Commencement

"There is a good reason they call these ceremonies 'commencement exercises'. Graduation is not the end, it's the beginning." - (Orrin Hatch)

In some ways, this could be considered as an ending. It is an ending of all sleepless nights doing projects and assignments, spending time in front of books and computers making some research or studying instead of staying outside with friends having good time in strolling and having fun, waking up early to off to school, hard works in studying to get perfect on a quiz or exams, and tiring days during school activities. Some maybe sad because, they will be parted with their friends whom they were accompanied for years and became closer to their hearts. On the other way around, this could be the beginning. Beginning of a new journey in life. Elementary graduates will step into a new level of their school life which is high school and so as high school to College. College graduates take a new episode of their lives which is "work". Graduates must bear in mind that after graduation is not time to relax rather it is the time for preparation and soul searching. For Graduation is not and end of the book but, a finishing chapter. They will enter to a new episode, a much exciting and challenging phase.

I congratulated all those graduates for they achieved one important milestone in their education. To some extent, I congratulate their parents for their sacrifices in making double hardworks so they can send there children to school. And most of all, We should thank God for experiencing this kind of opportunity.

CONGRATS to you graduates for a job well done and Good luck for the new path of your life. God bless us all!

Heartbroken

Before I went to Manila, someone courted me and had my YES to be his girlfriend. I don't have any love for him that time but still, I agreed to be his girl. My parents prohibited me to get into a relationship. "Don't get a boyfriend since you are still young for those matters" my parents always say to me. When I was 18 years old, I got boyfriend once. I loved him but still, after 3 months, I think, I broke up with him because of my parents. I felt unfair to them because I disobeyed them. He understood my reasons and promised me that he'll wait for me until I finish my studies. But, it didn't happen, he got new girlfriend 4 months after we broke up. It did hurt me much, but still I managed to move on.


I was single and happy during my being an “out of school” youth until someone courted me. He was a friend of mine. I've known him for almost one year. I met him through my cousin who happens to be his classmate. I didn't feel love for him but I gave him my sweet YES. The time he courted me, I thought that it's about time for me to have a boyfriend since I'm already 19 years old. I'm old enough to get into a relationship and in addition, I already know my limitations. He never promised to not hurt me because for him, relationship wasn't normal without getting any misunderstandings. He just told me that he will always love me. At that time that I was in Manila, we just communicated through cell phone expressing our love. We exchanged sweet words. As time goes by, I can say I was already in love with him. I gave my full trust to him. He told me that he will wait for me for my coming back. But when I got home, he always missed to send text messages to me. He said that he was just very busy with his studies and he couldn't buy load since he had many expenses because of the projects. I understood him since it was about his schooling. After two weeks of being home, we never met. Okay, I remember we met but that was just a short time like saying hi and hello. That was it. Night before we broke up, we had a small fight. It was his fault. There was a time that he bought load but never texted me even once. It hurts. I knew it from a friend of mine. I confronted him that we had misunderstanding. I stopped texted to him that night and just slept. Day after that night, we texted and he felt that I wasn't in the mood for texting. I confirmed to him that I wasn't really in the mood, after that, there, he broke up with me. At first, I was shocked with his words "let's stop this nonsense relationship". He said that he was already tired pretending that our relationship was cool and fine. Then, he admitted that he didn't really love me since from the very start. OUCH! It hurt me as if someone hit a knife into my heart. It really broke my heart into pieces. I didn't cry. Nothing fell down from my eyes even just a drop of tear. I wanted to cry to express the ache I felt inside but I couldn't. I didn't know why. All I know was I was hurt, really hurt as if there's a part of me was taken away from me. Good thing that me and my friends agreed to meet. We did things we always do like roaming around the boutiques in Maasin City. I told them what had happen to me on that day. They helped me a lot. Our activity did a great help to me to stop thinking and feeling the ache and forgot at least for a short time. When the night came, we went to a disco bar. There, I danced non-stop. Through dancing, I was able to express the hurt I felt. Some people, when they break up with their partners, commit suicide or just get themselves drunk. I was different. I didn't drink that time. I just danced and danced with my friends as my dance partners. I felt relieved that time. But when we got home to rest and sleep, there, I felt the pain again. I kept moving and change positions in my bed so i could sleep but I couldn't until the morning came. As far as I remember, I’ve never been like that before. It was my first to be like that. And, I hate to be like that. I was worried if I'd be like that until I moved on. That day, I forced myself to sleep. I kept my eyes close but it wasn't working. Whole day, I didn't have sleep even just for a minute since whenever I close my eyes I could see his text messages running into my mind. With nothing to do, I decided to go to a salon to have my hair treated and also to change my looks. I got a "bangs" hair style. At least, there's something that change in my look. The night came, after dinner, me and my friends strolled around the City proper and just went home when I felt tired and asleep. As I laid down on bed, I didn't slept immediately. It takes for a long time for me to sleep but at least, I fell asleep. Yahooo!

Days passed, I must say I moved on. I felt no pain anymore whenever I think about what had happen. Having no memories with him helped me a lot to move on that fast. Getting hurt was just normal to a person who was in love. But it depends on a person on how to handle it. Me, instead of crying in the corner, I just let myself enjoyed since for me, I should never be miserable because of a male. I just told to myself that he lost a million for breaking up with me. Hehehe! What I had experienced was never easy to me but despite that, I never done things which could show that I'm down. He don't deserve to be cried for. He was never worth my tears. Because of what he did, I became much closer to my friends. I was more open to them about my feelings. And, I also thank them for always being there for me. They never let me feel that I'm alone. Through what my ex-boyfriend did to me, I realized that there's no reason for me to be sad because I'm so loved by many. Despite what he had done, for fooling me, I thank him for some ways. Because of him, I've learned my lesson. He made me stronger by breaking my heart. Now, I'm happy with my life being committed to no one but my friends. Also, I’m ready to get hurt again. I found it very interesting. Hehehe. That was just a joke! God bless you!

Reunited with My Friends

One reason why I wanted to go home were my friends. While in Manila, I missed those times when I was with them, the things we did when we were together, the good and bad memories we've shared. When I was still in Manila, I was planning of surprising them (“mommy” Ritchiele and Yhing). I keep on telling that I'm not sure when would I come home. They always asked me to go home because they already missed me as they said. I planned that on the day I arrived home, I'll make a surprise meeting with them but it didn't happen because I didn't feel well. I was suffering from cough, cold and sore throat. Huhuhu! That's why I didn't make it to meet with them. While resting at our house, I just send them text messages as if I'm still in Manila. Hahaha! I rested for two days and when I felt better, I went to the city proper where Yhing lives in. Perfect timing that “mommy” Ritchiele was also there. On my way to their house, I was very excited and couldn't wait to surprise them. When I got there, hahaha, there were happy but not really surprised. I hugged them both. It made me wonder why they were not surprised. So, I asked them. It never came into my mind, as a matter of fact, it was my aunt who told them when I'll be home since they met her two weeks before I went home. How funny! I thought I'm the one who made up a story in order to surprise them, but it was reverse, they pretended to believe me while in fact they did know everything. It was ridiculous. All those times I told them that I'm not sure when I'd be home, they already knew. I couldn't believe. I was amazed. Big laugh to myself again! All those times I'm pretending, my friends were the real one who were pretending.


I didn't have something to give to them; instead, I just treat them for a drink. On that afternoon, we went to the grocery store to buy junk food and D'bar (alcohol). I felt a bit shy to buy that stuff, so it was Yhing who brought it. After we bought, we gathered at Yhing's sister's house together with our other 3 friends and have the drinking session there. Honestly, it was not my first time to drink alcohol but not that much as of that time. My parents didn't know about it. They were blind by the truth. I drank more than my limits. My friends were worried for I still have to go home since my father was waiting for me. They gave me more water to drink. And while we were on our way to home at night, I was so drunk that I shouted crazy things to my friends asking them to punch my face and so on. They were a little bit mad at me because I didn't listen to them to stop shouting, to think that we were in the streets with many people. They felt embarrassed because of me, because of the way I acted when drunk. What a stupidity of me! I didn't know what I was doing that time. I was sooooo drunk. When we arrived at my father, I was pretending to be alright. And good, my father never noticed that I was drunk. I did a great job. Hehehe. I really forget things I've done during that night. I didn't know what the hell I was doing that time. I was shy. It was not good for a girl like me. It was unpleasant to see and hear. I hated it. It was just my friends who told me all those things. I regret that I got drunk. Hearing those things I've done during that time, I felt small to myself. I felt I lost my dignity. Because of that, I promised to myself not to drink alcohol anymore even one sip. I'll try my best to save myself from embarrassment. And I realized that it's not good for a girl to drink too much alcohol! God bless!

There's No Place Like Home

Happy! Happy! Happy! This was what I felt when I arrived home. We got home at around 2:40am since our home was just a 30-minute away from the city proper. Upon arriving, my mother prepared the table for me and then, I ate together with my elder sister. She cooked tinolang manok and fried pork chop, the food I had requested to her when I was still in Cebu since she knew that I didn't eat my lunch and dinner yet. While eating, I told them my stories about what happened in Manila. It was around 3:30am and I was done eating, me and my sister were left in the kitchen since my parents went already to their room to sleep. What we did there was just talk and talk about the things I had experienced and also, things that happened in our place while I'm away. We never noticed the time until we felt sleepy. So, we went to our room to sleep. When we got there, we're lying, we didn't sleep immediately. We just continued with our topics until we both fell into sleep.  Because we sleep very late, we woke late in the morning. Hehehe! As I woke up, I went immediately to the kitchen and look for something to eat since I felt hungry. Glad that my mother prepared a food for me. I ate a lot because I missed the cooking of my mother. In the middle of my breakfast, visitors came. They were my aunts and cousins. Seeing them, smile appeared on my face. I missed these people. Super happy that they visited me! I felt flattered. After I ate, we gathered at our living room and there, we bond. Here I go again, talking things about Manila. Hehehe! They asked me about how the lives of our relatives there was. I told them all about the situation and nothing to worry about. They were all fine. We had lunch together. great lunch since it was like a one big happy family. This is what I always wanted to spend time with my relatives on a dinner. After we took our lunch, we rested for minutes and then, we all went to my late grandfather's house. We've been there until nights, gather there and have dinner together. watch televicion while talking different things like reminiscing the things happen during my mother and her sibling's childhood. I found it very funny and interesting, It's good to be home. I must say, it was a great first day after I went home. God Bless all the families!

I'm Going Home to the Place Where I Belong (Part 4)

This is the story of my trip to Manila. If you want to read it all, it starts here. The previous part is Going Home (Part 3).

Part 4: Finally back in Maasin

I was very disappointed because I was expecting to be home at 8pm. I just couldn’t wait any longer to go home and see my parents. When I looked at my watch, it was 12:10 pm and the boat would leave for around 7 hours later. I didn’t know what to do. If I go back to my friend's place, I had to pay for a taxi again, waste of money, back and forth. And, if I stay on the pier, I'd be lonely since there was no one I could talk to. My friend couldn't stay with me since she had to work. Finally, I chose to stay at the pier instead of spending more money to go back to the house. I was just hoping that I'll be okay and safe there. As we enter at pier 1, we went to the ticket booth to buy my ticket but it was posted there that they would start giving tickets at 4pm. Ooooooooooh no! We looked for a chair and there, my friend left me. I felt nervous inside. After few minutes, I felt hungry and sleepy, only to realize that I haven't taken my lunch yet and also, I didn't have sleep since Manila. If I went out to buy foods, there was no one whom i could trust to see my baggage. So, I chose to stay and suffer from hunger. Also, I couldn't sleep because I was afraid that if I sleep, someone will steal my things. I stayed at the pier without lunch and sleep until the boat left. I felt weak. Still, I managed myself to be alright. I just entertained myself playing games on my phone or texting with my friends. With this kind of activity, I got bored but, what else could I do to have fun? Glad that my friend in Manila called me. We had fun talking many different things until I bought my ticket. After I bought, I went immediately inside to go to the boat. Finally, I would be able to sleep since my baggage was safe there. I didn't notice when the boat was moving for leaving because I had a deep sleep. I just woke up 4 hours after its departure. And at that time point, I realized that I was going home at last. Hehehe! I went back to sleep since I would just get bored on the boat if I stayed awake. I slept until my arrival. The noise of the other passengers woke me up, and wow, we were already in Maasin. Yahoooo! I got my baggage and went down from the boat and there, I saw my parents. I hugged them tightly since I missed them very much. Finally, I was home. There's no place like home! Thank God I came home safe. God Bless us all!

I'm Going Home to the Place Where I Belong (Part 3)

This is the story of my trip to Manila. If you want to read it all, it starts here. The previous part is Going Home (Part 2). The next part is here.

Part 3: Arriving in Cebu

 ... While sitting there inside the plane, I took pictures of myself. I wasn't able to take other pictures inside the plane since I was shy with my seatmates. And since I was at the window side, I was able to take pictures of the other plane outside. I just looked outside, amazed what happened at the airport. After a while, we were ready to start. Few seconds, I felt that the plane was moving. It ran until it flew. I looked outside again and all I could see were dots of lights. Few minutes afterwards, the flight attendants showed some safety demonstration during emergency case. I listened very eagerly, not because the flight attendants were all handsome and beautiful, but because it was important during my flight since we didn't know what would happen. We went higher and higher, farther and farther until I saw lights no more. Goodbye Manila!


While waiting for the arrival, I just read some magazines since I couldn't sleep, because of my excitement, maybe. On our flight, the plane moved like a bus running on a rocky road. It was because of some air turbulences. After a few minutes, I saw dots of lights again and it must be Cebu. I felt that the plane was running. I never felt that it went down from above. As the plane stopped, we went out immediately and went to the part of the airport to get our baggage. After that, I went directly outside and found an airport taxi. Before I left Manila, I contacted my friend (a College classmate) to meet me in Cebu since I'm not familiar with the place. We just set place where we met and it was the Gaisano Country Mall. It was just a walk from her boarding house. The taxi went immediately to her boarding house. I'd stay there until the time the boat goes to Maasin. We got bored so we decided to go to Ayala Mall and roamed around there. We didn't buy anything. We just walked around it. When the time came, it was 11:30 am, we went back to her place, got my baggage and went immediately to the pier. We ride a taxi again. When we were there, my friend volunteered to get a ticket for me. Sadly, there was no day trip. Huhuhu! It was said that the boat will depart at around 7pm or 8pm. What should I do? What happened to me next??? Find it out on the last part of this Blog entry of mine.