It’s Tin and Justin’s graduation day yesterday. Just like any other graduation ceremony lahat tayo ay excited na makita ang mga anak natin na umaakyat ng stage. And just like any valedictorian or guest speaker’s speech the phrase “this is not the end….this is only the beginning” is not new to us, lahat yata ng speech sa graduation meron nyan. Sabi nga ng isang kaibigan kahapon after the ceremony, “It is not common for a highschool and elementary graduation na maging too much emotional, pwede pa siguro sa college dahil on that stage kahit papaano alam mong talagang end na sya ng paghihirap mo sa pag-aaral.” Bakit nga ba ganun ka emotional ang pagtatapos ng highschool dito sa place namin?
On our part wherein all my kids were born here in Saudi Arabia, highschool graduation means separation. Wala naman kasing college school dito para sa kanila. Walang choice kundi umuwi ng Pilipinas at mahiwalay talaga sa magulang. For fifteen years na kasama namin dito si Tin-tin, this will be the first time na mawawalay sya sa amin nang matagal. Ang dami kong nababasang status sa facebook ng countdown sa pag-uwi nila sa pinas dahil sa excitement na makita syempre ang pamilya. It is not that I am not excited to go home but this one is different. Pagbalik namin dito after vacation hindi na namin kasama si Tin dahil kailangan na nya maiwan sa pinas.
Iba-iba ang emotions na makikita mo sa graduation kahapon. May masaya…..may malungkot….may parang wala lang……may umiiyak……may nakita rin akong sa simula pa lang ng ceremony ay nagpapahid na ng luha at nung time na patapos na ay hagulgol na sya. I can relate dahil kahi’t anong sabi ko sa sarili ko na I will not cry ay napaiyak pa rin ako.
May part kasi sa ceremony na after nilang kumanta ng farewell song ay lalapit sa parents at mag-aabot ng flowers. Malayo pa si Tin ay nakita ko na namumula na ang mata nya. Sabi ko it’s ok wag na sya umiyak at sandali lang naman ang 5 months at babalik rin sya dito para magbakasyon. Nakuhanan pa ni kd ng picture ang paglapit nya sa akin pero lalong umiyak si Tin nung makita nya Dada nya na umiiyak na rin at yumakap sa kanya. Ilang minuto rin yung napaka emotional part ng graduation ceremony bago nabalik sa normal at tinapos na ang programa.
(Trying not to cry here….)
Two years ago pinag-uusapan na namin ang pag-uwi nya pero ako ang madalas magsabi, “let’s not talk about it now….napakatagal pa nun.” Pero ang bilis ng panahon dahil ngayon na pala yun.
Tin is a very sweet daughter. She won’t forget to say, ” Goodnight ma, goodnight da, I love you” “Bye ma, I love you” everyday. But lately napansin ko mas sobra yung sweetness nya….dadaanan nya ako sa harap ng pc at yayakapin ng mahigpit and will say, “I love you” or will stay on our bed for a moment na nakayakap ng mahigpit. I know hindi man nya sinasabi alam kong nalulungkot na rin sya dahil malapit na syang umuwi. Sabi ko nga kay kd pagbalik namin dito ay ayokong sumama si Tin sa airport para maghatid sa amin at baka di ako makaalis. Mas gusto ko na maiwan na sya sa dorm at di na nya makita ang paglipad ng eroplano palayo.
I thought I won’t finish this post dahil pahid ako nang pahid ng luha habang nag tatype.
March 27th, 2010 - 8:28 am
congratulations, tin and justin!
napaluha ako ng post mo, ann.. all the best for you and for your pretty daughter.
March 27th, 2010 - 8:46 am
Di nga ako matapus-tapos sa pag-eempake ng mga gamit nya, parang ang hirap magsarado ng box…..
March 27th, 2010 - 8:53 am
Naiyak naman ako sa post na ito… sinabayan pa ng mga picture, si Ate Ann, pinag-moment ako rito sa office.
Mix emotion ka siguro Ate Ann nang iabot sa’yo ni Tin-Tin ‘yung rose, and even Kuya KD, for sure, nag-flashback sa inyo ang lahat mula ng baby si Tin-Tin… ngayon, graduate na siya ng high school… college na siya next school year, spreading her wings more now… and the thing is, malalayo siya sa inyo for a while… but I know na kayang-kaya ni Tin-Tin ang college at malayo man siya sa inyo, naman, I believe that you can go the distance for your daughter!
Copngrats to Tin-Tin and Justin and to the proud parents… Ate Ann and Kuya KD!
March 27th, 2010 - 8:57 am
Naiiyak na naman ako syo Wends…..
Lalo pag binabalikan ko mga old posts ko dito sa blog…..
March 27th, 2010 - 9:08 am
hoooo! i can’t resist to post a reply here!
it was a heartfelt love that i have seen in this post! Yes tita ann it will never be an easy thing to let go someone you love even just for a moment… but then IT WON’T BENEFIT EACH ONE ANOTHER if we won’t allow the other to SPREAD HIS WINGS AND FLY AND FLY AND SOAR HIGH! Tita Ann and Tito Joel just get into your minds that YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL AND PROUD for you were able to race a LOVABLE daughter, a well disciplined and witty one! Adjustments will be unto 2 or 3 months but the real essence of it will last a lifetime! Tita and Tito show your full emotion– express it and never say I won’t cry because it will help! Burst your love to tin-tin cause it will be her armor staying in her 4 corners roomand anywhere she look there will be no dada and mama she can call and talk with but when she realized that you have TRUSTED her fully, believed in her ability and honed her personality SHE WILL SAY TO HER SELF— I CAN! I WILL AND I DID!!! On the last note, never ever set aside the POWER of PRAYERS AND PROPER COMMUNICATION to the LORD! This will aid and equipped each one of us in all kinds of distractions—
TSK TSK TSK TSK TSK!!!!— haixxx—- sorry hahahaha my tears keep falling from my cute brown eyes– so i have to put an end to this post in a remarks saying— TIN-TIN CONGRATULATIONS AND MORE POWER– KEEP YOUR FAITH IN GOD AND SURELY YOU WILL NOT LOST YOUR WAY! Be ready and be tough because life is not a joke at all– make use of your mind to its best! GOD BLESS YOU TIN-TIN!!
March 27th, 2010 - 10:18 am
Anne, hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako na nag-post ka ulit after a long time or hindi.
I was reading your post aloud to Pinky when I suddenly stopped and became teary-eyed. I can just imagine how this change must be very difficult for all of you now - not only for you and Dada but also to Tin,Justin and Josh. You raised your children well and they love you both very much that is why it is so difficult to be apart.
Continue to trust in the Lord that he will bless your plans and that eventually you will all be together again. In the meantime, all you can do is pray that he covers your daughter with his mantle of protection while she is away.
March 27th, 2010 - 10:32 am
Hi Ann! Kahit nakikinig lang ako sa pagbabasa ni Keith ng blog mo noong una e di ko mapigilan mapaluha - lalo pa nung makita ang mga pictures - waaahhh!!!
Nakaka-relate ako sa situation ninyo dahil napagdaanan ko na din yan sa pamilya namin noong dalaga pa ako. Mahirap talaga lalo pa at close na close kayo.
One thing I realized about this needed separation - again from my own experience - is that it could actually make all of you in the family grow. Tin will surely grow more in maturity and responsibility while you as parents will surely also grow in your trust for your daughter - that she will remember all that you have taught her and do what is best even when she is a long plane ride away.
Lastly, I’m sure you will also learn that your love as a family will go beyond the limits of space and distance. That you can still actually be together in spirit - bound by your love - even when you are physically apart.
God bless your family, Ann! Don’t worry, our good Lord will always take care of you wherever you may be.
March 27th, 2010 - 3:14 pm
Congratulations, Tin-tin and Justin. Pasulong kayo sa mas malawak na karanasan, salamat sa pagsisikat ng inyong mahal na mga magulang. Totoo na malungkot ang pansamantalang katapusan ng pagsasama at pagsasalo ng karanasan sa HS, ngunit bahagi ito ng buhay at masayang babalik sa hinaharap. Good Luck!
Congratulations, Ann and KD! Malaking accomplishment ang pag-graduate ni Tin at Justin, at susunod pa si Josh. Hehehe, malungkot nga pero masaya rin dahil may panibago kayong challenge. Good Luck!
March 27th, 2010 - 3:17 pm
Siyanga pala, Ann, napakaganda mo sa unang picture. Mahirap sabihin na hindi ka isa sa mga magkakapatid.
March 27th, 2010 - 5:15 pm
congrats kay tin and justin… syempre kay josh na rin dahil nakatapos na naman ng isang year!
napaiyak naman ako sa post na ‘to mommy ann! kayang-kaya ni tin yan. Goodluck and God bless sa buong family.
March 27th, 2010 - 6:36 pm
Huhuhuhuhu… iyak pa, sige iyak pa! hehehehehe.
Don’t worry, paminsan-minsan ay kukumustahin ko sa Baguio si Tin, papasyalan kung kakayanin.
My warmest congratulations to you and your family.
Sa March 30, ako naman ang iiyak… nyahahahahaha!
Love lots (muuuuaaaaaah),
KaPep’s
March 27th, 2010 - 7:51 pm
ang cute naman… sige tintin.. atungal pa… hahahahahaha…
ganda naman ng moment ng pagkakakuha ng pictures.. lalo yung (trying not to cry) parang weh… di nga??!!
hahahahaha.
Francis
March 28th, 2010 - 5:19 am
congratulations tin & justin.
parang congressman si KD at syempre ikaw ann ang first lady hehehe.
san po college si tin?
March 29th, 2010 - 4:05 am
Congratulations to Tin and Justin.
I truly understand how you feel about being separated from Tin. That was how I felt when I left home and came here to the US. I could still picture my mother waving to me, with her eyes drench in tears. Malungkot talaga.
You raised a good kid, Ann. Congratulations to you as well.
March 29th, 2010 - 8:28 pm
congrats to your kids at syempre sainyo ni kd dahil nakapagraduate na kayo ng high school.. :d
ganyan din naramdaman namin nung grad namin dyan 7 years ago
ang nasa isip kasi, separation sa parents at pagbalik sa pinas, di naman lahat nasa Manila, yong iba balik province na.. yong iba nagmigrate sa us or canada… malungkot lang talaga.. pero challenging
April 1st, 2010 - 3:05 pm
Wow! Congrats!
April 2nd, 2010 - 8:58 pm
I can relate. Ang graduation ay talagang napaka-emotional - nakakaiyak pero masaya. Still, I’d like to congratulate for you have raised good sons and daughters…
April 4th, 2010 - 9:14 am
Naiyak naman ako…
True, high school graduations are really emotional. In my case it was because that’s the time na I would really be in the ‘real world’ ika nga.
High school kasi is a preparation for real life. Pansinin mo, high school is just like a kid’s play. Kung may pressure man, very manageable. College is a bit different. We face more challenges during college life. At tsaka it will be the make or break stage of our life. (Ok, I’m being too serious na).
Congrats to your kids, Anna. And to you, too and Joel.
And yes, happy Easter na rin!
(BTW, visit our newly-launched Kablogs Journal. Hope to get you as our contributor in its coming issues).
April 4th, 2010 - 6:08 pm
Happy Easter and congratulations sa double whammy nyo on the graduation.
I feel sad reading your post Ate Ann. I know how you feel. In due time, I will be feeling the same thing too although it’s nothing new to me anymore. I once left my baby when I moved here in Dubai. Kahit na every year ko sya binibisita, iba pa din yung kasama mo talaga sya. Then the recession hit. Kung kelan naman we are already bonding, kailangan naman namin sya pauwiin when she reaches 2nd year. 1 year na lng and I have only one kid. Hay…. I just pray things will change para we don’t have to send her home.
Just pray and know that Tin-Tin is in good hands. God Bless Ate and cheer up…
April 13th, 2010 - 7:18 am
congrats Tin and Justin! Of course, big congratulations to the parents as well!
April 14th, 2010 - 7:38 pm
Mommy Ann, nakakalungkot ang post na ito… kala ko din hindi ko na matatapos…
una sa lahat… Congrats sa dalawang graduates mo…
alam ko makakayanan nyo rin yan… alam kong mabait si tin at hindi nya kayo bibiguin…
kaya nyo po yan
April 18th, 2010 - 2:48 pm
congratulations to tin and justin! but its also sad kasi nga… magkakahiwalay kayo… but… im sure tin can do it and was raised by wonderful parents well.
its gonna be sad… though.
the last HS graduation i attended was of my cousin’s naging emotional rin ung mga bata…. because they all studied there since elementary.. .:) so.. depende rin sa school..
May 17th, 2010 - 10:35 am
ANNE, you are pretty sa photos, inggit ako, how do you maintain young and fresh looking?
seriously, ang mga anak natin, when they grow up and decides for themselves, parang hindi na tayo kasali.I was surprised also, lalo na kung mag choose na sila ng future mate nila.
Mga anak ko, 26,22,21 may kanya kanyang bf at gf na.Wala ako magagawa kasi, its life.
Pero when you are on that stage, sana matibay ka pa , mas matibay sa pag alis ni tin tin sa saudi to stay in Phils.
Have courage.
May 21st, 2010 - 2:13 pm
nakakalungkot, but tin be strong…maninibago ka pero just always be brave….be strong for your mama, papa at mga kapatid.
Good luck and enjoy your college life, along this journey called life…you will learn a lot….
May 25th, 2010 - 6:42 pm
hi ate, it’s my first time to read your blog and planning to read more further after this one… very emotional and very touching.. the pictures with ur words really cope up, para na rin kaming nanood ng isang short story, i hope your family can move on with this situation, ikaw na nga nagsabi na madalas sabihin sa graduations e “this is not the end, this is just the beggining” so goodluck guys, mag ingat ang more power……