Here is Fr. Johnny Go’s homily at the Baccalaureate Mass for Xavier High School Class of 2008.

At first glance, our gospel reading today on what happened on the road to Emmaus doesn’t seem to fit this occasion. I mean, here we are celebrating this important milestone in the lives of our graduates—all of whom are beaming with joy and bursting with their dreams and hopes about the future—and what is the gospel about? It’s about two very depressed guys who had given up on their dreams, whose hopes had been dashed because as we know, our Lord was just crucified, and as far as these two disciples were concerned, he was dead, gone forever. “We had hoped…” they said wistfully to each other.

The mood on the road to Emmaus is, in fact, so sad that someone once described this passage as a case of two disciples having an “emo” moment. Now, I’m sure we’ve heard that word used very often. In fact, one of our teachers even said that this graduating batch is “a little bit emo”—whatever that means. So, out of curiosity and also just for fun, I decided to do a little research on the term “emo.” Since I’m not writing a scholarly paper, and I also needed a little entertainment, I decided to go to “Youtube.”

There I found two tongue-in-cheek videos on the subject that were both enlightening and hilarious. The first is called “Emo Watch (Live)” courtesy of videojug.com, and the other one is “How to be Emo” from a young Filipino videoblogger named Nigahiga based in Hawaii. I picked these two because they’re the most popular: As of last night, the first video has had over 3.5 million hits, and the second one has registered about 6.3 million.

Based on these two references, I’ll share with you five major findings of my non-scholarly research—for whatever they’re worth.

• “A true emo person hurts himself—and enjoys it.” Then the video blogger demonstrates what he means by pretending to slash his wrist while shouting “It hurts so good!”
• “Emo people always overreact.” Here the speaker opens a jar of multicolored candies, and then gets a nervous breakdown as he complains, “Why are there so many colors?!” and “What are you trying to tell me?”
• “Emo people have the same expression in everything that they do—when they’re brushing their teeth, on the toilet, and even when laughing with friends.”
• “Emo people straighten their hair and paint their nails black.”
• “Emo people write poetry and they shed goth tears.”

I’m not sure if you agree with these findings; they sound pretty extreme and abnormal to me. Anyway, I’m not sure I understand them either. But whether you agree with them or not, what’s important is that the five statements are examples of what serious researchers would call “operational definitions” of an emo person. They try define what an emo is because they indicate what behaviors a person should exhibit in order to be classified an emo.

Now, in the seven years that I have been Director of Xavier School, I’ve noticed that every graduating batch comes up with its own operational definition of what a Xaverian is. In other words, every batch contributes to our definition of what a Xaverian should be.

Based on the reports of your teachers and mentors, Xavier School Class of 2008 is quite a unique batch. Among the many things they’ve said about you, one thing has impressed me the most: Compared to other batches, in general, you seem to be a batch that is not afraid of expressing your emotions and especially your concern for one another. In a word, “emo.”

I’m told that on your last day of classes, as soon as the bell rang signaling the end of the last period, as well as, of course, the end of your high school days here in Xavier, many of you spontaneously gathered along the corridor and lingered to say goodbye to one another and to promise to keep in touch. I have no way of verifying this since we have no surveillance camera installed on the second floor, but your teachers who were eyewitnesses to this event say that they were very touched to see such a strong bond among you.

I’m also told that last Valentine’s Day, you gave every one of your teachers an “I Love My ‘Cher” pin. It’s a simple act, but for your teachers, an unforgettable one. To the best of my knowledge, no other batch has made a gesture as creative and as thoughtful as that.

But more than anything else, what really struck me is your batch’s selected motto. Early this school year, during the leadership workshop, I learned from Jake Ejercito, your batch rep, that your motto is “Not One Less”—borrowed from the title of a Chinese film ( 一個都不能少). “Not One Less” refers to your batch’s dream and goal of having every single one of you graduate and march together today. Unfortunately, for various reasons, that dream did not completely come true. But it shows how much you care for another in your batch.

All these things I’ve mentioned are only some of the things that define your batch and make your class different and special. But thanks to you, all these also are now among the operational definitions of a Xaverian. This is your contribution to defining what a Xaverian is all about: A person who is caring and expresses this care for others, especially his batchmates. I’d like to thank your batch for this contribution to the Xavier School tradition.

Now, let’s go back to our gospel reading. I’m sure you remember this passage as the reading used for the Final Mass of your “Days with the Lord.” Perhaps it is no accident that on the day we celebrate your Baccalaureate Mass, it so happens that this is the reading. There, after all, are no coincidences, so perhaps God has a message here for each one of you today.

Contrary to our first impressions, our gospel reading isn’t just about an “emo” moment. It’s about the journey of two disciples who haven give up and just want to go home. But something special happens: The Lord joins them. He walks with them incognito, and even if unrecognized, he keeps them company. On the road He helps them to understand what’s going on in their lives and raises their spirit. The disciples recognize Him only when He performs an action that we may well consider an “operational definition” of the Lord—i.e., an evidence of His presence: He breaks bread—which means he shares himself with those in need.

As you leave Xavier School, as you continue your journey, I ask you to remember two things:

First, be a companion to each other in your journey. Strengthen what you have shown to be the defining feature of your batch. Take good care of one another. There are many ways you can do this, but let me just suggest two: First, help those among you who are in need. As we know, life doesn’t always go perfectly. Life is full of ups and downs. If you hear of anyone in your batch who, for one reason or another, is going through a difficult stage, go over and extend the needed help and support.

The other way of taking care of one another is, I think, more difficult to do, but in many ways, it is more important. Take care of one another not only by helping those who need help, but also by correcting those who need to be corrected. Should any of you forget the ideals and values that you have learned here in Xavier, I hope some of you will go out of your way to remind him and help lead him back to the right paths. This will be the real proof of how strong your bonds are: If you can help each other remain good.

My second message to you as you continue your journey, be Jess to each other. And the Jess in you will be recognized only in the breaking of the bread, when you are willing to make sacrifices in order to do good. Make your life a breaking of the bread, sharing your gifts with others even if it entails sacrifices.

And so my dear graduates, as we continue our Holy Eucharist, I ask our Lord Jesus, Who is the Lord of our Journeys, to bless You as you begin a new stage in your life journey. But remember, the best part about it is that you make the journey with Him and with one another.
HS GRADUATION CEREMONY

In solemn ceremonies last Wednesday, March 26, over 260 seniors graduated from Xavier School, making up the newest batch of alumni, the Class of 2008! The event began promptly at 5 PM with the processional of the faculty and school administrators, followed by the graduating students.

The program began with an invocation by Fr. Guy Guibelondo, Campus Minister, and a welcome from Magis Awardee, Filbert Aaron Tiu (4B). The Guest of Honor was Xavier alumnus, Gilbert Teodoro, Jr., Secretary of National Defense, who was introduced by former English mentor, Mrs. Vivian Ocampo.

Mr. Michael delos Reyes then presented the various outstanding seniors, starting with the Rafael Cortina Exemplary Athlete Award to Perry Evan Lao (4B) and Audren Allen Wong (4C); the Richie Fernando Service Award to Filbert Tiu (4B) and Paul Ivan Chan (4H); and the Horacio dela Costa Leadership Award to Leigh Wade Wong (4A).

Ms. Aimee Apolinario presented the Magis Awardees, Filbert Tiu and Paul Ivan Chan; while Mrs. Jane Cacacho, HS Principal, presented the lone Xavier Awardee, Evan Suanders Chen (4A), who gave his “Word of Gratitude” speech on behalf of all the graduates.

Then came the presentation of graduates by their respective class advisers. The last portion of the program included the singing of the graduation song “Keeping Bonds”, an original song composed by Alexander Mayoralgo (4H) and Juan Alberto Ong (4D), the induction to the alumni association by AAXS President Dr. Kelly Salvador (78), the taking of the Xavier Pledge led by Leigh Wade Wong, and the Closing Remarks by Fr. Johnny Go, Director.

One of the notable guests that evening was ex-President Joseph Estrada, the proud parent of Juan Emilio Enriquez Ejercito (4F).

The other awardees included:

First Honors:

Evan Saunders Chen, Peterson Poon, Jose Timothy Martin Chua, Stanly Galo Sy, Kurt Gerrard See, Mark Benedict Tan, Walter Wong, Andrew Vincent Yap, and Spencer Yu Galan.

Second Honors:

Martin Joseph Fausto, Lawrence Stephen Gatmaitan, Ken Russel Go, Jonathan Jason King Li, Wesley Manfred Que, Leigh Wade Wong, Kyle Russell Dy Tan, Justine Henry Figueroa, Bryan Paolo Lao, Charlie Ledesma, Ryle Siegfried Li, Filbert Aaron Tiu, Luis Alfonso Yaptinchay, Bryan Aldrich Chua, Zachary Chung, Oliver Nicole de Ocampo, Patrick Francis Go, Maverick Adrielle Lim, Richmond Philbert Tong, Vincent Yu, Dave Maverick Lim, and Paolo Miguel Sy.

Diligence Award:

Andrew Vincent Yap and Spencer Yu Galan.

Departmental Awards:

CLE: Stanly Galo Sy, Spencer Yu Galan; Chinese: Henrison Ulrick Hsieh, Jacques Yves Reyes, Charles Lim, Andrew Vincent Yap; Mathematics: Jeffrey Kenneth Go, Mark Benedict Tan, Andrew Vincent Yap; Science: Evan Saunders Chen, Mark Benedict Tan, Andrew Vincent Yap; Social Science: Evan Saunders Chen.

Gawad Uliran for Outstanding Achievement:

Evan Saunders Chen, Peterson Poon, Jose Timothy Chua, Stanly Galo Sy, James Edward Sy, Mark Benedict Tan, Andrew Vincent Yap, Lance Martin Tan.

Gawad Uliran for Outstanding School Representation:

Robin Allan Tan, Jeffrey Kenneth Go, Tomas Julian Santos, Gabriel Banal, Dustin Jacob Chong, Michael Francis Lua, Ervin Stanley Lee, Jasper Pua, Miguel Jerrald Tan, Jr.