A Recap on Graduation Day

I hope people are still not sick of me and my graduation posts! I've had countless graduation posts and updates since last wednesday so please excuse this one as it is another one of those. I've worked for this for the past sixteen years so I'm still on a graduation high. This post is a recap on how the entire day was for me!

The day started pretty early since our assembly time at PICC was 7:30 am. I had my hair and make up done at Great Cuts Salon at Intercon Hotel which was recommended by my mom's friend. 

Shoutout to Angelo of Great Cuts for taking care of me and my mom! He was friendly and professional and my look did last the whole day. Thank you! 

We went straight to PICC with our empty stomachs since I was afraid to be late and not get to walk the aisle!

Graduation was surprisingly fast and okay. With 850 plus graduates from different courses my friends and I were expecting a long, boring, dragging program but we were even finished before noon!

Of course, this day was not just about me but also for my parents who supported my education financially, emotionally (during hard times and failures and for always encouraging me), physically (by being present in all programs and events despite their schedule) and all other kinds of support they've given me for the past 16 years that I couldn't possibly put into words!

Really, really, really haggard this time since it was super hot that day and I spent about an hour roaming PICC to look for my parents since my phone gave up on me.

For lunch, I wanted to get away from the PICC area since I know that's where most people would be dining.

We had lunch at Passion Restaurant at Resorts World, my favorite cantonese buffet!!! I was starving that time since I didn't have breakfast so good thing it was a buffet, but then again 4inches of high heels is not buffet friendly so this place was perfect since it was a sit down buffet.

Right after lunch, we went straight to Chili's at Tomas Morato for my afternoon party with the family and closest friends!

Aside from my graduation, we celebrated my lola's belated birthday!

In every party, people are asked to give speeches whether they liked it or not. I, being no exception. Haha

So to all these people, whether you liked it or not, thank you!!! Haha

Yaaay! Congratulations to me!

But of course, my getting a degree is not out of my sole efforts. So many people have made this happen, my parents of course and my family, especially my mom who patiently tutored me for accounting even if I get grumpy whenever my financial statements don't balance, my dad, who from grade school up until college has done every artwork and drawing that I needed since I lacked the skills and my tita who tutored me when I was in grade school and insisted I memorized all of my notes. My teachers from grade school and high school for all their efforts and their well wishes for me until now. My professors who taught me every thing I needed and things our books does not contain. And to all my friends who went through this ride with me. We all kept each other sane in such a crazy environment. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I feel so loved and motivated to do my best on my endeavour!

Love, Paola 

Chapter 1: Student Life - DONE!

I AM NOW OFFICIALLY A COLLEGE GRADUATE!!!! After 3 and a half years of studying in DLSU, I now have my degree and I'm officially closing quite a long chapter in my life. It's still a little surreal, I've been a student for the past 16 and a half years and now suddenly, I'm done. All those years spent studying led to last Saturday, when I walked on stage and got my fake diploma (our real diploma will be mailed to us a few weeks after). Now I'm moving on the next chapter which is popularly titled as "The Real World". And just like any good book, I know the next chapter is always harder,  more challenging and hopefully, more fulfilling.  

Dress - Ever New | Heels - Topshop | Bag - Tory Burch

A separate post on how my graduation day went, up next!

Love, Paola

Recognition Rites

My Instagram, Twitter and Facebook is full of graduation vibes right now, I love it!!! Last Wednesday, we had our Baccalaureate mass, batch picture taking and grad rehearsals. Last night, it was our recognition rites. You know us, pictures galore! Right now, my social networking sites are swarming with so much graduation feels and to think it's not even graduation yet! I can feel positive vibes from everyone, even when were all board during the practice. Happiness really is contagious! Anyway, this was my outfit for our recognition rites. I love everything about this dress - from its rich royal blue color to its brocade pattern. The cut is a little simple so I decided to dress it up with gold details!

Dress - Ever New | Earrings - Koet | Pumps - Zara | Belt - Aldo | Bag - Michael Kors

Thank you Tita Glenda for directing me on my angles and poses and for taking these photos! Haha

Love, Paola

Adios, Sayonara, Au revoir!

It's official! My last term in DLSU is going to end this week! Though technically I was done with this term the moment we submitted revised thesis paper but seeing all the Facebook status of my school mates makes it more official this week. It's still not sinking in that I'm actually done with school - as in legit, adios-sayonara-goodbye-kind-of-done. During our thesis defense, I was actually putting more pressure on myself since I kept thinking that my academic life, all 15 years of it, boils down to that day. And although the total score was short of 0.04 for our thesis to be nominated which was our goal since (ughhh it stil hurts huhuhu and let's just not talk about the panel's individual scores), I'm still thankful and grateful that we did it and now, we're done with it. One of my consistent complains all through out my college life was working in a group with slackers and freeloaders (I hate those the most) but I consider myself lucky to have worked with my thesismates! :) 

What's a bunch of selfies doing here, you ask? Well, this was taken after I had my graduation photoshoot. My friends and I are a year late and we will be put in a different yearbook from our batchmates all because we were so lazy to do the requirements the year before. I love that I have friends who understand me. Anywaaay, I loved the graduation photoshoot! It was the first time I wore a black toga and though this may seem a little dramatic, I feel like it gave me the motivation to do my best for our thesis as my last tribute to my entire academic life. I am a drama queen afterall. I plan on posting my graduation photo come January since I don't wanna jinx anything although everything's official already. PICC and my diploma, see you in February 8, 2014!!!

Just like what one of our panelist said, "Now the hard part is getting a job." ;)

Love, Paola xx