Canonical Erection

I am an environmentalist with a green mind kaya when I saw the word erection in their invitation to me, I read it twice to make sure I was reading it right.

I don’t know why it’s called Canonical Erection, but if it’s up to me, I will change the word erection, and replace it with something else.

Despite the dark clouds and heavy rain, I travelled for 26 kilometers, anxious that the floods might worsen and we could get stranded. I left our house an hour later than the 2:30 pm I planned to. We entered the poblacion at 4:30 pm but one couldn’t go any faster because of the narrow streets and hundreds of tricycles. I reached the church on top of a hill in Pila-pila at 4:45 under pouring rain.

The church was surrounded by people taking cover from the rain but couldn’t get in because seats were all occupied.  I squeezed through the crowd and looked for Jaymar Villegas, the president of the parish’s youth committee. Jaymar’s lola is a cousin of my mom.

There were a few reserved seats in the front. I found myself on the same pew as with three Binangonan officials– Mayor Boyet Ynarez, Barangay Chairman Dick Cenidoza, and 9-year Konsehal, Ruben Patag. Dick is married to Ruth, whose father, Kuya Bayani is a 3rd cousin of ours. Ruben is also a distant relative, and a second cousin of my sister-in-law, Ate Linda. Ganyan dati sa Binangonan, lahat magka-kamag-anak.

Mayor Boyet said —– “Oh, bakit ikaw ay paganda ng paganda?”
Me———— “Mayor, kasi palabo ng palabo ang mata mo”.
He giggled. Mayor Boyet was a close friend and kumpadre of my Kuya Ben(+).
He was my brother’s idol in many ways.

Five minutes after I arrived, the ceremony started. I considered myself so lucky.

The new chapel in my mother’s birthplace Pila-pila, is now officially a parish church covering several barrios, mostly islands, in Binangonan, Rizal. They also have a new parish priest, Father Jeffrey. Mayor Boyet said “Yan ay tiga Taytay”.

There was a Holy Mass and a simple celebration held last Sunday, called, yun na nga, Canonical Erection.

Fr. Ric Eguia assisted by Jaymar.

Even if I was seated in the middle,  I could still feel the rain’s anggi.  Ang lakas ng ulan.

There was a dance presentation after the mass.

Relatives of my mom mobbed me immediately after the dance. I felt good that they could still recognize me.

And they were waiting for me because they wanted to request for a new dress for the Sacred Heart. They showed me the dress, some parts are torn na. It’s been more than 10 years, kaya it’s about time.

I was introduced to the new parish priest. They also told him that I was the one who donated the image of Sacred Heart of Jesus that’s prominently displayed at the altar. Jaymar requested if I could donate whatever I could for a flat screen tv to be placed on the church’s wall so more people could participate in the singing.

They invited me to have dinner there.   But I chose to leave na.   While I was about to board my vehicle,  I met some more  townsfolk and balikbayans.  “Anak ka ba ni Tya Felicing?”  “Si Annie ito ah”.   “Si Annie ka ba?”   Meron ding sumisigaw habang pasakay na ako  “lagi kong tinitingnan ang Oh my buhay!”   She said it twice,  maingay kasi ang ulan kaya she had to say it aloud.

We have a 40″ flat HDTV in the guest room. Fairly new and hardly used. I bought that before Bong and Ayleen’s visit. After they left, I brought it to Ford Cainta but was never used so I brought it home. I told Jaymar, I will give it to them. I will go back to Pilapila soon, to bring the tv and give them some money to have a new dress made for the Sacred Heart. Hindi naman mahal yun dahil doon na lang daw tatahiin. Estimated cost = P5,000 – P6,000. I also want to give the priest PLATES. Yes, PLATES. Nice ones of course. During his speech, he thanked everyone for bringing kaldero, aircon, silya, etc. He asked for plates.

I really don’t mind donating a few things to this church. Pila-pila is where my mother was born and raised. She loved this barrio. I am wholeheartedly doing this for her. I am happy to be a part of Pilapila.
I wish my mother were here instead. I am only her representative. If I could not afford to give any money, I would volunteer my services. I wouldn’t mind sweeping the floor and dusting the Santo.

God bless the people of Pilapila. Congratulations.