Commencement Exercises, Rain and Blessings

We attended Mario's high school graduation ceremonies yesterday.  Mario is our houseboy, and we had been financing his high school expenses at Alae National High School since his 2nd year.  I felt about as proud as, maybe not like a mother hen, but more like a strutting rooster armed with a camera.  Well, there were already three hens present---my mom, Nang Juaning and Mario's mom.

Somehow I always feel a stirring of emotion whenever I hear the strains of the Graduation March.  It makes me stand up straighter, holding my head higher, feeling I could conquer the world.  The guest speaker was an Alae National High School alumna, who, since his graduation 8 years ago, had gone on to bag several honors in college and was now working as a teacher in Quezon City (his dream job) as well as a volunteer for several scientific studies in the Department of Agriculture.  He spoke about parental sacrifice and going out into the world to pursue dreams.  It made me evaluate my life since finishing high school.  What have I done to carve my niche in this world?

The day started bright and sunny, but about halfway through the event, it began to rain---a slow, slight shower, then a strong torrential downpour---forcing the majority of the parents and families to crowd into the limited space of the covered court.  Although the dampness made comfort difficult, I was thankful for the drenching rain.  It was the first thoroughly wet rain in over a month (and if the ground could talk it would have said, "Aaaaaaaaaaaah...") and rain to me is always a sign of blessings to come.  The fact that it was pounding on the roof of the covered court and was seeping onto the dusty concrete floor only made it more gratifying.  I feel this batch of graduates 2010 will see much of the future... this is the beginning of the next generation.

Forward on!