The Graduate

This was a letter to my sister shared with other close friends like Mila Astorga-Garcia.

 

Dear Mila,
        The 'Aida March' is still ringing in my ears.
        Yesterday we marched at our Commencement Exercises at the PICC. I was
very pleasantly surprised at the time management. We were through by 5 pm, even
with the hundreds of us who received our diplomas (yes, the real thing!)
        It was an impressive ceremony. And quite a long march (was I glad I
wore very comfortable slingback flat shoes!) from the bridgeway where we
assembled, through the lobby and down the stairs from the balcony down to the
orchestra and to our numbered seats. The audience occupied the mezzanine. The
speeches were brief but meaningful,and the awarding of diplomas was executed
with military precision. Only Florofoto and the PICC in-house photographer were
authorized to take pictures kaya walang nagkakagulong kodak-an, ika nga.
        Salamat at malamig sa loob, dahil ang init po ng suot na toga. I wore
a summer dress, para hindi pawisan sa assembly sa bridgeway (which took all of
45 minutes). Sabi ng mga nasa audience, gininaw nga raw sila. I could believe
it, because at one point, I slipped my hands inside the sleeves of the gown.
        Pagpasok pala namin, we were being directed to a different wing. Akala
ng young ushers, faculty members kami, he, he, he!
        Puyat kami kahapon, because we had our graduation ball the night before
at the Westin Philippine Plaza. It was a ballroom dancing affair with a live
band. Enjoy! Wala nang partner-partner pagsayaw! We danced as a group, at maski
paano lang ang steps, di naman halata dahil lahat ay nagwawala!
        Before the dancing, there was a program. May speeches ang Philippine at
Indonesian representatives.(PLM also did the off-campus program in Indonesia,
and the graduates of 3 classes came over to attend the graduation activities.)
May numbers ang iba-ibang groups. One group sang the song IF WE HOLD ON TOGETHER
and spontaneously, the audience joined in, then held hands, and formed into a
huge circle. It was so beautiful! I held hands with an Indonesian girl (we
exchanged cards later) and it turned out she was just a guest at her husband's
graduation! I am composing a letter to her in Bahasa Indonesia later.
        Umalis kami sa ball at 11 pm, para daw di gaanong mapuyat. Sus, feeling
like PROM night naman,so nagkayayaang mag-night cap ng halo-halo sa labas. Na
inabot ng 1 am sa kuwentuhan at tawanan. Five of us girls slept at the office,
kaya parang pajama party na nagdaldalan pa at nagtawanan till 3 am. Kinailangang
gumising nang maaga para di abutang di pa nakaligo ng mga maaga ang pasok. Sus!
        Most of that morning was spent having our hair and make-up done by
enthusiastic co-officemates. Our graduation is an office event. Dito lang sa
department namin, lima na kaming graduates. 3 classes kasi iyon na iba-ibang
degrees. Siguro about 50 kami sa office, and about 15 are executives.
        Nakakatuwa nga ang translation ng aming course in Pilipino: MBA-TEP
(Master in Business Administration for Top Executive Progam) is PAHAM SA
PAMAMAHALANG PANGKALAKAL PARA SA MATATAAS NA PINUNO. May ipagyayabang na
naman ang Tatay ko.
        You can imagine. Matindi ang hangover kaya walang matinong nagawa
ngayong araw.
        Dagdag na kuwento:
        Nung other Sunday, umuwi ako sa Cabanatuan. Dinala ko ang toga para
magpa-picture sa Tatay ko. Sabi ko sa Nanay ko, kunyari nag-attend na sila ng
graduation at nakauwi na kami. Di siempre nagbihis at nagkodak-an nga. Dalawa
pa nga ang change of clothes ng Nanay ko. Pinasuot ko rin sa kanya ang toga
at nag-pose din, parang professor! Padadaig ba naman ang Tatay ko? Aba, mas
marami pa ang posing sa akin! With and without eyeglasses, full shot at close-
up pa. Na-develop na ang mga ito, magaganda raw. Sabi nga ng Tatay, yun daw
ang ibibigay niyang picture pag nanghingi sa jubilarians ang Alumni Engrs.
Problema lang, baka daw siya tanungin kung saang school nag-Master's.
        This is my story about graduation that I sent to my sister. I edited it
for a friend, and then for you. You might like to read it, too.
        About the stories regarding the activities of Prep '65, natabunan na
nga ng excitement of graduation, kaya walang Internet edition.
                                                        Sincerely,
                                                     Ana B.
Here's my graduation picture!
 
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