Commencement!

It is not the end but just the beginning. That's why it is called COMMENCEMENT! 

This is the season of toga, diploma, medals, certificates and all other awards that an outstanding pupil or student may receive. The best thing is the family gets together for another momentous event in one's life. Party there and everywhere as food and drinks overflow. A very exciting and fulfilling milestone especially for the parents who made all things possible for their child/children. Let me reminisce my graduation years when I was still a student like anybody else.

March of 2001 when I first received my diploma having been graduated in elementary. It was a memorable one as i went upstage with my mother to receive my proof of having completed my elementary education;my diploma. Aside from that certificate i also received a meritorious award as one of the Outstanding Pupils of the graduating class. I still remember our graduation song: If We Hold On Together. But one funny thing is that I was late when i arrived as the processional march is already going on. I just followed in and successfully did it! I can no longer remember if we celebrated this one in the house or not. hehe

April 2005 when i finally reaped the fruits of a four year labor in high school. This time, not just an outstanding student award did I receive but a whole lot more. In God's will and guidance I was able to graduate on top of my fellow graduates. Several awarding bodies such as the the Office of the President of the Philippines, the Senate and Congress and the local school officials handed some awards in performing great. I excelled in some fields of endeavor as I was awarded the prestigious PGMA Achievement Award in Journalism. Not only that but also Senate Gold Medal for Academic Excellence and Leadership Awards to name a few. It was my shining moment as I was privileged to deliver a Valedictory Address among others. I nearly cried upon delivering the speech while most of the parents are already sobbing as I address them in recognition of their invaluable efforts to help us reach our dreams. Although I say that this has been my shining moment, this moment is best shared with the people behind the every cent we spend: our parents! The best and most precious gift they can give us is our education. We must not also forget our dear mentors in imparting their knowledge and expertise to us. They are our bridge towards information or wisdom.

And the final stage has come, a bigger world we faced which made much more changes in us in all aspects in preparation to living in the real world: college years! I was lucky when I had my third graduation in the premier state university in the country in April 2009. The commencement of knowledge accumulation and trial and error in real life. This time experiments are not done in the laboratory but in the realm of society. What it has to offer, what it has to teach and get from us. It is like we are in a jungle and it's for us to do things for our survival. I remember that during our graduation, it was a freaking bad weather prevailing. Downpour has been the daily event a week from the big day! What a messy graduation but I am still thankful that the rites has been successfully celebrated. It was the centennial graduation since the university celebrated its 100 years of existence that time. We are called the centennial graduates for that matter! We celebrated my graduation with a simple family get together. It was once again a reunion of family members and relatives. Everyone is present and enjoys each others company. Had some chit-chats, kamustahan, laughters and tears of joy. Some cousins are met the first time because of this event.

It is indeed the start of another chapter in our lives that's why it is called commencement. And the learning do not stop upon receiving our diplomas. Everyday is a learning opportunity. Every experience is a worthy learning object. Every failure that we encounter are just spices to make living our life great and exciting. As the adage say it, Experience is the best Teacher! But we must not settle to committing the same failures for this is not a good sign of learning. Let us move out of our comfort zones and explore what life has to offer in other avenues. Let us look and try all opportunities that come our way. We won't know unless we try!