Graduation Day Memories

Twenty-one years ago, I finished my degree at Technological Institute of the Philippines carrying more than a diploma. I carried sacrifice, hope, and the quiet dreams of a family trying to survive one day at a time.

I did not have money for a graduation photo.
My dress was borrowed from my sister.
My toga was rented and had to be returned immediately after the ceremony so I could get the deposit back.
The shoes I wore were bought through installment from a kind neighbor who believed I deserved something new for that special day.

I arrived at the Philippine International Convention Center with only 700 pesos in my pocket, but my parents were beside me, and somehow, that made me feel rich already.

At the venue, a photographer offered graduation photos payable by installment. The down payment was 250 pesos. I said yes because deep inside, I wanted memories my family could hold onto. After paying, I only had 150 pesos left.

It was not enough for us to comfortably get home.

So after the ceremony, I quietly returned the rented toga to claim back the 150-peso deposit. That money became our taxi fare home.

To celebrate my graduation, I treated my parents to a late lunch at a nearby carinderia because that was all I could afford. No fancy restaurant. No grand celebration. Just simple food, exhausted smiles, and grateful hearts gathered around one table.

And yet, we were genuinely happy.

Looking back now, after all the places I’ve traveled, the titles I’ve earned, and the life I slowly built beyond that moment, I still think that was one of the purest forms of happiness I have ever experienced.

Because sometimes, the most beautiful victories are not loud.
Sometimes they look like borrowed clothes, rented togas, exact fare money, and parents quietly smiling because their child finally made it. 🌙

💖💖💖

Bertemu Abang Lan Yang Tinggal Di Alaska
https://www.faizalr.com/2026/05/bertemu-abang-lan-yang-tinggal-di-alaska.html

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