His trembling hands clutched the microphone. The weight of the moment hung heavily in the air as he gazed out at the sea of hopeful faces before him. The graduating students of the beloved Green Valley College Foundation Incorporated batch 2023, beamed with pride.
In that moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. The graduates had worked tirelessly for four long years, overcoming countless obstacles and challenges, to finally reach this pinnacle of success. Yet, the reality was that this was only the beginning of their journey, and the road ahead would be wrought with even more difficulties and heartache.
Education may have ended for the students at the ceremony, but he knew all too well that life's lessons never truly stop. The graduates were like travelers setting out on a long and treacherous journey, with no clear destination or end in sight. The weight of this realization was almost too much to bear, as he struggled to find the right words to convey his sorrow and empathy.
Elmo was the distinguished guest speaker at the graduation ceremony that day. As he began his speech, a tear unexpectedly trickled down his cheek. He longed to close his eyes and retreat from the overwhelming emotions that had suddenly taken hold of him.
The sight of the proud mother and the graduation rituals had stirred up painful memories from his past, leaving him feeling raw and vulnerable. It was as if he had been shattered like a fragile glass that had fallen off a table and broken into countless pieces. For Elmo, the bitter feelings of emptiness and numbness he had thought he had left behind resurfaced all over again. Elmo has a single story of Mother's unconditional love.
Tears streamed down his face, blurring his vision and making it difficult to catch his breath. With a trembling hand, he roughly wiped away the tears, but they continued to flow unabated. As he stood there, surrounded by the graduates and their proud parents, he felt as if a sharp dagger had pierced his innocent heart, leaving him struggling to keep his composure. His gaze fixed on the scene before him.
In that moment, his eyes fell on a mother who was wiping away her own tears of joy. Through his tear-filled eyes, he observed her closely, and saw in her the same qualities that had made his own dear mother his hero. Despite the pain he was feeling, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the woman who reminded him so much of his own mother.
Elmo vividly recalled the hero who selflessly and unconditionally nurtured him - his mother, whose unwavering dedication to her son's education was unparalleled. She was a tenacious individual who single-handedly raised her son, making their existence all the more arduous in the absence of a father figure. However, despite her struggles, she persevered and provided for her son with unrivaled strength and resilience. Yet, despite her incredible efforts, he found himself broken intermittently.
"My beloved Green Vallians." His voice quivered with emotion as he began to speak. The hush that had descended upon the audience was palpable, as they waited with bated breath for his next words.
With a long, profound sigh, he collected himself and continued in a voice that was broken with emotion. "To our esteemed teachers, distinguished visitors, and most of all, to the heroes who stand behind us, who our parents," he said, gesturing towards the proud parents in the crowd.
As he spoke steadily, his memories flooded back, and his chest pounded with the weight of his experiences. "Many of you know me, my life, and the bitterness that I have had to endure," he said, his words ringing in his ears with the vivid recollection of his past.
He spoke with directness and clarity, reminiscing about a time six years prior when he was in the same position as his audience. "I too, once wore the same attire you have on today," he stated matter-of-factly. "I remember that day vividly, eagerly awaiting the arrival of my beloved Nanay. While waiting, I took the opportunity to rehearse my speech once more. Can you guess why?" he asked, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips.
"Well, I was fortunate enough to have been the Magna Cum Laude of our batch," he continued, his words eliciting a round of applause from the audience. "An incredible achievement, is it not? But it was not easy. It took hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to my studies. And yet, standing here before you today, I can say that it was all worth it."
"I waited eagerly for her, bubbling with excitement as my speech was filled with heartfelt praises for her. However, as the host announced the commencement of the graduation ceremony, my worry intensified upon realizing that she was yet to arrive. I scanned the crowd anxiously, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, until my uncle appeared, looking somber and crestfallen.
“As he embraced me, he delivered the heart-wrenching news—Iniwan ako ni Inay. Namatay siya sa mismong pagtatapos ko." He was unable to process this devastating reality, as memories of his cherished Nanay flooded his mind.
Elmo was devastated. "Why she passed away right on my graduation day? Hindi man lang niya marinig ang inihanda kong talumpati na puno ng pagsasalamat, hindi man lang ako nakabawi." He couldn't help but wonder why it had to happen on such an important day in his life. He longed for her presence and wished she could be there to witness his achievements and return all the sacrifices she had made for him.
Although Elmo was aware of his mother's poor health, she had urged him to pursue his dreams and work hard towards his goals. Despite her own struggles with daily pain, she never let it show and remained a source of unwavering support for her son. Her selflessness and determination had always inspired him to push himself harder, and he was grateful for all the sacrifices she had made for him.
"As soon as I arrived home that day, my uncle handed me a letter from my Nanay. With trembling hands, I opened the letter and read the words written with my mother's heart. In the letter, my mother instructed me to look inside the old cabinet, where she had left a gift for me. I rushed to the cabinet and opened it, revealing a small envelope containing 30,000 pesos.
"As I counted the money, tears streamed down my face. My mother's gift would be the starting point for my new job, just as she had intended. It was clear that even in her last breath, she had been thinking only of me."
His mother had always been his guiding light, and her sudden death on his graduation day shattered him completely. Yet, her memory continued to inspire him. As he stood on the stage, struggling to find the right words to express his emotions, he remembered the selfless love that his mother had always shown him.
"Her heart may be silenced now, but her love lives on," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's that love that gives me the courage to face life alone, even when it feels like I'm stumbling in the dark." With tears streaming down his face, he turned his back to the audience and quietly left the stage, remembering his mother's broken melody that sang a song of courage.