New Account, New Testimony

I can still remember my previous blog account. It's full of thoughts of a thirteen year old girl, who talks nothing but love life, school and frustrations of a teenage girl. But it was four years ago. Now I have decided to start a new blog account. Some people may think, what I have started may be put into waste, but I disagree.

My previous blog is full of my character and personality, not to mention the praises of people who have read my entries and I should thank them for such wonderful comments. It made my day, knowing that people appreciate the "kagagahan" (stupidity) of my thoughts and opinions. Though I have decided to create a new one, what I have started remains. A blog is a blog and this blog of mine has no shadows, but pure thoughts of a seventeen year old girl, who have been molded anew from her past philosophy in life and thoughts.

In relation to this, I would like to say an advance thank you to each and every person who would be willing to see my transformation through this blog of mine. I believe it's a way of opening oneself to the world. It is a way of expressing oneself which is a gift not anyone is granted and through my blog, I would like to show and share people things that binds us humans all together, the universal common denominator of mankind, non-other than the testimony of living a life.

A March with Pride (Graduation Day)

I woke up early so as to avoid the fact that I'll be late for my day. The hard copy of my speech is already in the pocket of my uniform, so as to serve as a back up in case I got stocked in the middle of my delivery. Now, I'm wearing my white toga, with full pride. For me, it symbolizes a lot of things, all the hard work that has been done, my pure intentions of offering my labor to my parents, start of a new journey, and also the end of my colorful and meaningful high school life.

At last, the program started on time, though I arrived a little early, I was too busy with all the picture taking with my friends that I haven't noticed it's already time to march. The Elementary Graduates (Grade Six students) were the first one to march towards their respective seats so I just waited until it's my turn. Then my mom stood next to me and held my hand. It's a tradition in our school that during graduation, parents are asked to escort their child to their seats, as for my case I had my mom with me.

It was Ms. Zoraida (High School English Teacher) serving as the Master of Ceremony. At her cue, it's my turn to make an entrance. Together with my mom we made our way to the seats and smiled at my dad who by that time was taking a video of the entire event from afar.

The program went smooth sailing. What I've been waiting for is our guest speaker, Mr. Francis Kong. I actually met him back when I was still a freshman, during one of our leadership training in Canyon Woods, Tagaytay. He's really a great man, what I love about him is that he could speak in Chinese and he can avoid the fact of his audience being bored. I was so lucky to see him once again and in fact it is so coincidental that it was my graduation day. I was right, I could see it in the faces of the audience that they aren't bored at all.

After his speech, there were presentations. the grade school students sang "Heart to Change a World" (a song from the Kids for Christ Musical). I can clearly remember that we sang the same song back in our grade school graduation. Funny how things seem to be redundant.

Right after, awards are now given to each and every graduating student. It was still a long way before my name is to be called since I was the last in line. After an hour or so, there I stood, right at the stairs of the stage with my mom. As my name was called, I walked with full pride, showing the people that dreams do come true, it's just that you must put your heart into it and would be willing to sacrifice. Ms. Lao (School Directress) handed over my certificates while Madam Mercy (School Principal) gave to my mom the medals who wore it around my neck. I shall admit, it's heavy. I can't really remember how many I got but what strucked me most was when people clapped as hard as they can as a sort of recognition to all my hard work. I new it, all my sacrifices had been paid off.

I now have to deliver my speech and if you want to read it, I made a separate entry for it entitled Valedictory Address. It may not be a speech that my friends have expected (They actually want me to make a formal announcement to break up with my boyfriend - but hello! It is I who decides such things right?!) but it's a speech full of heart that I offer to the teachers and the school for molding me into the person I am today. I could see Ms. A (My English Teacher) at the back of the auditorium watching me deliver my speech. She was the one who helped me out with the drafting and editing of my speech since the administrators are eager to hear an excellent one, knowing I'm the one to deliver it. So, Ms. A, thank you so much, for without you my speech wouldn't be as excellent as it is.

After my delivery, I was overwhelmed by the applause of the audience. I had done my part, and things were about to end. But of course, we have to end right, we should sing "Thank You", a traditional song graduates of our school sing before the end of the program. Surprisingly, it wasn't as I have suspected, none of us cried. I really don't know the reason why but maybe, most of us think that crying is just for kids or maybe we also know deep within our hearts that someday, our paths will cross again.

The program had ended and we formally have to march our separate ways but nonetheless, pictures are a sure way to capture unforgettable moments of a person's life.

To my batchmates, I'll definitely miss you. Hope to see you guys once again. Congratulations to each and everyone of us, may the Lord bless us (full-blooded Philadelphians) in our endeavors in life. Thank you so much for the memories ;)

Butterflies in My Stomach

Loads of papers to submit, articles to be passed, exams, clearance, projects and a whole lot more of requirements that I have to meet, that's my life. As a Senior student, who was recognized for her wits, I have to meet these expectations perfectly as much as I can. Not to be very boastful but just so you guys would be able to understand, ever since elementary I always end up with the title of being the Class Top 1. I find it very overwhelming and very stressful as well.

You see, in our country, people expect you to do the same thing for the rest of your life. I mean when they ask you to do something like a piece of article or so, they put their 100% trust on you that you'll be able to produce an excellent product but of course there are times wherein mistakes are inevitable and what happens is that they would scold you for you haven't met their expectations from you.

That's my life in my entire high school years. I always meet the expectations of my teachers and classmates which I found very tiring at some point, yet my only reason for doing so is for my parents. I want to show them that I love them in that manner.

Now the graduation day is about to come and honor students shall be announced sooner or later. I should admit that there was a time I felt so scared, thinking I wouldn't be entitled as the Class Valedictorian since my competitor seems to have very good grades as well. Come to think of it, it is indeed painful for my part when I just ended up the Salutatorian after all the years that I was the Class Top 1.

Then I was called to the High School Coordinator's Office. I felt butterflies in my stomach and my mind kept on asking "Valedictorian or Salutatorian?" for more than a dozen of times as silence filled the room. My heart beated faster every second until "Tiffanie, I should say congratulations for you are the Class Valedictorian, please don't spill out the information yet for there will be a formal announcement of Honor Students. What I want you to do now is to prepare your speech and thank God for all the blessings, once again congratulations" said Mr. Gabiola (High School Coordinator of Philadelphia High School) with a smile.

Still shocked of what he just said, I had my jaw dropped for a moment and when the information had already been transferred from my neurons to my brain, I can't help it but I went closer to him and hugged him and said "Thank You sir" for several times. Then, he escorted me out of the room in which I found myself unable to hide my smile from the teachers along the corridor. I want to hug them one by one and say thank you but I have to keep the information since there are a number of students outside as well.

A few minutes after my conversation with Sir Gabiola, I was fetched by my dad. Thinking he's still unaware of what surprise I have for him and my mom, I decided to keep my mouth shut until my dad told me "I knew it already (then he grinned)".

"What?! How come?" I replied, surprised.

"Sir Gabiola texted your mom." Then he sgrinned again.

The moment we reached home I immediately went to my parents' room and hugged my mom.

It was indeed a day of fulfillment. To all these things I offer my utmost thanks to non-other than the Lord, whom I believe is the One behind all of my life's greatest memories.