It's official. I've graduated.

I finally got to shake hands with the school admin and get, at last, my diploma last Saturday. I guess everything's been said and done during last Saturday's ceremony, and the only thing I could utter in a candid mood right now are these few words: ''Congratulations Batch 2008! I'm so gonna miss you all!''

The moment I received my diploma from our all-smiling directress, I knew it was already the commencement of the wild, obnoxious, mulish yet sweet life in college and in the real world. Though the whole ceremony turned out to be a total bore [which is natural to all graduation ceremonies here in the country anyway], I still appreciate the fact that the girls looked good that hot afternoon, that the boys were so kulit parin under mad sweats, that almost everyone had medals to bring home to make their mommas proud, that Justin did a great job on his momentous speech-- I almost cried [KIDDING], that we all looked like students from Hogwarts School of Magic, that the song choices for the whole grad event were nice, and that most part of the celebration was laughable rather than mushy and dramatic.

Even if my efforts in maintaining and bettering my grades didn't pay off that much because of the traumatic incident I went through last last last week, I'm still thankful to dear God Almighty that I made it, I managed to graduate in time, had a few humble awards to brag, and in no time soon I'll be kicking my butt off in college. Now that's what I call truly blessed.

We've gotten tired of the daily DS routine but who wouldn't miss that among my batchmates? Almost 12 years of stay in Dominican School is no joke, kiddo. You do almost the same thing everyday that it felt like you'd be doing that all the days of your life. But I know, as soon as I get to feel the hurdle of my next verve--in college, I mean-- I'll be wishing I could stick to my old daily routine back in high school. But then again, it's now over.

As I continue to receive group messages from my batchmates and friends telling everyone all the touching and emo stuff, I will go on missing them more and more. I will never get tired missing these people I used to be with, talk, and see almost everyday; the nicest people on Earth who would always be there, the craziest people on the planet I love to be with most of the time... these are the people, my batchmates from DS 07-08, who refined my being today, and who in all honesty, made living in this scary world happy indeed.

We're all moving on now and it is for good. We have dreams to pursue, and goodbyes are just the beginning of all the wonderful things ahead of us. I wish us all the best luck in life and that may we all pull off our goals without forgetting where we came from, and the people who has been part of our cultivating years.

Then again I say to everyone, this is no goodbye. We'll all see each other again with better hellos, better ohmyghads, and better see-you-agains.

Dominican School Batch 2007-2008, Congratulations and til' next time! Ü

Farewell by R.L.

This is my now by J.S.

***

By the way, thank you to Mom, Dad, Tita Shao, Cuz Kathleen, Tito Randy, Lolo Benny, Lola Oriang, and cousins Leslie and Dessiree for witnessing my graduation. I know it was so hot that afternoon inside the hall but you were still there for me.

Thank you Leslie for accompanying me all throughout, to my "Bae" Oriang for making it in time for mass that I was able to give you my sincerest gratitude for everything, to my uncle Alao for driving, to Dad, Tita Shao, and Cuz Kath for making it at the event-- for being my personal photographers for the day [haha, kidding], to Mom and Tito Randy for making it even at the last minute before the marching, to Dessiree and "Ama" Benny for coming, to aunt Edith and nana Shirley for preparing delicious meals at home, to the Tamayo family who visited me home, to Sr. Directress for making me feel proud as I join my batchmates during the grad rites, to Mr. Joeffrey Chan for the smile and teeny clap [I saw that, HAHA] when I was on stage, to all my teachers for the consideration they gave me when I was in my very worst condition that I couldn't almost make it to the graduation, and to all the parents of my batchmates who greeted me.

4-SD, 4-SAG, YUARJI, AIIZYNTCHEL, ENCORD, ARCHIA, ALKATRAZ, NYSAAZYOTE, DOODLES, CLINX, GRENDURBY, and to all… You guys are amazing. Though lots of groupie names rise in both classes, we're still one, right?

Erika, Cham, Katlen, Ynah, Anaw, Crystal, Ariane, Hedy, Lorena, May Anne, Maeinra, Charmaine, Jazel, Jessalyn, Pia, Margie, Marion, Chuckie, Arjune, Narenn, Allen, Richmond, Marco, Ramon, Nico, Karizze, Majie, Karissa, Ivan, Bryan --- I had the best moments with you guys. Thank you so much.

* * *

Sigh... FINALLY.