THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

“a countdown of our last days in NNSF before our High School Graduation
way back on March 23, 2002

March 1–6, 2002
REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM
Asus! Ga review kuno…ga eugad sa grounds ag mag inistorya, hinibayag, pa Navitas, diretso it Baybay, Makato, sa Beach House ni Vanessa, Jesie P., Joanne ag Ronna pa Dongon sa kaeasay ga pang eat-as, agto sa Fish Farm ni Nelgie ag baktas pa Camanci, sa Mango Plantation ni Sheila Joy. Kada adlaw may naka schedule nga warang sa baeay it classmate. Warang and hidya-hidya galore! Nasulit-sulit do last few days…hahaha!

March 7–8, 2002
CHECKING OF NOTEBOOKS
Dali lang gid graduation, ga pa check eon it notebooks. Kataeamad kuno ki ah! Ro mga owa it lecture naloka…haha mawron ki, mga eaki gid, mga tamad mag kopya it lectures!

March 7–9, 2002
SIGNING OF CLEARANCE
Haaaay…stress ta mag papirma! Abo penalty sa late ag absent sa klase. Hambae ko gid, tama si Ma’am ag sir, “andam mga pasaway! sa Clearance kita ga kita”.

March 9, 2002
RECOLLECTION DAY
Ano ron, gaalin kami karon? Hehehe…emote-emote gali. As if nakunsensya sanda. May moment gid ang kara nga indi malipatan hu…perfect! May nag hug abi kato kang…ahahaha, bongga! Now you know?

March 14–15, 2002
FINAL EXAM
This is it! Daya eot ah gid da. Final exam eot ah! Pahuwara lang abi ako, last eon dah promise..hehehe!

March 16, 2002
CAT-I GRADUATION
Uhum! Graduate kuno, nagbunga man do pinasilak ag pinauean. Natapos man do pinamati ag pinasensya kay Sir Vega ag sa amun nga super cute nga Corps Commander...gosh! Si Papa Joef!

March 20, 2002
CONFESSION DAY
Sa Numancia Catholic Church ga kumpesar…missing si Christy kun? Hato, sa Fisheries, nagpabilin kaibahan si Dodong… nag convert? Haayz!

March 21, 2002
RECOGNITION DAY
Para sa first year to third year da…uwa ta kita haeabot nga fourth year…hehehe

March 22, 2002
DO DAY!
Cleaning day and preparation. All out rehearsal it graduation song (Through the Years). Chillax and bonding time.. mga incomparable moments.. memories, memories…

March 23, 2002
GRADUATION DAY
8:00 AM – Baccalaureate Mass
1:00 PM – Commencement Program
Graduate eot ah kami. Saeamat gid sa tanan-tanan. Mix emotions gid ah, kainit pa abi! sa back stage gin held do graduation agud solemn..hehehe. Kanya-kanya it moments. Sige eang, pasugti, graduation eon man. Hay Paalin da, hasta lat-ah dikara? Bukon ah! Ga reunion ta kita kada dag-on... (Japhet? Christy? Remember?)

PLUS!! AFTER GRADUATION ESCAPADES

March 24, 2002
AT DE MATEO’s PLACE, Pusiw

Nag invite si Japhet ag Dodong it ‘thanksgiving lunch’. Me ganun! Makara gid dun eh, gin pakilaea ni Japhet si Rannel kay Judah sa tricycle nga naka parking sa guwa..perfect! Ham-an kay Judah eat-ah nhe? Ahahaha…nahuya man abi si Rannel, tag may huya pat-ah imaw kato. Kanami pagpa blotter! Hay si Christy? uwa ta ka join? Sambilog pang ugtasan man abi, nahuya man kuno imaw…arte-arte!

March 25, 2002
AT PELAYO & TORDECILLAS’ PLACE, Baybay, Makato
Tapos eon do graduation, pero uwa pa gihapon naayawi… Sinukob do Baybay, Makato..do mga banal kanday Vanessa nga house (Iris, Grace Jasmin, Jumelyn, Junessa, Suzette, Mark Leyson, Frederick, Joaquin etc.) do mga may pagka wild kanday Jessie Pelayo (Charlette, Christy, Japhet, Rannel, Jesse, Mark, Adam, Rheyen, Rizalin, Dodong, Margaret, Geralyn, Joanne, Jocey, and all others…) pero nag join man dayon tanan pag swimming kaibahan si Ma’am Lilia.. Hay, kanami, kasadya.. Those were the days!

FAREWELL

Yes, we can’t find words to say ‘goodbye’. With smile in our hearts, but there’s a tearin our eyes. So sad. Surely we’ll be missing each other most! Why goodbye instead of hello? Hello to start and smile to a happy heart. We have to say goodbye to the friendship and all the ups and downs in four long years. Yes, every graduation is not the end. It is a fulfillment of a dream and a promise that March 23, 2002 is the beginning of our future!

BEHIND MY SILENCE

“The art of letting go… is finding happiness somewhere else”

New beginnings are always been exciting when good things are just within reach. Let loose of what you can’t control. Serenity will be yours! Yes, SILENCE offers me a unique breathing space.

Noticeably, I lost myself from the usual crowd. I detach myself in my self-made shell of isolation for me to ponder and reflect over my chaotic past.

TRYING TO FORGET

I mean it! To disregard what my best High School days was like. Consisting of my good old time friends who filled my cellphone with contacts and dominating my inbox. So what, if I can’t remember the smiles, the looks of the people behind. The moments we’ve shared and the friendship we’ve made.

REFLECTIONS

I reflected on how many friends I have encountered, met, talked, and shared them the beauty of life’s various options. There are only those few special people who stay beyond words, and despite distances, can understand silence.

IDEALISM AGAINST REALISM

Searching for happiness is not what life is all about. It’s when you live, you love…a clash of test & faith, something I never know before. You take risk that up to the extent will measure your endurance, and in the end it’s when the truth hurts that we enjoy the happiness of freedom.

THE KINDEST CHOICE

It’s now that I realize clearly, through the years of ups and downs that I choose to overlook the shadows and failures of the past. Not getting everyone to stay forever could be a wonderful stroke of luck. Looking forward toughens me of how far I have moved, how strange the people of yesterdays, and how “everything would never be the same again.”

SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDER

In my newfound silent sanctuary, I explored new horizon that allows me to appreciate, focus and enjoy myself simply and peacefully. Hush! Hush!

JUST BE HAPPY

One
Acknowledge yourself. Once you realize how valuable you are the sweetest smiles will return, the sun will shine the brightest, the music will play the most beautiful tunes, and you finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you; with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.

Two
Today, and everyday, do more than you are getting paid to work. The victory of success will be half won when you learn the secret of putting out more than is expected in all that you do. Make yourself so valuable in your work. Exercise your privilege, and enjoy all the rewards you receive. You deserve them!

Three
It’s OK to make mistakes or get knocked down once in a while, but don’t look back at it too long. Mistakes are life’s way of teaching you. Your responsibility is equaled to your capability. All failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Never quit. Your turn will come.

Four
Always treat yourself in the very best way, surrounded by your family. Nurture their love carefully. Be at your best when you’re with them. And even if you have failed at all else in the eyes of the world, if you have a loving family, you are a success.

Five
Make each day a foundation of pleasant thoughts. Don’t worry at any imperfections. You can fly when you decide that you can. It’s fine not to know everything. Just smile!

Six
Let your actions always speak for you, at your simplest and humblest self. Pride can’t make you any better. It will just hurt you and would definitely ruin your day. Live simply, act simply; it’s more alluring than you think. Beauty might attract attention, but character captures the heart.

Seven
Thank God everyday. Life may not always be fair; but you can never win when you go self-pity, it will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. There is a better way.

Eight
Partying & night outs are passing unimportant things to accept a real challenge. A day merely survived is no cause for celebration. You are not here to waste away your precious hours when you have the ability to accomplish so much by making a slight change in your routine. No more busy work. No more hiding from success. Give time, give space, to grow. Now! Now!

Nine
Live each day to the fullest. Tomorrow is another day. Forget yesterday’s defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it, today! Make it the best day of your life. The saddest words you can ever say: “If I had my life to live over again... Take your time now, this is your day!

Ten
Beginning today, smile at everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if you didn’t see each other for so long. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can offer. Your life will never be the same again.

Eleven
Laugh at yourself. Not in the spirit of craziness, but as a therapy, a miracle drug that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously. Laugh out loud!

Twelve
Never ignore the little things. That soft word of praise or thanks, and a powerful I Love You goes a long way. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. Express yourself. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.

Thirteen
Welcome every morning with a smile. Another nice opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Don’t waste a day with a false start or don’t start at all. You were not born to fail.

Fourteen
Set goals for each day. Write them down, if you must, but limit your list so that you won’t have to drag today’s undone matters into tomorrow. Remember that you cannot build your pyramid in twenty-four hours. Relax, Be patient.

Fifteen
Never allow anyone to rain on your parade. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it to enter your circle. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days of boring forces of hate, jealousy, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.

Sixteen
Always see the good things in others. When you have no good things to say, you better not say anything at all. Be a blessing to everyone. There is always a seed of goodwill. Find it and prosper.

Seventeen
Happiness lies within you. Waste not time and effort searching for peace and contentment in the world. There is no happiness in having or in getting but only in sharing and giving. Reach out, get in touch smile, hug, kiss. Happiness is a scent that you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.