May 5, 2006, 7:00pm
Cheers to my batch mates! Here I am in front of my pc, drinking ice tea toasting to my Computer Engineering students who graduated in Folk Arts Theater this afternoon. (I would love to drink red wine tonight but due to the hot weather I decided to stick to iced green tea even if I still have the strawberry wine I bought from Baguio last January :) )
I usually don’t write dedications or congratulatory messages to my students who graduates, for I see students graduate almost every six months but somehow I felt the need to reach out to them one last time.
I consider this batch special for two reasons:
1. I consider them my batch mates, (whether I like it or not :) JOKE LANG) for I am also set to graduate this May 10 @ 1pm at Bulwagang Balagtas (together with Engr. Tenerife(MIT) and Engr. Abas(MSIT)) with the course of Master in Information Technology. At this circumstance we are forever bonded as the Graduating Batch 2006.
2. This summer graduation also marks the 10 yrs since I graduated in BSCOE(also held in Folk Arts, same time although we graduated April 30 then I think). Hay such SENTI……
I don’t attend graduations, the first and last one I attended as a faculty was back in 1999(my brother graduated then ECE) for I feel its like saying goodbye and I’ll never going to see them again. I usually distance myself my graduating students because as their teacher and being with them for almost 5 years it is really hard to say goodbye. It is specially hard if you are really close to them, when you consider them as you friends and they consider you as their elder sister (me pabata effect pa). I don’t want to say goodbye but congratulations! Keep it up! cyah soon! and goodluck!
I can say that with this batch I saw you all grow from the time when you were very eager to learn new things together with still the childish mannerisms you have when I first met you on your third year to the tough forth year when I saw you tears of frustrations, it is when I slowly began to see your emerging maturity in taking projects left and right and finishing them, some of your works were impressive. And lastly the young adult who takes his/her stand in what you believe in and working for what you want to achieve(like the pictorials and yearbook – kasama ba grad pics ko dun? hehehe), to the sometimes indifference attitude you project when the pressure is too much to bear.
I can’t help but to compare you to what we were, when we were at your shoes. There were times that I ask my self “Makakaya kaya naming sayawin at gawin ang mga pinaggagawa nyo sa Baguio if we were given the change then?”, “ Sila kaya ang magkakatuluyan?” Most of the college sweethearts then made it to the altar. “Ilan kaya ang magaabroad at sino-sino sila?
I see in you such promise, promise of a bright future. Don’t feel bad if you still have not found a job, it will come. Enjoy this time of idleness kasi nde na yan mauulit once you started working. That is one of my regrets then, nag trabaho ako agad nde ko na namnam ang pagrerelax hehehe. There maybe people who easily got jobs, maybe yours will be just around the corner, take this time to learn new thing and enrich your self take it from me, nagbabaking class ako ngayon :) . I will be launching my online chocolates business my October, bili kayo ha.
Always seize the opportunity to learn, our industry is in constant change kailangang lagi ka updated sa changes. We pride ourselves to be hardworking it is one of the assets being a PUPian is known for.
Lastly, wag kalilimutan ang iyong pinanggalingan, remember the time na halos mamalimos tayo ng speakers for the IT Conference? Magpakadalubhasa kayo para next year at sa mga susunod na conference kayo na kukunin nating spearkers!
I will not forget you, madami tayong pinagsamahan, hirap, saya, takot, lungkot at tagumpay. I will always be here you know how to reach me. Welcome to the IT industry my fellow professionals! As graduates many doors will be opened to us(pati ako :)), who knows where will fate bring us? Malay nyo sa states or Australia pa ulit tayo magkita? Hehehe. If you miss us, your professors, just drop by PUP dala kayo pasalubong ha. hehehe
Congratulations! Keep it up! cyah soon! and goodluck!
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