Here to change the world, even for a little bit.
— Marian Denise E. Dagunton, ITAD
Here to change the world, even for a little bit.
— Marian Denise E. Dagunton, ITAD
Mayan celebrating her 4th birthday.
Mayan with her father, Dennis.
Mayan with her cousin, Kiana.
1On March 31st of 2001, at the stroke of midnight in Quezon City, Marian Denise Europa Dagunton was born.
2She was the only daughter among five children of a computer programmer father and a dentist mother.
3Her parents are Dennis B. Dagunton and Phona Europa Dagunton, while her siblings are Dominique, Vincent, Jaime, and Luis Dagunton.
4Growing up, she spent most of her childhood days playing with her siblings.
5Since all of her siblings were all boys, she grew up being boyish
because even though she had girl toys, she would always borrow the ones her brothers had.
6They used to live in Bulacan province then eventually moved to Taguig City when she turned 5.
7She had a deep appreciation for nature and the environment, so much that she would spend most of her time outdoors.
8She often greeted and talked to stray animals and even insects as if they were humans.
9At the age of 5 years old, she attended a small private school in Taguig and was an avid learner.
10She grew up with a fascination for subjects such as math, science, and english.
11She enjoyed reading books, exploring nature, and writing, even joining a journalism club for a few years.
12Her interest in dancing was sparked by watching Jabbawockeez on the television show "World of Dance," leading her to imitate their moves and perform for others in school and at family gatherings. 13She pursued her passion in dancing and often performed on stage, where she participated in various dance competitions. 14But her parents eventually forced her to stop dancing due to her heart condition. 15It made her very sad and she really did not want to stop dancing, but she had no choice. 16Although she seemed like a very active child, Marian was actually quiet and introverted who spent much of her time lost in her imagination. 17And she used that wide imagination of hers to write stories instead. 18She considered writing as a coping mechanism because she never felt like she belonged anywhere. 19At least in her stories, she had complete control over every situation; she could write anything and make it a happy ending for the characters, she thought. 20Marian had experienced different kinds of abuse since she was four years old, and as a result, she grew up being overly sensitive and empathic toward everyone because she did not want anyone else to go through what she had and feel the same way she did. 21Growing up, she never told anyone about the abuses she has been experiencing because she knew at a very young age that telling others would cause chaos, and that was something she never wanted to happen. 22She was too selfless and naive to believe that she would rather suffer alone than see the people she cared about get hurt.
Mayan with her JHS classmates.
Mayan at 16 years old.
Mayan with her bestfriends since 1st grade.
1Marian tried her hardest to live a normal life despite her tragic childhood. 2In her teenage years, Marian's passion for writing continued to flourish. 3She also discovered her love for photography and would spend hours taking photos of nature and city landscapes. 4She taught herself how to use a DSLR, and how to capture photos properly. 5She also learned color grading, and photo manipulation techniques using different editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. 6She also became interested in history and started reading history books owned by her grandparents. 7She has always been interested in the power of words and the law, but it wasn't until she read about the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the ongoing fight against systemic racism that she truly found her calling. 8The unfair treatment of marginalized communities and the failure of the justice system to protect their basic human rights inspired her to pursue a career as a lawyer. 9She was determined to use her education and passion to make a difference in the lives of those who have been unjustly oppressed and to work towards creating a more equitable society. 10Through her studies and experiences, she hoped to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to be a voice for the voiceless and a champion for justice. 11However, when I shared my aspirations with my family, they discouraged me, telling me that as a woman, I was not fit for a career in law. 12They believed that women were too emotional to be effective lawyers, and she was crushed.
13Due to lack of support from her family, she became lost. 14She did not know what else to do and this was when she accidentally discovered her talent for arts. 15Marian was an average student who had never considered herself to be particularly talented in the arts. 16One day in TLE class, her teacher assigned them to draw. 17As she began to sketch, her teacher noticed her innate ability for capturing the intricate details and creating a lifelike representation. 18This discovery came as a surprise to Marian, who had never considered herself to be an artist. 19 But as she continued to hone her skills, she realized that she had a real talent for drawing and painting. 20This accidental discovery in the art class changed the course of Marian's life. 21She spent the majority of her days creating art, drawing, painting, and photographing different people and places almost every day. 22And that made her very happy, almost.
Mayan at the UE-Caloocan campus.
Mayan introducing COMSSO at the fair.
Mayan with other COMSSO officers.
1Marian had originally wanted to study Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts, but due to financial constraints, she was discouraged to take that course. 2Lost and unsure of what course she would take, she decided to take a gap year because everything was just too much for her to handle. 3Unfortunately, the year was 2020 and the world was facing the outbreak of the pandemic. 4Her family also fell ill with COVID-19. 5On top of this, Marian was still recovering from an abusive relationship with a partner she had trusted for nearly two years. 6She was taken to her relatives for care because they did not want her to contract COVID. 7She had no choice but to live with her cousin, who had abused her physically and sexually for many years during her childhood. 8This has taken a toll on her mental health, and she has become very depressed as a result.
9After a year of healing, she decided to go back to studying. 11She was accepted into the University of the East-Manila to study Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. 12Marian still wanted to do arts; Undeterred, she pursued her love for art and became a freelance artist, taking on commissions and honing her skills. 13Her talent and dedication eventually caught the attention of the Computer Students Society (COMSSO), where she was elected as the Assistant Vice President for Creative Arts. 14Despite facing challenges, she has continued to follow her passion and inspire others with her drive and determination to succeed in both her academic and artistic pursuits. 15Marian was overjoyed to have received an academic full scholarship based on her 1.15 Grade Weighted Average (GWA) from her first semester of first year. 16This scholarship was especially meaningful for her as her older brother had been paying for her tuition, and this financial aid would relieve some of the burden on him. 17She was grateful for the recognition of her hard work and dedication to her studies and was determined to continue working hard and make the most of this opportunity.
17Marian's personal experiences has driven her to take an interest in psychology. 18She is curious about people and wants to understand why they behave the way they do. 19To gain a deeper understanding, she has devoted herself to reading books and research papers written by well-known psychologists. 20Her thirst for knowledge has led her to become an advocate of gentle parenting. 21Marian is passionate about sharing her newfound knowledge and encourages those around her to adopt a kinder and more understanding approach towards parenting. 22She is driven by the belief that by fostering empathy and compassion, we can create a better world for everyone.
23Marian has a lot of aspirations and a heart full of love to give to others. 24She wants to help people and animals, care for the environment, and start or donate to a charity that aligns with these goals someday. 25Despite her desires, she is currently struggling with the aftermath of traumatic experiences, which has left her in pain and struggling to get back on her feet. 26Nevertheless, she is determined to overcome her struggles and not give up on life. 27She plans to save up money to receive professional help so that she can recover and continue to help others.
