I went to bed at 1 am. Edmund woke me up by shaking my hips. He said maaga pa it’s only 4 am, I thought “eh bakit mo ko ginising? so I fell back to sleep. I was dreaming that I was already inside the church. Then I heard Edmund’s kaluskos so I forced myself to stand-up. Imagine taking a shower at 4 am.
I suddenly felt nostalgic after I opened my cabinet to look for something to wear. The first thing that I grabbed was a small sweater. Kasi nuong araw, ang ginaw–ginaw pag simbang gabi. Lahat ng tao sa Binangonan, naka jacket, naka bandana, at naglalakad ng naka-halukipkip. Ang mama ko laging naka-chaleco, colored green. Minsan nagpapayong pa sya to protect her from hamog. At walang aircon pa nuong araw ang mga simbahan. Siksikan ang tao hanggang labas pero maginaw pa rin.
I was looking for that chilly feeling, but all I felt was humidity. Naka aircon pa kami sa kwarto. When we walked to the car, I didn’t feel any lamig ng simoy ng hangin. I miss those days. Global warming na talaga.
I was observing the church goers. Meron din mga naka jacket pero pilit na pilit yun. Meron pang lalaki na naka black turtle neck. Pero even with the aircon inside Christ the King Church, hindi naman ako nagiginaw. But in the middle of the mass, I took out my sweater, pang effect lang, kunwari maginaw. Kunwari winter.
The priest’s Homily started with a woman who is personally known to the priest that was rushed to the hospital yesterday because she suffered from heart attack. Edmund said, “umagang-umaga yan ang topic ni father”. Tapos, sinundan pa ni father ng may mga cancer, stage 3, stage 4. etc.
Antok-na-antok ako, I am looking for some inspiration and I want to go home with some wisdom and a deeper faith.
This morning’s homily failed in that aspect.
It wasn’t the longest Homily I have ever heard but today was particularly boring and it felt endless. I really wanted to raise my hand and say “Excuse me father, 30 minutes has passed can you please wrap it up and summarize in one short sentence what you want to impart on us”. I thought 5:30 am is not the best time to tell us wandering stories, wandering because there is no certainty where this Homily would lead all of us. I thought it was inconsiderate of the priests not to deliver a good Homily. When I say good, I mean, short and concise, a paragraph or two but with depth and substance. Something that would stick to people’s hearts and minds. Just a few guiding words that would hopefully make us parishioners leave the church this morning feeling our time waking up was well spent. Some wisdom we could carry within us to guide our way.
oh so bored wife and husband
oh so antok daughter and mom
The church has started adapting to modern day technology. Notice the flat screens and power point presentations complete with cartoons and illustrations. When they lecture, sometimes It makes me feel like an elementary student. And the power point presentation also prolongs the sermon. Maybe they are thinking that the new generation responds better to visuals and hi-tech presentations.
The priest mentionedd that there’s an evening simbang gabi. Siguro in the future meron ng simbang gabi sa tanghali, parang breakfast meeting sa gabi.
The altar was decorated with 4 streamers. Good intention, maybe they are thinking that there’s no way every church goer could miss reading the religious messages. In my opinion, the altar is sacred, the church has many strategic walls they could post those 4 streamers. Yes, I saw and read the four. Did the message stick in my head? No. What I do remember is that the altar looks more like a stage for a religious or political rally.
I mean no disrespect but priests must also do some analysis, parishioners would have more energy and patience to listen at 5 pm but not at 5 am when we are sleepy and could be grouchy.
The 9 day Misa De Gallo is a prelude to Christmas Day, it would be nice to sing Christmas songs that parishioners could sing together, and not sleep-inducing Latin songs. We can sing this some other time, not at 5 am.
thank you for the free coffee
As we were walking to our car, Oyen noticed this Porche sports car Cayman.
We saw a couple probably in their late 60s or early 70s drove-off with it.
I told Edmund “‘tart, kailangan pag tanda natin ganyan din tayo”
Edmund——– “Naku, mahirap yan, masakit sa bewang, paano tayo uupo at tatayo, sobrang mababa”.
Oo nga naman.
I wanted to buy puto-bungbong pero nagkakagulo yung mga tao kaya umalis na lang kami.
