Student Asks Parents For Gravestone As Graduation Gift

Story By: Simon Glover, Sub-EditorJoseph Golder,  Agency: Asia Wire Report

Picture Credit: AsiaWire/@androxide

This student raised eyebrows after he asked his parents to buy him a ghoulish gravestone as a graduation present – and they agreed.

Mac Andre Arboleda, 24, said he wanted something durable to mark his academic achievements at the University of the Philippines.

Traditionally, graduates in the Philippines are presented with tarpaulin banners to mark their graduation from college.

But Mac, who studied development communication at the university’s campus in the town of Los Banos, in the province of Laguna, wanted something more long-lasting.

He shared photographs of his bizarre gift on Facebook with the comment: “My parents’ grad gift: a remembrance,. Something material to sum up my 8 looong weird years in college.”

Picture Credit: AsiaWire/@androxide

Mac revealed his parents had not been phased by his unusual request.

“They know I’m into ‘weird’ stuff like that, so when I messaged my mom on Facebook… she literally just replied a thumbs up emoji,” he said.

They had the gravestone made by a local firm and said the stonemason had found the request “funny”.

Mac added that he planned to keep the stone in his room and would use it to rest his laptop on to prevent it from over-heating.

“I’ll remember my whole college life just by looking at it,” he added.

His next plan is to study for a Masters degree in New Media and Internet Studies – and says he will be asking for a more expensive gravestone in black granite if he graduates.

His post prompted a big reaction on Facebook with most online commentators seeing the funny side of the unusual gift.

Netizen ‘Carla Caballes Villegas’ commented: “This is unique”, ‘Jetomo Haro Enn’ said: “Condolences and congratulations”, and ‘Klaire Caliplip’ noted: “When finally graduating sends you to your own grave…”

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