A proud moment

Graduation time, another daughter finishing university! And for the first time in our clan, a Cum Laude graduate from the University of the Philippines.

So proud! All relatives, friends, e-mail groups were duly notified.

Vida has always been the genius of the family, serious, focused, sometimes living in another level of consciousness, the true middle child.

She has always astounded us with her academic prowess -- to the point that she didnt want any attention, didnt want to be part of any school organization let alone be a class officer. Imagine to my surprise that she finished Valedictorian in her elementary school at JASMS!

Then off to St. Theresa's College where the nuns really gave a first class education, with first class tuition fees. Thanks to God, her finishing Valedictorian gave her a scholarship for the first year. The four years in STC honed her as a lady and as a student. Although during her senior year she admitted to having mental block for one examination, she nonetheless finished with honors and more importantly was admitted to the University of the Philippines.

In UP where she took up Economics, she shed off the modesty of STC and ventured into the UP campus in shorts and skimpy tops. Oh well! What can a fashionista mom do?
She accepted a position at the AISEC and went on seminars while her own mom was out of town. I could only glance at her notes, the bewildering equations in economics and mathematics, and be awed at how she was able to sail with all the math thrown her way. I also noted that she failed Physical Education once!

So like a nonchalant mom, i supported her, gave her money when she needed it, gave very few direct advice, kept my tongue in calling her attention to her secret cigarette habit.. And hoped and prayed and trusted that God will take care of her.

Then one day, during her grandma's birthday, i asked her, are you finishing with honors? Yes, but only cum laude. Huh? Well, she said it will be quite difficult mathematically to gun for magna cum laude. Oh! And besides, there will be four who will graduate summa cum laude from her batch. What?!

But still i could not believe it. She had a failing mark in PE... Is she just humoring me?

Then the much awaited Recognition Day came around, I made sure to make a fuss and shepherded her to the nearest salon where we both got made up.

A the UP Theater, i eagerly grabbed the nearest programme -- sure enough she graduated cum laude, along with 46 others, and 18 magna cum laude graduates, and four summa cum laude (although one is under protest)and with only five graduates who did not make it to the honor roll. It was truly a very talented and focused batch.

I can never forget the moment when i slipped the medal on her neck. Her siblings were equally proud of her

And on the University Graduation, we braved the scorching sun to witness about 700 honor graduates among the more than 3,000 Centennial Graduates parade through the UP Sunken Garden. We shared the moment of pride with other parents and relatives.

Then it hit me -- three generations in our house, three generations of UP graduates.
I really savor the moment.

So, what can i say? That it pays to be a nonchalant mom who goes home late at night, hardly looking at her kids? That it pays to be a widowed mom focused in her career hoping that the professional outlook will rub off in her kids? That it is better to rear kids without household help and expect them to do chores and be responsible for their lives? That it is in the water -- with a whole family of UP graduates to look up to?

Maybe, but it really needs the power of the Almighty.

Thank you Lord for your blessings.