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A day after graduation, my batchmates and I celebrated the annual Graduation Ball. I opted for a gown inspired by Shania Twain’s music video, “You’ve Got a Way.”

I just fell in love with her gown, her makeup, and even the setting of the music video. Luckily, our ball was going to be held at the Glass Gardens. I had my gown made by Ding and Tany from Marquezillini and showed them pictures of Shania Twain’s gown.

My girl friends and I decided to have our hair and makeup done by Tita Bong in my friend Michelle’s house, so we all enjoyed some girl bonding (and fab feasting!) while preparing for the ball.

The family that owned the house is also the owner of local clothing brand Terrie, so they generously shared their studio at home before we headed off to the Glass Gardens.

During the ball itself, each person was given a dance card, where you could fill in the name of a person you want to dance with for each corresponding song. The rule was that you couldn’t dance with the same person twice. I danced with some friends I knew I’d see around in college, but I also danced with some a friend who was going abroad already.

There was also a song reserved for “Serendipity.” Each person was given a boutonniere and corsage with a corresponding number. In that song, they were asked to find their partners for a dance.

“Confessions was a game when a name and a question were randomly drawn. You were asked to hand over a rose to the person who fits the question you drew like “If only you weren’t taken,” “My first crush,” “The friend I wish I never grew apart with,” “The teacher who inspired me the most,” “My almost lover,” and “I thought you were the one.” We had a great time bonding as a batch through the aww answers that made us reminisce and the shocking revelations we were oblivious to for thirteen years.

Towards the end of the program, each person was given thirteen button pins, each with their name written on it. We were then asked to give them to thirteen people who made high school worthwhile, symbolic of the thirteen years we spent together. It was very moving to see people making their way through the crowd, hugging each other, crying, and thanking each other for the beautiful journey we all shared.

Sam, one of the organizers, went up to the stage and asked us all to close our eyes and approach the person we think of everytime someone says the word “high school.” I thought of my best friend ever since the third grade.

We were then asked to go to the parking lot. While standing out there in our gowns wondering what happened, a classmate joked that the rental was over and Sam just wanted an excuse to let us out =)) While nobody was expecting it, beautiful fireworks lit up the sky. It was just like in the movies.

I’m so grateful for those who organized and sponsored the event, especially to my kabarkada, Sam, who rambled endlessly about her plans to my friends and me more than a year ahead of the event. I saw her cry, laugh, and get angry throughout the year just for one night—and it was a night we’d all remember. The place was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the photographers and photobooths were accommodating.

My girl friends and I had an overnight at Shang afterwards. Our room was right in front of Hanson Brothers! We drank coffee and stayed up all night eating, and having some fab girl bonding.

Looking back, the Grad Ball was but fitting to end thirteen years of an epic journey. It was complete with the tears, the joy, the friendships made, and time spent with people who made high school meaningful. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the last night of the thirteen beautiful years.

To my beloved batchmates, thank you, I’ll miss you, and I wish you all the best. <3

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Everyone knows that today is Palm Sunday and therefore, it marks the first day of the Holy Week! It has been a yearly practice for us, Catholics, to sacrifice something during this sacred time to decrease our attachments to such excessive things. Aside from doing more prayers and almsgiving, maybe we should also take some things off from what we have been used to doing, at least for just a week.

Before, I’ve usually been troubled with this since I never got to finish my intended sacrifice ’cause I don’t normally accomplish it until the last day. This time around, I promise to finish my goal. For you, Candy Girls, I’ve thought of some things to let go/give up just in time for this special event!

• Don’t use your cell phone.
• Skip rice during your meals.
• Give up meat for the week.
• Have only 1 hour, maximum, of Internet use for each day.
• Pray the rosary everyday.
• No sweets for the week!
• Enjoy watching TV for only 1 hour a day.

I hope these ideas can be of your use this week! Show your devotion to God by sacrificing something close to your heart or something that you can’t imagine skipping for a week. Also, don’t forget to keep on praying! It will surely help you give some time for God and you’ll get to strengthen your faith in Him too.

Aside from the start of Holy Week, yes, today is also April Fools’! Take it easy on your pranks, everyone! (Haha) I just saw myself being embarrassed a few days ago by my crazy cousins, Robin and Selle! Ohmygosh! While I’m typing this, I can imagine how funny it was when I believed in each and every thing they told me! I am just laughing about the whole thing right now and yes, I have come to accept how I’m such a slow person! Hahaha!

So there! From the ideas for this sacred week to April Fools’, feel free to share what you’ve thought of sacrificing for this week or the craziest or most humiliating hoax you’ve ever got!

‘Til the next!
Xx, Dana ☺

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“It’s our last chance to share the stage before we go our separate ways.” —HSM 3

Dear Batch 2012,

Of course I chose a High School Musical quote!!! Hahaha even if you guys say you hate it, you know deep inside you love it. Anyway, for the longest time, we’ve been dreaming about the day we’d leave and finally be with other people and dress the way we want to (HAHAHA), but now that the time has come, I think a lot of us are afraid to say goodbye. We’ve been so used to being each other for the longest time that the idea of being around people who don’t understand us for who we are scares us. We’re awkward, childish and sometimes we don’t even make sense but we love each other for it anyway. I’ve spent 11 great years with you guys. It’s amazing how it’s already our last day as Woodrose students. I still remember the first day of school, sitting next to the kid with the HUGE set of crayons ..and wanting to be her friend haha! Or when we were separated into different teams – where at first we didn’t care, then we started to hate it, but in the end we turned out to love it more than anything. I’ll never forget the musicals and shows we’ve put up: Grade 3 musical, Awit Sarilikha, Aladdin, Hercules, Lion King and A Very Potter Musical, and our boogey dances. I love how despite the different barkadas, we can still adjust and make friends with our batchmates. I mean, with out jejeness, tumblr references, and really childish jokes, how can we not? I’m so glad to be a part of this batch. Even if we’re crazy, childish and hyper, everyone loves us for it. I’m grateful that our batch is the batch that makes friends with both the undergraduates and teachers. I can’t believe that today will be the last thing we’ll be doing in school together. You guys will always have a special place in my heart where our memories and weird activities will last forever. Hehe and as our grad song says, we’ll leave our legacy among these red brick walls. I love you guys!

Bea

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A little something before I leave.

Dear De La Salle Zobel,

I don’t really remember when we met because I was very young then. All I remember is that it was thirteen years ago, and I needed my mom to be with me when I met you. I thought you’d be scary, but I really enjoyed being in your presence. I have so many memories that I’ll always treasure with you. From being bullied back when I was in first grade (by the person who is my closest boy friend now!) to meeting my best friends (8 years and counting), these are the things I’ll forever keep in my heart. You gave me a lot of heartaches and pains too, but now that I’ve graduated, I seem to have forgotten them all.

Don’t forget me,
S1999146

Dear Undergraduates,

Don’t rush. Take time and embrace high school. I was really in a hurry to finish all my requirements that I forgot to live the moment and enjoy my years in Zobel.  For me, your grades are as important as your extra curricular activities as long as you know how to balance them. Reach out to your batch mates, and as much possible, get to know them one-by-one. Lastly, stop stressing—it won’t get you anywhere.

I promise to visit,

Ekay

Dear Teachers,

You’re too many to mention, but I’d just really want to thank you. Thank you for guiding our batch through everything. Thank you for being understanding and caring. You were all our second mothers and fathers, even ates and kuyas. I hope I made you proud.

Erika Modina
Class Number 25
Senior-G

Dear Zobel Guards,

You were my enemies back when I was in Grade School since you never let me out because you claimed that I did not have an exit pass (but my mom was right outside the gate!). When I stepped in High School, we became friends because I finally got an exit pass without having to really justify it’s my mom inside the car. Now, we created a bond with our conversations about my college, people around and “uy, graduate ka na!” Thank you!

Valid to exit gates 2 and 3,
Modina, C. A. E. M.

Thank you, and goodbye.

—Erika Modina, Batch 2012

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♪ ♪ “One step at a time, we pace towards the future, though close to tears, we smile.” —”Slowly Marching”

{My section during our batch’s graduation song competition}

Another chapter ends today. Yes, I’ll be a high school graduate later today and in a few months, I’ll no longer be wearing the same uniform I’ve worn for 11 years. I’ll no longer be buying my favorite Beef Steak meal from the canteen plus those addicting sour gummy worms. I’ll no longer be seeing the best set of teachers I’ve ever had (well, maybe I will but not as usual anymore). And of course, I’ll no longer be spending as much time as I can with my friends whom I’ve shared most of the best memories I’ve ever had and who have taken a huge piece off of my heart.

High school was one big adventure that’s jam-packed with a lot of firsts, some good and some that’s somewhat bad. But hey, remember, you’ll be learning a lot from those “bad” firsts and somehow, you’ll soon be thankful that such events happened in your life. For you undergraduates, one tip is to not be in a rush to graduate. Believe me, high school’s surely a memory you’ll treasure. Once you get closer and closer to that specific day where girls are seen in long-sleeved gala dresses and hair tied neatly for a solemn ceremony, I bet you’ll be looking back on every bond you’ve had with the people who have  touched you and you’ll realize how fast everything has happened in your four-time stay in this chapter. I bet tears would run down your cheeks while doing so too. Tears of joy? Most probably.

I’m most thankful that I got to spend my high school here and I definitely wouldn’t trade it for anything. From the different competitions, the relationships I’ve made to life-changing experiences that have occurred, I’m very much pleased to have stayed throughout this journey and it saddens me how I have to give up my badge that has a “G” on it. Some say that when one door closes, another opens. Well, I guess I’m about to enter  that new door that awaits me for a new beginning, a new chapter that’s yet to be filled with countless memories coupled with another take on what life has to offer.

xx, Dana

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