MANILA, Philippines — Some people would ask for grand graduation gifts — gifts that are fitting for years of hard work, breakdowns, and successes in college.

But not Mac. The graduation gift he asked from his parents? Tombstone. A literal tombstone.

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Mac Andre Arboleda marched to receive his diploma for a degree in Development Communication last June 22 at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos.

Before he received his diploma, however, his parents gave him his requested tombstone as a graduation gift.

According to Arboleda, he messaged his mother on Facebook asking her if she could instead give him a tombstone as a graduation gift.

His mother’s response: A simple “thumbs up” emoji.

“They just went with it. Alam naman ng parents ko na mahilig ako sa weird or funny stuff like that,” Arboleda told INQUIRER.net.

Arboleda said he did not want his parents to print a tarpaulin that is common in graduation rites or urge them to spend on expensive gifts such as brand-new gadgets.

“Usually kapag may guma-graduate ginagawan sila ng tarp. People with some humor, ang ginagawa nila tarp tapos yung design parang namatay, so naisip ko ‘kung lapida,” Arboleda said.

“Ayoko namang gumastos ng malaki ang parents ko for expensive gadgets tapos yang lapida P1,200 lang,” he added.

Arboleda said he is using the tombstone to prevent his laptop from overheating, adding that he is planning to give himself a more expensive black granite tombstone once he achieves his long-term goal of receiving a masters degree in New Media and Internet Studies.

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In his spare time, Arboleda also creates webcomics, which made him popular online under the monicker “Asshulz.”/ac

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