The Light that guides our Way
By: Jose Leon Dulce
There I was,
amidst a sea of people, where most are sitted among the plastic chairs lined up
in front of the stage, some standing along the sides, stretching to get a
clearer view. A few going back and forth from their spots to Mang Nestor’s
aristocrat, arming themselves with refreshments with what seems to be something
that would clearly take quite some time to finish. Not far away, students are
noisily lining up, garbed in venerable togas, busying themselves either with
good-natured and happy conversations, or grooming themselves up as if they were
about to go onstage in the Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant. Enter the
Candlelight Ceremony of the College of Fine Arts, Batch 2005.
As I was a
freshman then, it was my first time to witness a ceremony for the graduating
students. The atmosphere was full of commotion and emotion, as everyone was
hustling and bustling to get the show on the road. It was the student council’s
task to assist in this event, and so we were there, in the middle of things,
directing attendees where to go, showing them around, pointing where is where
and what is what, and generally just having a hard time keeping them from
excitedly filling up the middle aisle, pumped up and ready to take a snapshot
of their beloved sons and daughters.
At one point,
when my patience was at the brink of vanishing, the program finally started. A
sigh of relief gushed out of my mouth. Finally, the students marched down the
middle aisle, and began fanning out to their respective seats. Of course, the
parents’ cacophony still hasn’t ceased, and I began to wonder if they just
drank too much Extra Joss that morning, or are simply manic about finally
getting their child to land a job. I was just about to ask a couple about that,
when the speaker finally started mumbling on the microphone. Guessing that it
was a sign to shut up, I stood in my designated position, and watched the
program finally start.
All my cynical
thoughts disappeared as I watched the event progress. Stirring words showed me
just how important this turning point is. I usually regard graduation as just
the “next thing”, not really something to die about. Seeing the graduates
frivolously enjoying this moment of theirs made me think: “This is their last graduation. So what is next for them? For us when we reach
this point, too?” The future is certainly hazy for us, and it makes me wonder
what they’ll be thinking next after this temporary state of euphoria. Yet, the
joyous tears streaming down the mother sitting nearby, and the proud grin worn
by her husband was somewhat comforting for me. They’ve gone this far up,
there’s no other way but rising further. Who knew a formality such as this
would bring so much food for thought?
