And when I introduce myself, I only say the first  syllable. If only I were Angela, things have been a lot simpler.

But then again, I am different. And now that it dawned on me that I have nothing more to ask, I thought writing a little something about something I have long digressed won't kill me. After all, I am loved, I am blessed and I have more than enough. If being my name is all it takes to have these and to be these, then being Revelen is not an anathema after all.:D And by the way, since my name is coined from Reynaldo and Eva, the former and the latter being my parents' names, then it goes to say that I hold their union, I am their union. :) 

Had I been given names like Anne or Cristina, there would be less to talk about, I would find it harder to start conversations, and yes, I never would have something sensible to write about and that would be boring.

* I would start being proud by changing my name on Facebook.