Call of The Sea (Spain: Series 2)

CHAPTER 27

BILLIONS

All my life, I've been dreaming to be one with the sea. All my life I've always raise my head up above reaching for the horizon, reaching my only dream. Since day one, I did everything I could to fit in that almost all people tried laughing at my desperate actions. All my life my feet were soaked in salt water, trying to understand, trying to feel the call that keeps me up every night.

I experienced downfall, I experienced cloud nine but to stand in front of my fellow students, professors, parents of other students, school's administrators, and my family is far more beyond cloud nine. Para akong nakalutang sa itaas at hindi ko na alam kung ano pa talaga ang kailangan kong gawin. Ito ang pangunahing rason kung bakit ko gustong malagpasan lahat, kung bakit natuto akong makipagkompitensya.

Kung bakit nagpapakadiperada ako. Gusto kong iparating sa katulad kong lumaki ng mahirap na hindi sagabal ang hirap para sila ay huminto sa pag aaral, na hindi mahal ang mangarap, kung sa tingin mo ay kaya mo abutin mo, tingalain mo, pangarapin mo at kaakibat niyon ang pagpapatuloy mo sa pag aaral at gawing insperasyon ang mga taong nagmamahal sa'yo.

Kasabay ng hirap na naranasan ko ay ang makaramdam ng isang di pamilyar na damdamin na alam kong iba sa mga sayang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing kasama ko ang aking pamilya at kaibigan. Since day one, it's not my intention to fall in love with someone but damn, It struck me so hard na kahit ako ay hindi ko na magawang iwasan. Buong akala ko ay wala lang ito, buong akala ko ay extra lang ito sa buhay ko pero hindi ko aakalaing siya ay dadagdag sa insperasyon ko.

"To our honorable guest, Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia, to the President of John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation, Mr. Ribson Escobar, and as well as the members of the management, to the professors of the institution, to the parents and loved ones of the graduates, and to you, my fellow Lacsonian, mabuhay sa ating lahat!" I cheered sanhi ng pag ingay nila.

"As I am standing here behind this podium, I can't help but remember all the other times I have been given the privilege to speak on behalf of my batch. Years ago, in tenth grade, I expressed my words of gratitude. In sixth grade, I delivered my Valedictory Speech, and in Kinder, I gave my first Welcoming Address."

"Our journey in College life was like a roller coaster ride, not because we had our fair share of ups and downs but because of the plot twists we experienced all throughout these years. We experienced having a failing marks in exams. We had gone crying due to research to the point that we thought of giving up." Kinurap ko ang mga mata kong kanina pa umiinit dahil sa luhang gustong kumawala.

"All of us experienced our downfall, we encountered hopeless situation but who would have thought that all of us here is currently sitting on school's chair holding one's diploma? Who would have thought that together, we surpassed all of them? Diba? Kahit kayo nagtatanong kung bakit, kahit ako. Kahit ako na nabuhay lang sa hirap." I giggled before continuing.

"I always found myself looking at the luxuries and privileges of my other fellow kids before, they have money to enter great schools, instead of chasing an opportunity, opportunities chase them. Kaya nagtatanong ako kung bakit ako na mahirap ay andito at nakatayo sa harapan niyong lahat. Nagtatanong ako kung paano ko ba ito nalagpasan lahat." I paused before roaming my vision.

"But then, that same question will only have same answer. I moved up, I made it, I surpassed because of my loving parents, of my supportive siblings and lastly my friends. Liam Cristobal, Clerry Cardinal, Helen Fariolez, my new friends Ryle Dezmond, Nikos Advincula and lastly," Bahagyang umikot ang tingin ko sa kabilang banda at ngumiti nang magtama ang aming mga mata.

I guess this is it, ito na siguro ang huli naming pagkikita pagkatapos ng araw na ito kaya sasabihin ko na ang gusto ko bago pa matapos ang araw na ito.