Bilib ako sa 'yo!

Graduation.An occasion where families gather to celebrate.  It is a moment to express pride and wishes for a good future.  And that is what I wish for all of the graduates.

This month closes all my early morning trips to the U.P. Cebu for my two lovely classes in advertising.  The semester was challenging, considering that my students are all graduating. 

One class, borne out of Yolanda showed me how resilient the youth truly are.  My students from Tacloban came to class two weeks later than the regular opening.   Their stories of survival were narrated with strength.  There was no self-pity in their eyes.  Only a sheer determination to overcome the new obstacles that stood in their way.

Some of them only had a few clothes to wear.  And I even had one student who on the first day, when I asked what he wished for, only looked at his feet clad in slippers, and smiled. 

Of course there was an influx of clothes that I brought in from the employees of San Miguel Brewery Inc. in Bacolod, Davao and Cebu, and since most of the clothes were chosen for the youth I expected them to take most.  But those who chose some, thought of the others who still needed clothes.  And though I had to face the repetition of colors in a classroom where students were allowed to just be in civilian clothes, the more colourful images that I kept with me were their scrambling during activities and the laughter that we shared during discussions and presentations.

My Cebu class was no different.  I could feel their passion and determination to create advertisements that were based on solid concepts which drew out the unique selling propositions of each product they put to fore.  On presentation day, they did not look like students and they amazed me with their close to professional outputs.  Perhaps like a proud mom, I am pulling my on leg and blowing my own horn by saying my children are the most beautiful.  But I do feel proud.

I will miss my classes even though like them I will not miss waking up too early.  I will miss studying with them, learning with them, working with them.  And so I take off my red pen to scribble a few messages to wish them well.

In recognition of the individual talents that are present in each graduate, (who are above 18 of course and assumed responsible) San Miguel Beer has come up with their BILIB AKO SA 'YO cans which is a limited edition of beer celebratory cans that can be the pad where you write your greetings to the graduates who are soon to join the young professional force.  This has made my simple greeting easier to express.

As it is also a moment of recognition in the work places, the SMB Bilib Ako sa  'Yo cans can also serve as the writing tablet for a congratulatory message for a job well done.

The special beer cans will only be here until summer.  And like my students, who will move on to the real world of work and life, I tip one bubbly drink of SMB to them in cheer!