Sunday, March 30, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Graduation thoughts 1
I do not wish to postpone my write-up regarding the graduation and perhaps the many other things that happened to me after I left PMA for good and ceased to become a cadet.
I originally intended to somewhat come up with a "graceful exit" from PMA by writing a blow by blow account of all the graduation activities. The thing is I was not prepared for the physical demands (much more the emotional) demands of these activities, in the end I was not even able to write a single word to update this blog. So I will just rely on my memory in recounting the events and somehow put in my thoughts.
When one enters PMA you do not think of being able to graduate. For most people who have heard of the Academy, to enter it is already a feat on itself much more graduate. That was how I felt when I marched for Reception Day on 01 April 2004. Although all of us had hopes, it wasn't something that we entertained very much. Early on we were taught to just live one day at a time. So, when it was already very clear that I will graduate, those thoughts kept on going through my mind as I psyched myself up for graduation. I felt that this can't be happening.
The events were stressful. Most of the things that I have heard about graduation is that it is like getting married. You have so many activities to do, so many things to prepare that life becomes so stressful. But all of these things lead to something that we all want to happen. In all the activities, I wished that I can just fall asleep and then wake up on graduation day.
From the gazillion receptions that I have to attend, the wishes that I had to hear, words of wisdom from veteran soldiers and of course the sentimentality of everything that is PMA as I realized that I will be leaving the place for good in a few days time. In the nights that we were supposed to rest, it was more of making most of the time we had with our underclassmen as they rummage our rooms with things that they can get as some form of "pamana." When finally left alone, the conversation still does not end among classmates as we share our thoughts over the things that are happening to us. It was like being very very tired yet unable to sleep. The day then begins after our short sleep with songs from underclassmen as they render us the traditional "harana" coupled with body massages. Although tired and still wanting to get more sleep, the thought of not being able to show appreciation on these actions was unthinkable. And then the cycle begins again culminating finally when the President shakes our hands and gives us our diplomas.
Looking back at it now, I can't find the words to describe how everything felt. Maybe in the next entries I will try to write about it one by one and somehow reveal the thoughts that came to me but as in all graduations the experience will always be remembered as one that will define a person. For me, it is more important as I look back at all the things that I have been through to finally graduate and say to myself how lucky I am. I am just thankful for everything and I pray that I will remain steadfast to the values that I have learned as I continue my journey through life.
When one enters PMA you do not think of being able to graduate. For most people who have heard of the Academy, to enter it is already a feat on itself much more graduate. That was how I felt when I marched for Reception Day on 01 April 2004. Although all of us had hopes, it wasn't something that we entertained very much. Early on we were taught to just live one day at a time. So, when it was already very clear that I will graduate, those thoughts kept on going through my mind as I psyched myself up for graduation. I felt that this can't be happening.
The events were stressful. Most of the things that I have heard about graduation is that it is like getting married. You have so many activities to do, so many things to prepare that life becomes so stressful. But all of these things lead to something that we all want to happen. In all the activities, I wished that I can just fall asleep and then wake up on graduation day.
From the gazillion receptions that I have to attend, the wishes that I had to hear, words of wisdom from veteran soldiers and of course the sentimentality of everything that is PMA as I realized that I will be leaving the place for good in a few days time. In the nights that we were supposed to rest, it was more of making most of the time we had with our underclassmen as they rummage our rooms with things that they can get as some form of "pamana." When finally left alone, the conversation still does not end among classmates as we share our thoughts over the things that are happening to us. It was like being very very tired yet unable to sleep. The day then begins after our short sleep with songs from underclassmen as they render us the traditional "harana" coupled with body massages. Although tired and still wanting to get more sleep, the thought of not being able to show appreciation on these actions was unthinkable. And then the cycle begins again culminating finally when the President shakes our hands and gives us our diplomas.
Looking back at it now, I can't find the words to describe how everything felt. Maybe in the next entries I will try to write about it one by one and somehow reveal the thoughts that came to me but as in all graduations the experience will always be remembered as one that will define a person. For me, it is more important as I look back at all the things that I have been through to finally graduate and say to myself how lucky I am. I am just thankful for everything and I pray that I will remain steadfast to the values that I have learned as I continue my journey through life.
Turn-over ceremony pictures
I just uploaded some pictures that were taken during the turn over ceremony.
Kindly view it on my multiply account
http://alexcabales.multiply.com/
I promise to write my full account soon... Enjoy
Kindly view it on my multiply account
http://alexcabales.multiply.com/
I promise to write my full account soon... Enjoy
Friday, March 21, 2008
Graduation Video
Graduation Video
This is a video I found in the internet that featured my graduation last tuesday. I still have to consolidate all the documentations that were made during the whole graduation week so I will write my article after that is done. For the meantime... enjoy this one
thanks to all those who said their congratulations.
This is a video I found in the internet that featured my graduation last tuesday. I still have to consolidate all the documentations that were made during the whole graduation week so I will write my article after that is done. For the meantime... enjoy this one
thanks to all those who said their congratulations.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Beginning the Transition
It has been a while since I was really able to write something worth reading in this Blog. I guess I am really just busy or maybe pretending that I am busy. Yes, graduation is really taking its toll in me but I guess I really have to write. I think as I say goodbye to my last days as a cadet, I just have to take some time to look back and be thankful for all of it.
Yesterday, when I came up to Baguio after four long days (and nights) of lay outing and editing the graduation issue of the Corps Magazine, I had a thought as I made the last stop over in Sison, Pangasinan. I realized that it would be the last time that I will be stopping in that stop over as a cadet. I mean, the next time that I will be stopping there would be because I really had the intention to come up to Baguio, maybe to visit some friends or just have a vacation. Gone are the days when I am forced to ride on a bus going up because I have to be at Baguio at a certain time. The feeling is not that good as I discuss it with another classmate who was with me. It was a weird feeling really. And so, I fell that somehow, although this blog can be full of all the many memories I had inside this Academy, it is still worth a few moments to really write about the things that made my stay hear special. I guess this maybe my form of saying goodbye to Baguio City, to PMA and more importantly to being a cadet.
In a comment by a frequent visitor to this Blog, he said that it was a good thing that I am able to share my life inside this academy. I guess, with his following my blog entries, I believe he has more or less a better idea of how things really are in this Academy, beyond the publicity and the perception that is attributed to this institution. I think that subconsciously, that was partly the reason why I kept on writing in this blog. I simply wanted to give people a glimpse of how we go about our lives here to somehow put a little humanity on the cadets. I feel that by doing that, the public will be more understanding and more importantly more supportive of the reasons why we do the things that we do. Of course, there have been times that I was criticized. There were occassions that I had to edit out entries or not publish it altogether for fear of exposing the things that I am not to expose. In the almost four years that I have been blogging inside the Academy, I have learned to censor myself on topics to write about without really sacrificing my independence on the way I perceive things. But with those limitations, I do think that this blog was still successful in being true to its name -- a diary inside Melchor Hall.
And so I continue to write. In the coming days, I will begin with the transition of this blog from inside my beloved Academy to that of the bigger organization I will be joining... the Armed Forces of the Philippines, more particularly the Philippine Army. I believe there will be more challenges ahead and the surprises will be more different. As I continue my journey, I am hoping that the learning process will be worthwhile and at the same time the message I am trying to communicate will be able to at least lead to an understanding of the person behind the soldiers that fight for this country.
Yesterday, when I came up to Baguio after four long days (and nights) of lay outing and editing the graduation issue of the Corps Magazine, I had a thought as I made the last stop over in Sison, Pangasinan. I realized that it would be the last time that I will be stopping in that stop over as a cadet. I mean, the next time that I will be stopping there would be because I really had the intention to come up to Baguio, maybe to visit some friends or just have a vacation. Gone are the days when I am forced to ride on a bus going up because I have to be at Baguio at a certain time. The feeling is not that good as I discuss it with another classmate who was with me. It was a weird feeling really. And so, I fell that somehow, although this blog can be full of all the many memories I had inside this Academy, it is still worth a few moments to really write about the things that made my stay hear special. I guess this maybe my form of saying goodbye to Baguio City, to PMA and more importantly to being a cadet.
In a comment by a frequent visitor to this Blog, he said that it was a good thing that I am able to share my life inside this academy. I guess, with his following my blog entries, I believe he has more or less a better idea of how things really are in this Academy, beyond the publicity and the perception that is attributed to this institution. I think that subconsciously, that was partly the reason why I kept on writing in this blog. I simply wanted to give people a glimpse of how we go about our lives here to somehow put a little humanity on the cadets. I feel that by doing that, the public will be more understanding and more importantly more supportive of the reasons why we do the things that we do. Of course, there have been times that I was criticized. There were occassions that I had to edit out entries or not publish it altogether for fear of exposing the things that I am not to expose. In the almost four years that I have been blogging inside the Academy, I have learned to censor myself on topics to write about without really sacrificing my independence on the way I perceive things. But with those limitations, I do think that this blog was still successful in being true to its name -- a diary inside Melchor Hall.
And so I continue to write. In the coming days, I will begin with the transition of this blog from inside my beloved Academy to that of the bigger organization I will be joining... the Armed Forces of the Philippines, more particularly the Philippine Army. I believe there will be more challenges ahead and the surprises will be more different. As I continue my journey, I am hoping that the learning process will be worthwhile and at the same time the message I am trying to communicate will be able to at least lead to an understanding of the person behind the soldiers that fight for this country.
At this point, I am opening people's comments about this blog, kindly comment on anything that you feel about this blog. Just say your honest opinion and perhaps I will be able to use that to improve myself and the way I write about my experiences. Thank you very much people...
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