Commencement & Other Excercises

This post is a copy of my now defunct Friendster blog. Friendster blog just isn't good, so I migrated all my posts from there to here.

Part I.

Commence means to start or begin. So why are graduations called commencement exercises? Let me clarify that I have nothing against the use of the term, but I’m really wondering why it has to be this term and not something else, say, culminating.

Oh yes, Umberto Eco, semioticians, and all you literary geniuses: It’s got something to do with symbols and all. The students’ confinement at the "four walls" of the "alma mater" will have ended (which makes them now gentlemen and women), but are now actually "set" to "march" out to the "outside world." A "harsh" world, but a world they were prepared for, thanks to the dearly loved alma mater.

Disclaimer: Spoiler follows. If you do not want to read what is obvious, then do not read the next few lines.

"So schooling ends, and f*cking up with the world begins."

Part II.

Today the University of Iloilo will hold its graduation ceremonies. It’s the second time that I attended a graduation ceremony in this university, and the first time that I participated. I am not graduating from this university though: I am the marshal of the College of Arts & Sciences. Rather, I will be this afternoon. I had no idea what I was supposed to do when Engr. Hampac asked me to be the marshal. But I didn’t know what ‘no’ is when he did, so I instead said yes. So welcome back to the world of first timers.

"Like a virgin (Heeeeeey!). March for the very first time."

Part III.

Another first time for me. So I am, today, a virgin twice.

Today I shall also be wearing a toga. Abi ko kun masuksok naman ko barong kag sablay. Hay ambut. Indi man bala, ti indi eh.

A few surprises every not so often is unsurprisingly surprising.