Graduation

Last Friday I went to my alma mater (PLM) and attended my Sister's graduation. I was with my family, and was the official camera man in the occassion. She got there just in time before they marched towards the field. I had a good look at my old school (yeah!), a lot of things has changed, new buildings were constructed, others were reconstructed, saw a few familiar faces including my old professors, mentors and security guards (but they don't search for my ID anymore) but the same atmosphere lingers to me when I sat at our small haven we call "manggahan." As I wait for my Sister's turn to walk to the grandstand, I sat there and looked around and recalled a lot memories. Reminise is the word. Kinda nostalgic too. Saw the bench where I used to sit with my GF and just chill but most of the time argue with each other, same benches we sit with my friends while we look around for prospects (if you know what I mean), saw the kwek-kwekan where me and my chums would binge ourselves eating kwek-kwek and kikiam, and of course the fun and laughter we had teasing and and playing jokes with each other while we wait for our classes. Those were the days where I had to tuck my t-shirt pero bitin naman ang pantalon ko, na nagmukha kaming kundoktor ng bus sa uniform namin for four years, isang hairstyle lang ang alam ko at may baon kami palagi ng suklay at pabango, hindi ko pa kilala si Armani at Versace pero alam ko sikat ka pag may ganun kang outfit pero ok na rin kung naka-Guess ka, may pagers mga classmates ko kaya bumili kami ng friends ko ng CP para matalbugan namin sila pero sa laki ng CP lumalawlaw ung pantalon namin e uso pa naman low waist nun kaya panay hila kami sa lonta namin pero gusto rin namin bumaba para makita ung etiketa kaya ang hirap tuloy maglakad, olive green ang una kong Doc's, may set-up ung tsikot ng classmate ko kaya sa kanto pa lang ng PLM alam na namin na dumarating na siya, mga walang sawang overnight kung san-san kunwari gagawa ng thesis, may braces pa ko nun at sandamakmak na singaw, laging laman ng mall, sinehan at arcade at nagbukas na rin kami minsan sa SM Southmall, konti pa ang population ng bading nun sa school, at marami pang iba...

Moving on...

I was surprised when I saw an old friend marched that day as he graduated from his MBA. Although I wasn't able to actually meet him, I texted him to extend my greetings. Then I suddenly realized that I'm still a student. Hopefully, three years from now I'd be able to march again and graduate from nursing. Whoa, I've graduated from that school three times and still look forward to another graduation. I personally believe that learning never ends as long as you have the desire. In other words, I have have no other choice but to study. Hehe...

- The more you become wise, the more you realize you know less...

Disclaimer: I'm not wise, only handsome. Hehe... ;)

I miss a lot of my friends, some of them have gone far off to their careers, others have families, others I hope doing well with the decisions they made in their lives. But its nice to know that some friends would always stay true. "Parang Royal Tru Orange, now available with grape!."
Buti at may mga bago akong friends ngayon...mwehehehehe... ;) Kasi ang tatanda na ng mga friends ko at ayaw kong mahawa sa kanila! ;P

Graduation is synonymous to commencement.

"The end of something, the start of something new." - Spiderman

Sadly, in the Philippines, education becomes a luxury to the poor rather than being an opportunity for them to alleviate themselves from their state, because quality education comes expensive. Buti na lang may PLM! Naging iskolar din ako ng bayan! :)

The program ended around 11, and we had our late dinner at a seafood restaurant where my pants almost blew off. :D

Violet

I heard recently from the news that oil companies are proposing a P50+ per liter price mark on petroleum products. You dont need to be an economist to be aware that this is really, really bad for the economy. After the incremental increase on a weekly basis, oil prices seem to remain unstable. And the government is not doing much about this problem. This will spawn more problems for poor Juan dela Cruz. I often hear my Dad whine about the oil prices going up, thats because he pays for the gasoline expenses. He quips, "Sira ba ang gauge ng mga kotse at laging nakababa?" Sabay kamot sa ulo...
Whenever I hear news like this, it compels me more to finish my studies and go abroad. Do we seek hope, or it finds us in waiting? Hope is the topic this month at church.

- Hope is nice as long as you don't smoke it.

It was never my plan to go abroad when I was in college, I didn't even dreamt of working abroad. All I ever wanted was a nice job that could help me get through the day or could probably support my small personal luxuries. In banks, or somewhere else where I can wear my cute tie. Kinda lame and shallow now as I pondered. I just realized when I had my third job that I was heading nowhere.

BAM! WHAPAK! KA-BLAG! ASURA STRIKE!!!

It hits me.

God doesn't want me to live a mediocre life, He wants whats best for me. Hope comes from God. (1 Cor. 2:9) Dazed after deep meditation, I took a leap of faith by taking up nursing. A woman whom I met for the first time affirmed me one day when I attended a prayer meeting that if I'm sure about my decision then I should go fot it. "Go fot it!" she said. She wasn't a gypsy woman but she dresses like one. hehe...

"Eh, pang-apat na course ko na po e."

(Oh my goodness kawawa naman ang mga magulang neto...) di kaya eto ang naisip nya?

Oh my gulay nursing, eh business graduate ako. Suntok sa buwan!

At least alam ko kung ano ang sphygmomanometer. Kaw alam mo ba?

Eh ang stethoscope?

Di ba para sa mata yun?

She has been working as a nurse in Australia for the past 15 years or so. She graduated from UP Manila and spent several years at PLM teaching. She wore a violet blouse, I was wearing a violet shirt. Could this be the affirmation? I believe so. I was blunt before God when I prayed for His affirmation.

"Lord ung medjo obvious."

"Ayun, violet."

Uncanny.

____________________

"I rather see the Philippines run like hell by the Filipinos than to see it run like heaven by the Americans." - Manuel L. Quezon

On a side note, who would like to be in hell anyway?