Redondo: Graduation

Hindi ako mapakali, umaga pa lang. Sobrang excited ako sa graduation. Hindi ko na nga nagawa pang magsaulo uli ng speech ko. Naisip ko, total babasahin din ko naman sa rostrum.

Alas-tres pa ang graduation pero gusto ko nang pumunta sa school ng bandang ala-una. Napigilan lang ako ni Dindee.

Sabi niya: “Mabibilasa ka lang doon.”

Tumawa ako. “Parang isda lang.”

“Excited ka masyado. Aber, na-memorize mo na ba ang speech mo? Pakinggan ko nga ulit.’’

“Oo naman! Ako pa. Yakang-yaka ‘yun.’’

“Yabang! Pag ikaw, nag-stutter dun..”

“Ano?”

“Wala..” Bumulong siya. Narinig ko. Iki-kiss daw ako.

“Wala? Dinig ko, iki-kiss mo ako?”

“Kapal! Baka gusto mong ikiss ko ‘yang nguso mo sa semento. Hmp! Hindi ka nga sasama sa Aklan, kiss pa kita. Nik nik mo.”

“Tampo ka pa rin ba hanggang ngayon?” Lumapit ako sa kanya at niyakap siya mula sa kanyang likod.

Kahit paano ay nawala ang pagtatampo niya sa akin.

Graduation. Sobrang saya. Nagkaiyakan kami. Yakapan kami ng yakapan. Napaiyak din namin ang mga magulang naming sa portion na lalapitan naming sila habang may tinutugtog. Tapos, ibibigay namin ang aming diploma.

Sinamantala ko na ang pagkakataong iyon para magpasalamat kina Mommy at daddy.  Nag-sorry na rin ako sa mga pagpapasaway ko minsan sa kanila.

Napaiyak ko rin yata si Dindee. Dinig na dinig kasi niya na nabanggit ko si Riz sa speech ko.

Narito ang speech ko:

To our principal, teachers, parents, distinguished guest, fellow graduates, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!

Quality education is possible. Yes! It is certainly true.

In front of you is the outcome of it. Thank you, teachers for moulding me and every one of us, graduates. Without you, we’ll not be educated. Our behaviours were changed by you so that we can achieve and grow. We thank you, teachers!

Fellow graduates, let give our teachers a big round of applause as a sign of our gratitude.

Thank you!

We will use everything you taught us in the next level of education to enable us to get the better life we wanted. Yes, adequate life is what we dream of—not so rich, but not so poor. Therefore, it is a challenge for all of us!

To our Alma Mater, who nurture us for four years, a never ending appreciation for you! Thank you, beloved school! You gave us wonderful memories, which we can cherish for the rest of my life. It is you who offered us teenage experiences and indispensable knowledge. This is where we find friendship, crushes, victories, failures and belongingness.

To my parents.. Thank you very much! Mommy and Daddy, you are my sole reason why I got this place. You inspired me. I just challenged myself to achieve the top, luckily, I made it! Thank you! I’m so proud of both of you! Though, you encountered hindrances yet you still opted to choose me. Thus, I want to offer these awards to you, Mommy..and to you Daddy. Without you, I don’t know if I will be speaking in front of this huge crowd. Thank you, again!

To my fellow graduates, classmates and friends, let us soar higher! Let’s don’t stop dreaming. Quality education is achievable for the disciplined students like us. Let’s eradicate poverty and welcome prosperity by embracing the power of education and learning.  Let’s be an inspiration to each one. I’m only the valedictorian of the batch, but it doesn’t mean that you can accomplish less. We are all capacitated and able to reach the apex of success, if we will only dare to try. Let’s don’t ask what the country can do to us, as the famous quote says.

Thank you, everyone for believing on me. My leadership and other skills were enhanced because you gave me a chance to show them. See you! God bless you!

Before I end my speech, I would also like to thank Riz.

Riz, thank you! You inspired me a lot. Words are not enough to express my deepest and sincere appreciation. I’m just here for you. My shoulders are open to lean on. True friendship never dies, too.

Before, I forgot, I would also thank God for bestowing all of these.

To all of you, have a great evening. Thank you!

Talagang magtatampo nga naman talaga si Dindee kasi hindi ko siya napasalamatan o nabanggit man lang. Sorry is useless na kasi nasaktan ko na siya ngayon. Kaya, natulog siyang masama ang loob sa akin. Nagtext pa. siya sa akin: “Hndi pla aq nging insprasyon pra sau… :(”