About seven years ago, I bought a silvery picture frame from Excel Frames and Decors, owned and managed by Sonny Osi. They specialize in religious images and Victorian- style picture frames made from Mount Pinatubo ashes.
Sonny and I have known each other for more than fifteen years, from the time I started organizing the Exporter’s Fair. I was not sure though if we met at the CITEM fairs. I was active before in helping promote our country’s products and exports.
One time I was in Megamall looking for Christmas decors, I chanced upon his booth. I bought this large metallic-painted picture frame without knowing where I would put it because it’s too elaborate. For a year, it stayed in the drawer under the altar.
Several years prior:
I was sick and was leaving our house to go to the hospital one afternoon to be operated on the next morning. A close friend dropped off at our house a copy of the novena to the Our Lady of Manaoag. It was printed on a cardboard. The front had the picture of OLM and at the back was the novena prayer.
That cardboard was always under my pillow ever since. Many times I would fall asleep while hugging it. Because of that, the cardboard began to soften, with its sides folded and some portions were torn.
I cut the sides to remove the parts that were peeling-off. It became smaller and smaller. I couldn’t snip the sides any more because it would already hit the novena prayer printed at the back.
One evening, a bright idea came to my head. Perfect, I would frame the cardboard in that strambotic picture frame.
I hung it on the wall above the statue of Our Lady of Manaoag.
On November 22, Sunday, I went to bed at 10 am to take a one hour nap. I had no sleep the night before, not even for a few minutes. We were going to the Angono fiesta but I was beginning to feel dizzy so I told Oyen I would take a nap and would wake up at exactly 11 am. At exactly 11 am, I was awakened by a loud crash. It was as if something heavy had fallen. Then I heard my daughter’s voice calling out the maid, “Ano yon? Ano yon?” I stood up and went out of the room. I saw Oyen standing on the stairs landing and looking down on the sala thinking that the sound came from the living room. Maybe the maid was cleaning and accidentally knocked off something. The maid didn’t answer. She wasn’t there.
I stood in front of the altar. When the maid didn’t answer, I looked around, trying to find any item that must have fallen. Then I noticed pieces of the picture frame scattered on the floor. Then I saw it resting on the large plastic box just below the altar. I also saw chips on top of the glass covering the Santo Nino. I also noticed that the statue of Our Lady of Manaoag was slightly sideways.
Para bang merong nakiraan kaya tumagilid sya and it moved a little bit forward.
I looked up to where the picture frame was hung, the photo of OLM was left on the wall still hanging.
Omb—-“Anak, it’s the picture frame. It dropped”.
The heavy picture frame gave way and dropped side-ways to avoid hitting the crown and head of the OLM. It also avoided smashing the glass case of Santo Nino. It passed between the Sta. Nino and OLM. Instead of dropping with its feet first, it landed sideways and comfortably laid down, see, like this. How did that happen? It defied gravity. We studied every possible scenario on how it landed there, avoiding hitting OLM and Sto. Nino. And why did it land on it’s side and laid flat on its back and didn’t shatter into pieces?
It’s a mystery.
I didn’t want to touch the mysterious picture frame. Although it has cracks and for all intents and purposes it’s already broken, I still didn’t want to remove it from where it landed. I will not throw it away.
