Secret Affair

Graduation day II

Habang nasa pila ay palinga-linga si Adrian kung saan naka pwesto si Celine, hindi pa kasi sila nagkikita, pero dahil sa sobrang dami nang tao ay ni hindi niya ito maaninag, pagod at puyat siya kaya naman minsan ay sumisimple siya nang hikab pero hindi niya ipinapakita sa kaniyang lolo dahil ayaw naman niya na sisihin nito ang sarili kung bakit wala siyang tulog.

Kahit ang pinakamayamang tao sa lugar nila which is ang kaniyang lolo ay kasama rin niyang naiinitan sa pila, meron mang hallway ay mainit pa rin ang sinag nang araw, pero hindi naman ito nagrereklamo dahil ang iba nga nasa initan ay matyagang pumila tapos sila naman ay may kanlong tapos magrereklamo pa?

Mas una kasi ang pila nang management students tapos nasa bandang likuran pa si Adrian kaya wala talagang pagkakataon para magkakitaan sila ni Celine, nagkita sila ni Rey dahil classmate sila pero si Celine na gusto niyang makita ay malabo talaga.

Ang tanging paraan na lang para makita niya ang dalaga ay mamaya kapag umakyat ito sa stage para sa kaniyang graduation speech, doon ay pwede niya itong matitigan dahil nasa taas ito at siya naman ay nasa baba lamang.

Hiwalay ang upuan nang mga magulang at estudyante, ang mga estudyante ay nasa baba at ang mga magulang naman ay nasa bandang second floor, pero kita naman nang mga magulang ang nangyayari dahil may malaking screen din naman para sa mga nasa bandang likuran, para kahit papaano ay kita pa rin nila ang mga tao sa taas nang stage.

Ang mga estudyante ay kani-kaniyanh purian sa itsura at ayos nang bawat isa dahil talaga namang pinaghandaan nila ang araw na iyon, dahil iyon ay espesyal para sa kanilang lahat.

May mga nakasuot nang mahahabang dress at matataas na heels, meron rin naman na simple lang amg suot at ayos, ang iba naman ay naka sapatos lang din na ipinareha sa kanilang mga simpleng damit. Ang iba naman ay nagpapayabangan nang presyo nang damit na kanilang suot at kung sino ang nag-ayos sa kanila.

May iilan naman na ipinapakilala sa mga magulang nila ang kanilang mga naging kaibigan sa buong college year nila.

Nakakatuwa lang pagmasdan dahil kitang kita sa mga mukha nila ang sobrang saya.

Matapos magsalita nang university president ay tinawag naman si Don Roberto bilang isa sa may ari nang nasabing university para magbigay din nang kaniyang maikling payo para sa mha estudyanteng magtatapos nang araw na iyon.

"May i represent to you our one and only Don Roberto Torres, one of the owners. Let's give him a round of applause," anunsyo nang emcee.

Nagbigay naman nang paggalang ang mga estudyante sa pamamagitan nang pagtayo habang pumapalakpak ang kanilang mga kamay.

"Thank you, you may take your seat," sabay ngiti sa mga estudyante. "Good morning students, parents and faculty members. As i am given a chance para magsalita sa harapan ninyong lahat, gusto kong batiin kayong lahat nang congratulations, dahil hindi kayo sumuko na abutin ang inyong mga pangarap, natutuwa at nagagalak na walang naiwan sa inyong batch, lahat kayo ay nagsikap para magtapos ngayong araw. Bilang isang tatay at lolo, lubos na nagagalak ang puso na sa wakas nakita ko kayong lahat na aakyat sa entabladonh ito dala dala ang inyong pagpupursigi at husay sa pag-aaral para tahakin ang bagong yugto nang inyong buhay. Life maybe though, pero wag kayong susuko dahil nagsisimula pa lang ang totoong laban, lahat nang naranasan ninyong hirap ay magiging gabay ninyo para sa haharapin ninyong bukas, thankyou for not giving up, thankyou for staying at your feet, thankyou for always believing that you can do it, thankyou for striving hard, all of your hard work and perseverance brought you here today. Always remember that we are so proud of you all. Hindi ko na hahabaan pa at baka abutin tayo nang tanghali dito," pagpapatawa nang matanda. "Pero palagi ninyo tandaan na palagi ninyong baunin ang lahat nang inyong natutunan saan mang dako kayo nang mundo magpunta, i am looking forward to your bright future, again congratulations." Nakangiting salaysay nito.

"Thank you po Mr.Torres for giving us such a wonderful message, hindi na po natin patatagalin pa at dadako na po tayo sa main program sa araw na ito."

Habang nagsasalita ang emcee ay unti unti nang pumila ang mga estudyante para maghanda sa pag-akyat nila sa stage para tanggapin ang kanilang certificate kasama ang kanilang mga magulang.

Isa isa nang tinawag ang mga estudyante, nauna ang kursong management na may total na halos apat na daang magtatapos sa araw na iyon, pagtapos nila umakyat sa stage ay tinawag na ang mga honor students para tumanggap nang kanilang medalya at pang huli ay ang speech ni Celine para sa kursong management.

"She never disappoints us ever since, at alam ninyong lahat, she makes sure na lahat nang pagod at hirap niya ay may magandang resulta, as i am standing in front of you, i am proudly present to you our bachelor of management course pride, our c*m laude, Celine Fernando. Let's give her a round of applause."

Habang umaakyat si Celine sa stage ay hindi nito maiwasan na kabahan, hindi siya sanay sa sobrang dami nang tao na makikinig at nakakakita sa kaniya, introvert type kasi si Celine kaya naman hindi siya sanay sa atensyon na nakukuha niya nang mga oras na iyon, pero lahat nang kaba niya ay nawala nang makita niya ang kaniyang mga magulang na ang ganda ganda nang ngiti sa kaniya, totoo nga ang sinabi sa kaniya nang kaniyang pinsan na sakaling kabahan siya ay tumingin lang siya sa kaniyang mga magulang at mawawala na ang kaba niyang nararamdaman.

Bago siya nagsimulang magsalita ay tinignan muna niya ang mga kaeskwela at ang iba pang magtatapos kaya naman sandaling nagtama ang mga mga nila ni Adrian at nakita niya itong nakangiti at nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Good morning, faculty members, loved ones, my fellow graduates, it is an honor for me to be able to speak as the summa c*m laude of our batch. And on behalf of my fellow graduates thank you for being here and celebrating with us this memorable ceremony.

During our time as management students, we have built strong relationships and we became better versions of ourselves. And as I expected management wasn’t an easy journey. All of us here right now would agree with me.

There were a lot of times where we both laughed and cried on the same day. Where we saw more of each other than our family and loved ones because we have spent most of our times with memorizing business terms, to reviewing for exams, endless returned demonstrations and of course business plans.

I still could remember the day I told my parents that I have decided on what course I wanted to take up on college, and that is management At first my parents were very understanding, but as I was about to graduate from senior high school they started to persuade me into taking up another course. My dad wanted me to take up engineering while my mom wanted me to take up accountancy. And then I asked them

"Kung iyon ang kukunin ko ay kakayanin ba?

“why? Why do you

want me to take those courses?” and they replied, "

I want you to take up engineering because I already know someone who can give you a job once you graduate and if you take up accountancy it will be much easier for

you to look for jobs than taking up management and also some managers are being paid less”.

And I ask myself “why do I

want to take up management?” Simple answer, It is what makes me happy.

Related to this, I would like to share with you an

inspirational quotation of Nelson Mandela, he said that “There is no passion to be found in playing

small, in settling for a life that is less than the one yo

u are capable of living”.

Looking back if I have decided to

take engineering or accountancy, would I be able to stand in front of you right now graduating as a summa cumlaude? I think not. I would have rather be infuriated in my exams in management rather than being frustrated over aphysics exam in engineering or a financial exam in accountancy.

For me, what Nelson Mandela meant by saying settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living is choosing a path you are not passionate about. Management may not be a free ride to success but rather a

roller coaster like a journey, I don’t regret taking up this course.

I know that I have

chosen to live my life living my dream than fulfilling my parents own dreams. With that I realized that we would only become a better version of ourselves if we had followed what our heart is truly passionate about. And I hope that all of you have wanted this and are truly grateful and happy to graduate and become a manager soon.

we all know that i came from a poor family, maswerte na lang ako at nabigyan ako nang pagkakataon ni Don Roberto na pag-aralin nang kolehiyo, kung hindi ay hindi ninyo ako makikita ngayon dito sa harapan ninyo, baka ngayon ay nasa rancho ako at umaakyat nang punong mangga, nagiisip kung makakapag-aral pa ba. Marami akong pinagdadaanan na alam kong hindi pinagdaanan nang iba, i know how hard life is, how unfair life is , i got bullied dahil hindi ako maganda, kaya wala rin akong naging kaibigan talaga aside sa aking pinsan na palagi akong sinasamahan," Sabay tingin niya kay Rey at kay sir Adrian na palagi rin handang tumulong sa aming magpinsan pero minamasama pa nang iba," She sighned and wipe her tears. "May mga estudyante na hindi masaya sa achievement nang iba, meron naman na ichi cheer up ka kahit hindi kayo close talaga, for me doble ang pagsisikap at hirap para mapansin nang iba then i realized, na hindi ko kailangan nang approval nang iba para makuha ko ang gusto ko talaga. I strive hard double, i cried double, I even skip recesss and lunches dahil kapos kami talaga and finally ito na.

And ofcourse i would like to give my sincesiriest thankyou to Don Roberto na naniwala sa kakayahan ko sa simula pa lang nang journey ko. Thankyou po

Today as we celebrate our success and the end of our academic journey, I would like to thank our teachers who have patiently thought of us and inspired us to become who we are today and to our parents and loved ones who supported us, and of course to our classmates, our friends who have been there for us through good and bad times, though i dont have friend, who cheered us up and motivated us to do our best. We can now finally reap the fruit of our hard work.

All the struggle that we faced has ended, I am very proud of what we have achieved through these years. And as I end my speech I would like to leave a simple question

for you to ask yourselves, “Are you living a life you are truly capable of? are you happy now?"

and with that my fellow graduates thank you and congratulations." Masaya at maluha luhang speech niya.

Masigabong palakpakan at hiyawan naman ang sumalubong sa kaniya matapos niyang magsalita sa harap nang lahat nang tao na nakikinig sa kaniya nang mga oras na iyon, marami rin ang naiyak dahil sa umiiyak siya habang nagsasalita niya, naramdaman nang iba ang hirap at pagod niya para makamit ang gusto niya.

Hindi niya lubos maisip na ganoon ang magiging tugon sa kaniya nang mga estudyante at magulang, habang naglalakad pababa nang stage ay hindi niya mapigilan ang pagtulo nang kaniyang mga luha habang nakangiti, tears of joy kung baga dahil lahat nang gusto niya sabihin nang mga oras na iyon ay nasabi niya, unti unting bumalik lahat nang pagod at hirap, sakripisyo niya kaya doble rin ang naging pagluha niya talaga at hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili.

Agad naman siyang inabutan nang panyo ni Dor Roberto dahil nakaupo ito sa bandang unahan at niyakap siya nito nang mahigpit, ramdam kasi nang matanda ang naging hirap na pinagdaanan ang dalaga kaya naman sobrang proud siya rito.

"I am so proud of you iha," bulonh nito sa kaniya habang tinatapik tapik ang balikat niya.

"Maraming salamat po, Lolo. Kung hindi po dahil sa inyo wala po ako ngayon kung nasaan ako." umiiyak pa rin na sabi niya.

"Hush now, sayang ang make up, gusto mo ba na makita ni Adrian na ganyan ang istura mo mamaya?" pabirong sabi nito.

"Kayo po talaga, maraming salamat po," sabay yakap niya nang mahigpit dito.

"Bumalik ka na sa pwesto mo at mamaya naman si Adrian na ang aakyat sa stage para sa speech niya."

"Opo."

Bumalik na si Celine at Don Roberto sa kani kaniya nilang upuan dahil ang mga Information technology student naman ang aakyat sa stage para tumanggap nang kanilang certificate.

"Thankyou for your inspirational speech Celine, totoo nga na hindi natin malalaman ang struggle nang bawat isa kung hindi nila iyon ivo-voice out sa akin, akala natin ay okay ang lahat sa loob nang university pero hindi pala , as a faculty member we promise na wala nang bully han na mangyayari pa sa mga susunod na taon, we sincerely apologized for what you've been through Celine, and again congratulations," Mensahe nang emcee matapos niyang bumaba sa stage. "Now lets proceed with the Bachelor of science in Information and Technology graduates, as they receive their certificates together with their parents and guardians."

Isa isa na ring tinawag ang mga estudyante na magtatapos nang kursong Information Technology kasama ang kanilang mga magulang para tanggapin ang kanilang mga certificate sa oras na iyon, abot tainga naman ang ngiti nang magkaibigang Rey at Adrian dahil sa inaasar ni Rey si Adrian sa pila.

"Kung malapit ka lang sana , ay ikaw sana ang nakapag-abot nang panyo at hindi ang lolo mo," pang-aasar ni Rey kay Adrian. Kita kasi nito ang kagustuhan nitong tumayo sa kaniyang upuan para lapitan si Celine nang makita nitong umiiyak ang dalaga. " Masyado kang obvious kanina,"

"Ang layo eh, alangan takbuhin ko, maigi na lang at andon si lolo mas gusto ko na na siya ang nagbigay nang panyo kaysa ang ibang lalaki," he smirks!

"Sa bagay nga, sa ganda ni Celine ngayon hindi malabong may magbigay talaga nang panyo sa kaniya," tuloy na pang-aasar nito.

"As if tatanggapin niya yon if ever," sagot nang binata.

"Hindi natin alam, malay natin hindi ba, kasi kung ako ang nasa posisyon niya ay kung sino mang mag-abot sa akin nang panyo ay tatanggapin ko na, why not di ba? lalo na kung malabo na ang paningin niya dahil sa mga luha niya sa mata."

"Bakit hindi ka lumapit sa kaniya kanina noong nakita mo na umiiyak na siya, you know she needed someone," taas balikat nito.

"Do you think i am that someone? bakit hindi ikaw ang pumunta?"

"Enough with this Rey, malapit ka na umakyat oh, ang daldal mo."

Natawa na lang rin si Don Roberto sa kulitan nang dalawang magkaibigan.

Natawa na lang si Rey sa pag iiba nang topic ni Adrian, para itong nabuking sa kaniyang itinatago, Rey knew na gusto ni Adrian si Celine kahit hindi magsabi ang binata sa kaniya, lalaki rin siya kaya naman kita niya sa mga kinikilos nito ang dahilan, hindi lang niya inoopen up sa binata dahil ayaw naman niya na pangunahan ang binata.

Matapos ang lahat ay tinawag na rin si Adrian para magbigay nang kaniyang speech para sa lahat.

"Deans of the different colleges, faculty members, staff, parents, friends and guests, a blessed morning, and to my fellow graduates, Congratulations!

I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM THE BEST.

Now, before any of you say that I am a self-absorbed, egotistic, or arrogant being, let me ask you a question: what does it mean to be the best? If we are going to define the said word according to the standards of our society, the best may mean the most intelligent, the most talented in any given skill, the most gifted of all, or simply the one who has all that he needs and is greater than anyone else.

However, that is not how I see it.

Growing up, believe me, that is exactly how I grasped the concept. The more medals you get means you’re the smartest. The more trophies you received, the better. And the higher your grades, the better you are as a person as compared to others.

Yet it made me realize that this belief only placed a false sense of security over an individual and an even greater risk of self-doubt in the coming years. We were taught that to be the best means to be the greatest among others. But I disagree. It is my strongest conviction that striving to be the best is not about a life of constantly beating or competing with other people so that you can be at the top, rather, it is conquering a greater enemy other than the people around you – and that person is you.

We have no greater adversary than ourselves. And like a brave soldier in an epic battle, I believe that one of the highest and utmost purposes in our lives is to defeat and conquer the rival, the opponent which we see every time we look in front of the mirror. My fellow graduates, never stop growing. Never stop pushing yourself. Never be afraid to try new things. And let us remember, that we can do all things armed by our faith which makes us stronger.

Going back to my introduction, I said that I am here because I am the best. I am not talking about being here in front you as I deliver this message nor about being here as someone who received the highest academic honor. Truth be told, I never expected myself to be in this position. Still, I believe that it happened for a reason. I am here because I overcame myself. And I am glad to say, that you did too, my fellow graduates. You are here because you are the best – the best version of yourself and no one else. And for that, a job well done!

You may not be the best in your class, the most talented musician, or even the best athlete but you can still be the best version of yourself that you or anyone have ever seen. Grades are but a number and medals and trophies fade over time, but the fulfillment of outdoing yourself is something that even the highest honor or recognition could never match.

And remember, that our journey to become the best is never a solitary one. There are people who are vital in our lives who helped us become the person we are today. Of course, our parents who have toiled night and day to send us to a good school and who placed us first before themselves.

Lolo, I appreciate you for being there from the start. I may not be expressive as regards my gratitude, but God knows how I am grateful for all the sacrifices you have made. I love you very much.

Again, Congratulations Graduates!"

Masigabong palakpalak at sigawan din ang sumalubong sa kaniya, his speech maybe simple pero alam niyang masasabi niya lahat in his own way.

"Thank you for your wonderful message Adrian and with that, I would love to Congratulate you all! Congratulations!"

At sabay sabay na nilang inilipat ang tali nang kanilang toga cap at inihagis ito sa taas, finally the graduation ended wonderful and it's a wrap.