A graduation note to a beloved grand daughter

May, 2010
Dear Justine,

We took time to attend the graduation ceremonies of Otay Ranch High School held at the Southwestern College stadium, yesterday (June 2.) It was a warm day. Traffic was heavy. And older adults such as your Grandpa and myself are not used to the screaming of friends and loved ones in the audience every time the names of the graduates are called.
In the Philippines, graduation ceremonies are so solemn that witnessing one here, especially your graduation day, makes us feel less comfortable.
But we made our way in through the thick crowd after almost emptying our gas tank in search of a parking space. We wanted to be there to witness a very significant ceremony, not only for you but for us, your grandparents. To us, education, is the most important family value. One of the speakers, Arlie Ricasa, President of the Sweetwater Union High School Board of Trustees who also handed your diploma, shared an advice she got from her parents which was also our own parent’s advise to us and which we are handing to you: “People can steal your car. They can steal your jewelries. They can break in to your home and steal all your valuable belongings but they can never steal your education!”

We are in your graduation ceremonies because we are proud of your accomplishments. We are happy to see you receive your diploma – a significant symbol of your success in acquiring basic secondary education. But this is just the first step. There are more steps ahead of you as you pursue higher education towards a meaningful lifetime career. There will be more trials and challenges that you will encounter. We are confident that you would be able to surmount all these because of the love and care being showered by your parents, brother and sisters, the spiritual nurture embedded by both your maternal and paternal grandparents, and the influence of your many cousins, aunts and uncles and even friends who continue to surround you with deep affection.

Graduation is actually a commencement towards the pursuit of higher goals and more noble ideals. You have to be clear of what you are aiming for and focus your efforts in achieving them. There will be temptations around you but strength of character, wisdom and courage that springs from your heart and mind will carry you through.
We can share with you our wisdom and experience as your grandparents who have traveled more than a thousand miles in their journey through life.

We have traveled through plains and valleys, forests and mountains and have walked through unchartered paths and tortuous terrain . We are about to reach the end of our journey which started in the Philippines fifty five years ago. There is one truth we would like to share with you: It is God and God alone that carried us through. With God all things are possible.

Press on!
Your loving grandparents,
Winlove and Aurora