St. Jude

I discovered this church when I was in 4th year college. There were many students who came here to pray for many things- increase in school allowance, to pass the exams, not to get pregnant, to have a boyfriend, wag ma-basted, etc.

Edmund & I came here several times when we were still sweethearts. We rode a jeepney from UST to Legarda or Recto, then we just followed the crowd. We walked far, past San Beda, San Sebastian, and the two nearby colleges for women. It was actually a long walk but alam mo na when you’re young and with your new-found puppy love, nothing is far and difficult to reach.

We haven’t been here together since we graduated from UST, but I have gone back a few times by myself. My most recent visit was thursday afternoon, January 26, 2012.

Nothing much has changed

There are still a lot of vendors in the driveway

The candles are in neon colors. Ang gaganda.

I arrived just in time for the 4 pm novena.

Hello St. Jude

Same as the one in San Carlos Seminary. The face looks so miserable and sad.

I no longer dip my fingers in the Holy Water container kasi baka madumi na.

The main altar

I wanted to light candles but there were so many people. Ayaw kong maki siksik na.

The blessing of religious articles used to be done by the priest inside the church and sometime during the novena or mass. But now, the blessing is being done outside after the novena. Siguro kasi ang dami ng tao, para hindi magulo.

Parang hindi nya natamaan ng Holy water yung novena booklet ko.
Balik na lang uli ako.

Rosaries for sale

There were quite a number of pulubi outside. This baby is only 3 weeks old and being used na to beg. According to this 14 year-old girl, the baby is her youngest sister. Nainis talaga ako. I told her to call her mother and I want to talk to her. After a few minutes, she came and I heard the mom saying “ayan, mapapagalitan tuloy ako”.

The mother said the baby is her 6th child of 5 girls and one boy. I told her not to use her baby as a come on for people to take pity on them. “Baka magkasakit yan”.

Eeto naman sister din daw nya yung baby girl, 5 months or 7 months old.
Naku yung uhug naka sabog na sa mukha nung baby. Parang I want to bring all of them home at paliguan. Mai pa- body scrub, hot oil and mani-pedi.

Next week, I intend to contact the DSWD to check on these babies.