Teen writer Joel Andrew Mallari has yet to show his winning entry to his mom, telling her “it’s too personal.” CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“How’s life? Will I be alone in life? Will I have lasting friends?”
These were among the questions 13-year-old high school student Joel Andrew Mallari asked his future self in a letter that recently won him P20,000 and the title of official Philippine representative to the 45th International Letter-Writing Competition organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Berne, Switzerland.
Mallari’s entry to the nationwide letter-writing contest—hosted by the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) in January to find the best one to represent the country—won over 900 others, PHLPost Philately and Museum Division chief Lenny San Diego said in a recent interview. The local competition followed UPU’s theme this year of “Write a letter to your 45-year-old self.”
“We chose Mallari’s letter because it was a standout. The way it was written sounded very mature,” San Diego added. Second and third honors, respectively, went to Angelica Tan of Chiang Kai Shek College Manila and Franz Aidyl Gabriel Suico of the University of Cebu.
In his letter, Mallari—an incoming Grade 8 student at the Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus in Pampanga—first congratulated his future self for reaching the age of 45 “where middle age starts and a plethora of things will be unveiled, ready to be explored.”
He then asked for updates on his current situation: Was he able to keep his friends? Did he secure a good job “as an IT engineer?” More importantly, did he have “maybe a wife and kids?”
“I see you as a quiet man in the corner, watching over his kids, a kind, wise twinkle in his eyes,” Mallari wrote.
If his entry is any indication, he is insightful as well. After all the questions, he tells his future self: “I realized, your existence depends on me. It depends on my choices … But don’t worry. I’ll make you proud.”
“For a teenager to think like that—it’s unique,” said San Diego.
In an interview last week with the Inquirer, the teenager said he asked his future self these hypothetical questions, particularly about family and friends, because he “[didn’t] want to live a lonely life.”
This is the third time Mallari has won a writing competition. The first was in 2014, at the Regional Schools Press Conference in Pampanga; the second in last year’s National Science Congress held in Laguna. Both were essay writing contests.
While he is looking forward to a career in computer engineering, particularly in the areas of programming and coding, Mallari said he has always enjoyed writing. Last year, he was appointed editor in chief of his elementary school paper. He now writes features for his high school’s paper.
He also writes fiction which he keeps to himself. “Writing is really more of a hobby for me,” he said.
His mom, Agnes, said their family was pleasantly surprised to hear of Mallari’s recent PHLPost win. “It was unexpected; we were informed of it only earlier this week,” she said.
Although she described their family relationship as “close,” Agnes said her son—the eldest of her two kids—doesn’t share what he writes with her. “He didn’t want me to read his [winning] letter because it was a personal conversation with himself,” she added with a laugh.
Mallari probably gets his penchant for writing from his father, a public schoolteacher, who contributes articles to local papers, Agnes said.
According to her, her son has always been exceptional. At the age of three, he could recite the alphabet backwards which prompted her to enroll him at the Angeles Elementary School-SPED. Mallari studied there from Nursery to Grade 6, where he was placed in the class for the “gifted and talented,” Agnes recalled.
She added that her son has also excelled in local math and science contests. Despite this, Mallari is a simple, “quiet” person, spending his free time at home reading or on the computer, or at times, going out with his cousins.
Mallari’s win in the national contest will be recognized by his school to encourage other students to join next year’s bout, said Arlene Labao, PHLPost’s project officer assigned to the letter-writing competition.
Labao said they hope Mallari’s entry would surpass the bronze medal win of Ashley Nicole Abalos from Muntinlupa City two years ago in the UPU competition.
“Based on last year’s data, around one and a half million children from 65 countries joined the contest,” said Labao. “Hopefully this year, we will take home the top prize.”