Lifeline

I belong to the Pantaleon Montecillo Clan, from Catmon, Cebu. My given name is Ethna Maria Montecillo. Tatay Panta served as the last Spanish Capitan in Catmon until Spain lost the Spanish American War. The US took over the Philippine Islands in 1898.

My grandfather, Emilio came to Michigan in the early 1900's. My mother, Teresa, was born in Detroit in 1926.



I was five years old!I was in first grade.



Religion - faith have always played a big part of my life. This was a re-enactment of the miracles in Fatima. I think I was in fourth grade.



This photo was taken in front of my high school. I was 13 years old.



This is Northern High School - now, Gabriel Jurado Foundation School. I took this in 1997. We did not have a basketball court when I was there. It is by the beach - sometimes the sound of the waves can lull you to extreme drowsiness.



Military training along with comprehensive senior high school examinations were graduation requirements.



Ahh - passed them all: Physics, Spanish, English Comp, English and American Literature, Economics, Filipino Language, Arts and Crafts, Intermediate Algebra, Philippine History, US History, World History,Government...