THE BLOGGER

Taken at the La Mesa Eco Park in Quezon City in January 2012 

FAMILY

Darren Joe Gacer Follero was born on December 20, 1993 in Fort Bonifacio General Hospital in Makati City. Darren is the only male among the three children of Leocadio Follero, a businessman owning a water station, and Mildred Gacer, an employee to a private company in Manila. His sisters are Corazon Mae, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Adamson University in Manila and Kristine Joy, an incoming High School freshman in Athens Academy, Inc. in Taguig City.

EDUCATION

Darren attended Athens Academy, Inc. in Taguig City where he gained his Pre-school, Elementary and High School diplomas. He was the class salutatorian when he was in his first year in Kindergarten in the year 1999. He finished his second year in Kindergarten with honors in 2000. 

During his Elementary years (2000-2005), he was not able to join in the honor rolls but graduated with various recognition. 

During his first year in High School (2006-2007), Darren was the seventh honor student during the First Grading period. Unfortunately, he lost the honor roll on the next grading period due to his not complying of his requirement in one certain subject. When he was in his second year (2007-2008), he was again back to the class honor rolls. He finished his Sophomore year as the class's eighth top student. During his third year (2008-2009), he was the class's seventh top student. He graduated from High School as the class's fourth honorable mention. He also received various awards - Best in Oral English, Most Helpful and Most Industrious and a literary award, just to name a few. He also received a loyalty award from the school for being one of its pioneer students since it was established in 1998. 

He is now in his third year in college where he is currently taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English at the National Center for Teacher Education, the Philippine Normal University (Manila Campus).

WORKS

Darren started writing poems when he was 17. The very first poem he wrote was Dilag, Rosas at Prinsesa (2011).

Darren found his inspirations in writing poems from his loved ones. 

Other poems he wrote were Buhay ng Tao (2011), Sa Aking Buhay (2011), Diyosa Ng Aking Puso (2011) and Ako'y Pagbigyan Muli (2011). He is more confident in writing poems using the Filipino language but he tries to make poems in the English language.

He also wrote Kabataan: Pag-Asa Pa Rin Ba Ng Ating Bayan? (2011), a speech he wrote and delivered during his Filipino class in Philippine Normal University.

He also wrote several essays such as True Friends (2008), Personal Code of Ethics (2011) and Modern-day Negros (2012).

August 23, 2010 Manila Hostage Taking (2010) was an essay he wrote that showed his views and opinions regarding the hostage taking happened in Quirino Grandstand. He also wrote the essay Go! Express Yourself (2011) where he discussed his point of view about the freedom of speech and of expression.

Darren uses the pen name Dean Rojer when he writes his literary works.