My Graduation - Congratulations!

 Francis Archie Riva, BS MIS 2007, Ateneo de Manila University

Today marks the most anticipated if not the most remarkable event of the year - my graduation!  It does not only end my college journey but it also significantly concludes my schooling life. And I couldn't have been more thankful and proud for having gone this far.

Today, I officially received a degree from the Ateneo de Manila Univeristy, the school for which a million students would struggle to get into, the school I never thought I could be in.  From this school I graduated with humble honors together with unforgettable experiences of student leadership and camarederie among colleagues and friends.

Today, I grant the dreams of my parents, of my mother in particular, who painstakingly sacrificed for the past 21 years to give his sons the best education possible. She, who admiringly puts her sons' welfares atop of her priorities practically forgetting herself for the benefit of her family, is now given tribute for the accomplishment his son has gained for her.

Today marks the beginning of a new journey and a new chapter in my life. I am very thankful for what life has been and with full courage and determination, I am now looking forward to what life will be.  I am offering to God both my achievements and frustrations and in Him, I entrust my future. 

To all the people who have served as my inspiration and confidant for the past twenty-one years, thank you very much!  To everyone in my batch, congratulations and may we all have a productive future ahead!

The graduate with his very proud mother after the Baccalaureate Mass.

The graduate with his youngest aunt before the Graduation ceremonies. Well, people usually think she's my older sister.

 
A pose after the diploma and medal was received.

And finally, the graduate and his dearest hugmate who went all the way from Las Piñas.

Lessons from Mr. Forrest Gump

Isn't it true that there are many moments in our lives when we complain and worry too much over some problems we ourselves create? We usually blind our eyes from the most important things in life and in the end we always find ourselves preoccupied and burdened by nothing but by our own actions and doings.  This is very true about me especially at this time when I am so worried, so preoccupied and so concerned about the things beyond my control.

I am worried about the uncertainties of the future, you know, about finding and having the best possible job, about looking for a new place where I can stay after graduation, about living an independent yet stable and sustainable life, about finding the best career that suits me, about maintaining a good and healthy relationship with my loved one, about supporting the needs of my family, about my mission in life, about my life. 

In the same way, I also always look back at the past and question the things that I thought I should have never done or the things that I thought I should have done - like shifting to other course where I can put more my interest and passion in, or like putting much effort in extra curricular activities and not compromising my academics, or like reading more books when I was growing up to better equip myself, or like aiming for a latin honor as early as freshman year to help me get started about it - pretty much like the things unresolved, like the things I am not happy about in the past.

I worry too much that I sometimes forget to treasure the present moment, the time when I can really be the best I can be. Life is still beautiful; life is still life. There are many things to be thankful for and I just have to be humble enough to see the brighter side of the picture. Live and never stop living. Run and never stop running!  And even if I stumble or fall, I shall rise up and run again. The world does not stop revolving. The world is not just about me. I may not be the smartest being but I surely knows what love is.  And in life, that's what matters most.  Love thy life.  Live thy love.

Two hours ago, I watched for the first time the award-winning movie Forrest Gump.  And after two hours, I cannot help but play the whole uplifting sound track over and over again.  It reminds me how beautiful and how good life is no matter how difficult or uncertain it is. After all, life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you gonna get. Thank you Mr. Forrest Gump!

Your Body Is A Wonderland

A song I truly love to hear.  A song that reminds me how beautiful love is and how it touches the soul of every person in love.  A song that I dedicate to my hugmate for this weekend.

Your Body Is A Wonderland, by John Mayer 

We got the afternoon. You got this room for two. One thing I've left to do. Discover me, discovering you. One mile to every inch of your skin like porcelain. One pair of candy lips and your bubblegum tongue. And if you want love, we'll make it, swimming a deep sea of blankets. Take all your big plans and break 'em. This is bound to be a while.

Your body Is a wonderland, your body is a wonder, I'll use my hands. Your body Is a wonderland. 

Something 'bout the way your hair falls in your face. I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase. You tell me where to go and though I might leave to find it, I'll never let your head hit the bed without my hand behind it. You want love? We'll make it,  swimming a deep sea of blankets. Take all your big plans and break 'em. This is bound to be a while.

Your body Is a wonderland, your body is a wonder, I'll use my hands. Your body Is a wonderland.

Your body Is a wonderland, your body is a wonder, I'll use my hands. Your body Is a wonderland. Your body is a wonderland.

Saturday Night Love!

SNL?  That was the question that intrigued every senior as we received the invitation to one of the most anticipated event of the year - the senior's pull-out!  SNL then means Saturday Night Love!

I have to admit that I was really surprised because the event was unexpectedly fabulous.  I never imagined that we would go as far as Laguna and would be staying overnight in Paolo Gayod's privately owned resort.  Of course, there is the usual blindfold, group challenges, food, performances, videos, and letters for the seniors but everything was done beyond what we seniors expected.  The food were delicious and indulging!  The performance by Darling was incredible!  The place of Paolo was absolutely great!

After the formal program, we went swimming in a warm and refreshing pool (actually it felt like jacuzzi), sang songs with the videoke machine, played a small basketball game which ended soon because the ball is nowhere to be found in the grassy area, rode and drove the padyak or pedicab of Paolo, talked and walked with Bianca and Paolo for stories about love and relationships, and everything that you can imagine doing in an overnight party. 

All I can say is that it was the best senior's pull-out ever and I wanted to thank all the AtSCAn undergrads who took part in its preparation and who made it successful and meaningful for us.  Thank you and congratulations!

When the pool is not yet full, the models pose and become more cool…

and when the lights are out and the video starts rolling, everyone else just begins smiling and clapping…

…and the night ended proving that we are such a community where friendship is fostered and treasured.

Thanks to DA Abellera for the pictures.  Again, thank you very much undergrads for that one big SNL!  What a pressure for the next seniors blow-out to be prepared by us.

And oh, congratulations as well to the new Executive Board of AtSCA.  Good luck to a year of service and leadership ahead!

Love Alone is Not Enough

Finally, we have talked and finally you have uttered the things I so long wanted to hear.  They were just hunches and feelings then, and now they speak the words of reality.  You said, "Love alone is not enough."  I thought to myself, "Love never says enough."

I don't know but this song captures the feelings within. 

Chasing Cars, by Snow Patrol

We'll do it all, everything on our own , we don't need anything or anyone. If I lay here, if if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world? I don't quite know how to say, how I feel.  Those three words are said too much but not enough. If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world? Forget what we're told, before we get too old, show me a garden that's bursting into life.  Let's waste time chasing cars around our heads.  I need your grace to remind me to find my own. If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world? Forget what we're told, before we get too old, show me a garden that's bursting into life.  All that I am , all that I ever was is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see. I don't know where, confused about how as well, just know that these things will never change for us at all.  If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?