And for poetic justice, raindrops only fell after practically everything was through. All the while dark clouds menacingly rolled above, making interesting formations yet making ill of their threat.
No one jokingly called the UP Diliman graduation on April 26 an "El Shaddai" meeting for nothing. The 3 o'clock heat was interestingly an answer to hopes and prayers. Chancellor Sergio Cao joked that they knew what to do if it rained, but not if the sun stayed up.
I didn't intend to cry that day; I never did cry. I thought I would never have the chance to. Guess I was too tired, too upbeat, and too busy. Better then. At least the heat of the moment (pun half-intended) gradually got to me.
No, I did not have an epiphany rubbing in the day's worth. The heat, excitement, cares, and fatigue transpired enough to overwhelm. It was a faint introspection, diluted by dialogue, picture-taking, and cheers. Simply, one stage was ending and another was on the way, if not beginning--whether I liked it or not.
The realization of sorts slowly came as night wore on. But not when we got our medals in that hour-long episode of star-sighting most of us came for. Sitting near the back, I had awkwardly ambled past lined-up Journ mates to receive mine. Looking at pictures later, I didn't have time to fix my sablay. And I was too flustered to stop at times and approach friends from other colleges saying Hi.
Realization instead came at hearing the far-off UP President Roman begin, with a flourish: "At ang sandaling inyong pinakahihintay." As we moved our sablays, we could not help but cheer. It was momentous enough to finally have our degrees conferred in UP's most unique way, but even more memorable to experience it with thousands of others.
Part of me wished my entire family were there. Only Mom endured the heat and patiently allowed me to roam the amphitheater to look for and camwhore with batch mates. Dad, meanwhile, was tired from the morning grad, and the siblings felt better staying with him at the Visayas Ave. house. Then again, I'd have to juggle A LOT of photo ops.
If anything, the University Graduation showed what attached me to this four-year ikot through UP. Call it the journalistic human interest: relationships. Whatever realization I had did finally sink in as I met and posed for pics with friend after friend in their sablay glory. Probably other than the theories, skills, and nationalism, it's the people who came in my life at UP that I won't be able to forget. (Admittedly, I can forget names at times.)
They range from my all-boys Basement barkada to my pre-thesis classmates and my thesis partner. They are GE classmates who ultimately became regulars in the college laptop area. They're co-thespians from Theater 11, all graduating with honors. They're acquaintances at various electives, from a senior-level Polsci seminar, or UP's contribution course to psychology. Some are even long-lost roommates in elem and high school. They're co-editors in the campus's only freshman newsletter. Buddies in a leadership org. Band mates at church. And close friends whom I've entrusted my life.
So while I literally ended up tiring my jaw smiling for the cameras, I was really happy. I'd think that without these people, no matter the length of time I knew them, UP would just be a pass through, and a quick means to a job.
Summa cum laude speaker Jeeben Segui made his point with a smattering of jokes and personal experience, pretty much how I learned to express myself and relate what I know with here. Interestingly, I never thought he was "alien" material when we haphazardly formed our group in the Rizal course PI 100. Our classmates even called him "Papi" after he parodied the noontime host for our creative play of Noli and Fili characters.
Like Jeeben, who I knew just that sem, the end of our university experience contains both present surprises and reminders of the past. He does pose some food for thought, lining him up with our guest speaker at CMC and CAL's Virgilio Almario. What do we do with our UP education? How do we change where many of those before us failed or messed up?
It will take years to answer them as we trek on our own paths. But yes, we grew in good soil here in UP, given "comrades" to walk with.
In the 2 pics: (LEFT) With UP Journalism Batch 09 mates Adriel Paglinawan, Tine Sabillo, Mark Ching, Rima Granali, Grace Sucgang, Gelene Tobias, Eli Yanga, and Denise Fontanilla (from Adriel's cam) (RIGHT) With Every Nation Campus Ministries friends Joni Esteban, Eliud Trajano, Edgar Amatong, Rye Alfonso, Dustin Perez, and Aiza Morales (from Nono Revilleza)
