Guess what, I completely forgot na kailangan nga palang mag-speech ng valedictorian sa graduation. Saka ko na lang naalala no’ng tinanong ako ni Papa pag-uwi sa bahay kanina. I was completely shocked knowing that I should deliver the speech.

It’s a good thing that Mama gave me a copy of her graduation speech that she said she used when she graduated high school. Now, I’m just doing some alterations. Hindi naman big deal sa kanilang dalawa ang speech ko, in fact chill lang sila no’ng nalaman nila and tinatawanan pa nga nila ako kasi nakalimutan kong gumawa.

Hindi naman kasi ako nasabihan kaagad, and I completely forgot na ako nga pala ang top one sa klase namin sa mundong ’to since salutatorian lang ako ro’n sa kabilang mundo. Hindi naman nagalit sila Mama at Papa sa ’kin, natawa lang sila dahil nangyari rin daw kay Papa ang gano’n no’ng high school siya.

It’s quite fun to see my parents this way even though I’m not used to seeing them in this kind of style or in this kind of life in particular, I like their personality here and most likely the way they treat people. My Mama and Papa in this universe are the most kind-hearted people I’ve ever met.

Isinukat ko na rin ang mga susuutin ko bukas, ready na ang kulay puting toga na ipapatong ko sa school uniform kong bagong laba at plantsiya. I’m going to experience one of the best days of my life here. I feel like tomorrow’s going to be a blast!

I usually don’t look forward to graduations and recognition ceremonies, pero naiba ang view ko sa graduation ever since I got transported here. Simula grade seven pa lang kasi, I lost track of what I wanted to aim.

So it’s such a nice thing to know that I completely got what I’m aiming for in here. This graduation is an exception, and I’m sure that it will be memorable. I want it to be one of the best days for me, and I surely can’t wait for it to happen.

***

What the hell? This can’t be happening. Napalingon ako sa kaliwa’t kanan at nakita kong nakatuon lamang ang atensiyon ng lahat sa guest speaker na nagsasalita sa stage. Nararamdaman kong nanginginig ang mga kamay ko dahil may nagawa na naman akong isang malaking katangahan.

I want to panic but I can’t movie a single inch because I’m currently in the middle of our graduation ceremony, napakatanga ko naman para makaligtaan ang isang bagay na importante! Gusto kong sumigaw at magwala but I’m containing myself to release any kind of emotion except a smile dahil nandito ako sa venue at nagsisimula na ang seremonya!

Ngayon ko lang na-realize na wala ang kopya ng speech ko sa bulsa ko, putting the paper on my pocket was the clearest way to store it dahil baka masama sa ibang papel kapag nilagay ko sa podium! Saka ko na lang din naalalang inipit ko pala sa isa sa mga nobela ko ’yong final draft no’ng speech kagabi!

I forgot to bring it here!

This can’t be happening, nakakahiya! Kung ipapakuha ko pa ’yong draft ng speech ko sa bahay ay hindi na rin aabot, I have no choice but to make my speech an impromptu one. Nagawa ko nang mag-impromptu speech dati basta’t alam ko lang ang sasabihin ko, the problem is that I should say it without stuttering or even breaking my sentence to make the act sophisticated.

“Thank you, Mister Anthony Nuevas for your inspiring yet heartwarming message to the graduates.” Nagpalakpakan ang lahat lahat ng mga nandirito sa loob ng auditorium, nagtitinginan na sa ’kin ang iba kaya mas lalong kumakabog ang dibdib ko.

“Now... teachers, faculties, graduates, parents and staffs. Let’s all give a round of applause for this school year’s valedictorian, Mister Gael Torres for his valedictory address.” Nakarinig ako ng palakpakan, kahit kinakabahan ako ay nagawa kong tumayo at dahan-dahan akong lumakad paakyat sa stage.

Nang makarating ako sa podium ay walang mga papel na nakahain. I have no choice but to make a speech inside my mind, kasalanan ko rin naman at dahil sa katangahan ko eh may chance pa ’kong mapahiya sa harap ng maraming tao. Narito na ’ko and it’s my time to shine, so here goes nothing.

Ihinarap ko ang mikropono sa ’kin at itinapat ko ito sa ’king bibig, I took a deep breath before opening my mouth. I closed my eyes for a second as I feel my pounding heartbeat. Okay Gael... it’s now or never. Just... don’t mess this one up, I’m counting on you, Gael.

“Honored guests, mentors, parents, fellow graduates, visitors, the seen and unseen, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant morning.” I greeted, I paused for a second then I spoke again.

“I am deeply honored for having been given this opportunity to speak before this gathering of victory. Today, I have a secret to disclose to all of us.” I smiled and continued.

“I have been accused of being a dreamer, a person who aims for high ideals. Many times I have been told how impossible my dreams were, how unequipped I was to realize them, and how easy it was to give up. I have been told as an ambitious for dreaming to write essays and short stories in English. I have been told and even until now trying hard for I am aiming of staying on top of the class. I have been accused by mediocre a dog that keeps on harking the moon.”

“It was six years ago when I came along with my mother to witness the awarding of the highest honors to a relative. I remember asking my mother if I could go upstage and receive a medal, too. This was her reply, ‘If you work hard for it, yes, someday you will have a medal, too.’”

Tumingin ako kay Mama na nakaupo sa katabing table kasama si Papa, nabibila naman ang dalawa dahil nagsasalita ako nang walang speech outline. Nakita na siguro nilang walang papel sa podium, well I’ll just hear their reactions for later. Ngayon ah ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang ginagawa ko and I ensured confidence when I’m speaking.

“From then on, my mother started teaching me my ABCs, I would sit down diligently beside her while she prepared our meals and I would count tomatoes, eggplants, and string beans. Every activity at home became a lesson. It was wonderful.”

“At a young age, four years to be exact, I learned that a hat is something that you wear on your head, hot is the opposite of cold, and hut is simply the English version of bahay-kubo. I didn't have to wait for formal schooling to learn the different vowel sounds and be able to drop my jaw and distinguish letter G from letter T. I learned the value of hard work and studies.”

“At this point, I am feeling four emotions running through my veins. I am nervous, excited, happy, and sad. Nervous, for I might startle on my speech. Excited, for we will soon enter the next level of struggle in life; focusing on studies in senior high and that new faces will be met. Happy, for I completed junior high school with the highest honor in spite of challenges in life. I didn’t get down trodden when problems barred my way. I never gave up striving more and more.”

“Being dragged down didn’t stir unfavorably my success and so, here I am, standing with much vigor. But, sad to say the memories we shared together for four years in junior high school will be soon replaced by moments yet to be defined. I trust you, my dear classmates that if time comes, when we will be facing different hardships in our lives, we will be and we’ll always be the best of friends, ever.”

I smiled as tears flowed down my eyes, wiped with a handkerchief that was on my pocket—I guess I didn’t forget that one to bring. Buti pa ang panyo, nadala ko, ’di katulad ng speech ko na naiwan ko lang sa bahay. Even so, I kind of like the way I’m speaking through the crowd, natural ang pagsasalita ko and I’m keeping the track alive on every sentence.

“Fellow graduates, we must put in our minds that graduation day is not the end, instead, the beginning a stepping stone towards the new step of our lives. At this moment, we are embarking for the voyage of life, an unknown sea-the future. For if we pursue senior high, the said cream of the crop will always be the matter for one’s better living. Education is the best armor in life for this is the only thing that one cannot take away from us and is the only thing that we can give to our fruits of love sooner or later.”

“Here I am today, standing infront of you all as a symbol of success and hope. Once again I am Gael Torres, your valedictorian for this school year. Thank you for listening.”

Bahagya akong lumayo sa podium nang matapos akong magsalita, what happened was a hell-round of torture. Bumaba ako sa stage habang mga tao ay patuloy na nagpapalakpakan. Napangiti na lang ako at napahawak sa ’king dibdib, my heartbeat’s going down to normal as I hear the claps and cheers of my classmates.

Tumingin ako kila Mama at Papa na ngayon ay tulala sa isa’t isa, kalaunan ay isa rin sila sa pumalakpak. Halos nahimatay na ’ko sa nerbiyos kanina pero I must maintain my composure, nakangiti ako ngayon habang tinatanggap ang masigarbong palakpakan mula sa madla.

Right in the corner of their seats, I can see Armin and Pressy clapping and cheering. Katabi ng dalawa sila Austin at Klarense na kapwa rin pumapalakpak. Thank God at nairaos ko ang speech ko. Ngayon ko lang naisip na... magaling pala akong mag-impromptu.