Reflections and Sunscreen

The following is a speech made to the graduating class of 1999 at MIT(Mastettusetts at hindi Mapua). It was made into a musical track by someone on the internet.

I first heard this song during my elementary years. I liked the track. Never heard it again, until now.

I tried reflecting on the song. and here it goes...
(This is what went through my mind as I listened to the track for the 5th time. Slow noh?)


"Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '99:

Wear sunscreen. (What?)

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. (Ok, I'm listening)


Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. (What beauty?)

Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine. (Hmmmm... We'll see...)

Don't worry about the future. (Hurray! One point for me...)

Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday. (Damn straight.)

Do one thing every day that scares you. (That's a nice advice!)

Sing. (No comment)

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. (Bea? :-S)

Floss. (Ouch...)

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. (Wow.. Deep. I'll take note of that..)

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. (Answer's simple, just die.. When you're dead, you receive compliments you never even dreamed of. Insults wont even turn up any more.)

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements. (I will.)

Stretch. (Huwaaaah..!)

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't. (Realy?)

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone. (I almost lost mine. Lesson learned.)

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. (What kind of use is this guy talking about?)

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room. (Sure thing brother!)

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them. (HA HA HA HA!!)

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly. (Right on!)

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. (I learned this the hard way...)

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young. (I'll take note of that...)

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. (This doesn't apply to me, siguro dapat "live in the streets of Manila once")

Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.(This doesn't apply to me either, siguro dapat "live in Alabang(?) once")

Travel. (If I had the money bakit hindi)

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.
(Agree..)

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out. (Right, but if I had a choice.)

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85. (Buti na lang ako sanay nang kalbo HA HA HA!)

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth. (That's a good way of looking at things.)

But trust me on the sunscreen. (Will do sir... Will do...)"