The Purple Haze

Congratulations to all the Graduates of 2008! Kudos to my little brother, Ken, for hurdling 4 fun and confusing years in high school. I’m sure that college at PLM would be as manageable and instructive, if not life-changing.

Over lunch a while ago, Dad complained about how long the valedictory addresses were and how he slept through almost the entire graduation ceremony. I couldn’t blame him; mine was equally boring. In fact, the single most exciting thing about my college graduation (aside from the admin. calling out my name) was when Vida ran about the stage carrying a manila paper demanding justice and equal rights, if my memory serves me right. I also loved how my activist friend and her orgmates let down the big, red “Serve the People” banner from the DL Umali Hall in front of the field. How I love and miss UP. Vida and I are now both law students, and I’m sure our other batchmates have gone pretty far too.

I have vague memories of my high school graduation from St. Theresa’s College. But it would be a grave injustice to my good high school teachers if I’d say that it wasn’t as important as college.  I’ve learned quite a lot there too, the most striking of which for me was that no matter how far we go, we should always put God and our neighbor before us. Little did I know that this would be the same mantra our college professors would pound in our heads, only in different packaging (mostly in RED).

To Ken and all your batch mates, again, put God and the Filipino before anything else. Let all the political and economic turmoil the world and the country is  currently experiencing serve as lessons; never treat these as normal, everyday occurrences. Be not like the thieves of the government in sheep’s clothing. Uplift what’s good in all your ways.

In true UP style: Serve the people.