As the executive director of the family-owned Infant Jesus School in Marikina, Peter Mallonga’s habit of sweeping floors while his meetings are ongoing may indeed seem strange. But it’s just another ordinary day at work for him. "Most of my decisions are made while I am sweeping the floor," he shares.

This is just one of Mallonga’s odd habits which are attributed to his Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) – a neurologically-based developmental disability which is characterized by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. But for someone who might be easily labeled as nuts, Mallonga is doing a great job on the school for 25 years now. The institution owes its success to him.

Peter Mallonga shares how his undiagnosed condition resulted to his deeper realization of things.

Mallonga’s parents thought that their son’s hyperactivity and lack of focus in school was typical. He was likened to the character Dennis the Menace who was always misunderstood.

As a consequence, he suffered verbal and physical abuse in school, oftentimes being called "bobo" or "tanga," frequently hit by fellow classmates, and punished by his teachers. His bad academic performance and recurring presence in the guidance office even made Mallonga believe the labels.

By himself, Mallonga started noticing his strange actuations too - jumping from one chair to another at least seven times in the classroom, irregular sleeping habits, and lack of focus.

The only one who somehow understood Mallonga was his teacher Mr. Alejandrino. "During that time akala ko inuuto niya ako. Kasi most of the time he would let me stay after class to fix the chairs, papupulutin ako ng papers, papakuhain ako ng chalk, madalas talaga yan. Only later, I realized na alam niya ‘yung ginagawa niya. He’s letting me spend out all my energy. "

A child with AD/HD has uncontrollable active physical activity and Mallonga was clearly showing this. At that time, his only ace was that his mom was the school principal.

However, even if he failed his subjects, Mallonga would ace the achievement tests. "With a batch of around 67, ilan lang kami nakapasok sa UP. They were wondering, bagsak ako sa academics bakit nakapasa ako sa UP," he shares with pride.

In college at UP, nothing changed. He would still go in and out of the classroom, he still lacked focus, he got involved with the wrong crowd. He jumped from one school to another after being dismissed from UP Los Banos, until he found himself applying for a job.

"My HR manager told me ‘With your IQ, dapat manager ka.’ This person, (Ms. Tan) is one of the significant people who made me realize na oo nga naman, hindi ako bobo, she inspired me to pursue my studies," Mallonga shares.

He successfully got into De La Salle University on a scholarship but again got the boot after a two-year stay. Finally, under presidential discretion, he was again accepted by UP Diliman where he eventually finished BS Community Development, and later on a master’s degree in Special Education.

It was when Mallonga met the right people, including his wife Karina, that he realized and accepted his condition.

"Hindi ako officially diagnosed during that time. But when I volunteered in PGH, I realized I was different.

They started my curiosity on what AD/HD is. After doing my reading, doing research it reconfirmed my wandering kung bakit nga ako ganyan. All of this led to a challenge to organize a support group," he adds.

After finishing his master’s degree in SPED, Mallonga thus founded the Eucharistiana Center, a non-government organization which caters to special children and their special needs.

"I realized na masama pala ang childhood experience ko. The challenge was what can I do for other people who will have to pass through a similar experience as mine," he relates.

His insistent desire to form a support group formed the successful AD/HD society, an organization that brings hope and awareness to people with AD/HD and the public alike. It is also the society’s persistent attempt to train teachers and school administrators to a higher level of awareness.

"If the ratio is 1:45, isang estudyante lang ang magdisrupt sa klase, wala na, kawawa rin lang naman ‘yung rest of the class. On the other hand how would you tackle it? That’s the reason why we started this organization to make teachers aware na kakaiba lang yan, the learning style should be different and especially to understand the condition of the child," he stresses.

For Mallonga, it was like living on the edge. He recalls his ledge walking across a bridge, his low tolerance for pain, and his hunger for speed brought him constant danger. Doing what normal people would do, it was his near-death experience in a motorbike accident that gave the perfect sign. "Siguro nga there’s a reason for everything kung bakit buhay pa ako."

With age, the hyperactivity mellows down. Acupuncture and heavy exercises also helped control his condition. His work keeps him preoccupied.

"Right now, I’m helping set-up an orphanage, tapos we just finished setting up another company together with my brothers. Yan ang isa pang characteristics, hindi ka mapakali," he shares with a laugh.

With his strong affinity with children, he is also constantly setting up organizations like his current project, the Marychel Children’s home that caters to abused children. He is also the co-founder of the Learning Inn, a support center for children and their parents. It also serves the needs of not only special children but children who need support like psychological counseling, family therapy, speech therapy, physical, occupational therapies among others.

"I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished; that is also because I’m more aware now and people around me are more aware. That’s why when I think of projects, they’re there to support me," Mallonga ends.