31/03/2026
VALEDICTORIAN NOON… KUMUSTA NA NGAYON?
I was a class valedictorian in elementary.
I finished my studies.
I did what everyone expected me to do.
Akala ko… sapat na ‘yun.
Akala ko, once you graduate,
life will be easier.
That everything will fall into place.
But I was wrong.
I have a job.
I earn money.
Pero hindi ito ‘yung pangarap ko dati.
Hindi ito ‘yung buhay na ini-imagine ko noon
habang nasa stage ako, tinatawag na “valedictorian.”
I’m working…
but I’m also paying debts.
Trying to survive more than trying to succeed.
I thought I was special.
Na dahil matalino ako, I would always make the right decisions.
But I didn’t.
I made mistakes.
I chose the wrong paths.
I loved the wrong person…
And maybe… that changed everything.
Akala ko kaya kong kontrolin ang buhay ko.
Akala ko hindi ako magkakamali nang ganito.
But life has a way of humbling you.
Now sometimes, I look at my friends.
They’re doing well.
Stable. Successful. Happy.
At oo…
naiinggit ako.
But at the same time—
masaya ako para sa kanila.
Because I know they worked hard for it.
Minsan napapatanong ako…
“Dapat ba nandun din ako?”
“Dapat ba ganito na rin ang buhay ko?”
Siguro oo.
Pero siguro… hindi pa ngayon.
Because maybe—
this is still my process.
This is still my turning point.
And even if life didn’t turn out the way I expected…
Andito pa rin ako.
Lumalaban.
Hindi pa tapos ang laban.
I’m still surviving.
Still showing up.
Still choosing to try again.
At kahit pagod na…
kahit minsan gusto ko nang sumuko…
pinipili ko pa rin mangarap.
Because I know—
hindi pa tapos ang
kwento ng buhay ko.
Maybe I’m not where I want to be yet.
But I’m willing to wait
for my own sunshine.
At sa mga nagsipagtapos ngayong 2026—
congratulations.
I wish you the best.
Ilaban niyo ang inyong mga pangarap.
Huwag niyong pakawalan ang apoy na meron kayo ngayon.
And when life gets hard…
because it will—
I hope you still choose to fight.
So to anyone out there
who feels left behind…
who thought life would be easier by now…
Tahan na.
Hindi ka huli.
Hindi ka talunan.
You’re just waiting for your turn.
And when it comes—
you’ll understand why it took this long.
For now…
hinga muna.
Pahinga kung kailangan.
Pero huwag susuko.
Lumaban ka ulit.
Mangarap ka pa rin.
And if today feels too heavy…
sabihin mo lang sa sarili mo—
“Tahan na… bukas uli.”
