A super rainy graduation!

July 13, 2022

The Commencement exercises for Davao Oriental State University main and extension campuses were divided in 5 schedules and for the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, the schedule was July 13 . It was held outdoor, in the Baywalk Park of Mati City since we need a bigger area for more than 500 graduates and their escorts. It was agreed that rain or shine, the graduation ceremony will continue. The students and parents were told to prepare umbrellas for the said event.

The weather in the morning was fine, the sun shines and everyone hoped for a good weather in the afternoon. At around 10:00 A.M, the clouds started to cover the place, then it became darker, at 12:00 NN, the rain started to pour down. The processional will start at 2:00PM and I was hoping that the rain will just pass, but it didn't. It will stop for a while then back again.

As agreed, the show must go on, the processional started at 2:00PM, the graduates together with their parents/guardians marched under the heavy rain. The shoes that they just newly bought for the event were soak in the water.

A few already removed their shoes and walk in bare foot. Due to number of graduates, the processional took an hour.

On the time that the faculty and staff will march for the processional, we were almost completely wet. The program started but the rain did not stopped. What we did? We just enjoyed the rain. The reading of graduates had come. I read the names of all the BSIT graduates. We were second from the last course being read. I feel cold, but I ignored it, the activity will not stop. On the time of the awarding of medals, the rain stopped. Finally! It was almost 6:00PM. A BSIT graduate was this year's valedictorian, a Magna Cum Laude. He was the one who gave the valedictory address. Such an inspiration, our pride, he is the first Magna Cum Laude for BSIT program of our University.

The graduates then sang their graduation song, "On Our Way". It's just sad that there were only few left until the end, some had go home already because of the heavy rain, some said they need to go home because their houses were already flooded.

This graduation is one of the most memorable graduations I attended in my entire life. It was featured in GMA News and ABS-CBN news. A proof that no rain can stop our graduates from celebrating a very important milestone in their life - the graduation. The weather might not be favorable that time but it's ones choice to be appreciative, being positive despite the undesirable circumstances.

Congratulations to all graduates of Batch 2022!