Divine Tuesnight..

It’s almost every Tuesday that I go to church, Greenbelt in particular, after work. And normally I would see few people, and that would be the best time to make “tambay” in church and make “katwiran” (I learned this from my college friend) to Him, which is the way I mostly talk to the Above, if there is. Other Tuesdays, they have charismatic gatherings, where once I found my self singing along. And last Tuesday, December 8, I was surprised when I saw many people, and there was a mass held. Having no choice, I just stayed and attended it. As soon as I got home, I asked my mom and my older sister what’s up and why there a lot of people in church that night. Because I normally see that kind of crowd, let’s face it, only during the first up to the third mass of “Simbang Gabi” and the other was “Misa de Gallo”, and the mass before New Year. Since I’ve been busy recently (naks! Parang artista ah!), I’m somehow outdated with the news and current events. Moreover, I sometimes actually forget what day it was. I didn’t know it was “Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion” that night until my sister told me about it.

Moving on, last night, Tuesday, after work, I found my self again walking towards greenbelt church, and thought it was a good time for a quiet moment. Since it’s a sort of a long walk, I put on my earphones from my phone, turned on the radio, and listen to “The BrewRATS”, a radio show composed of DJ Angel, DJ Tado, and DJ Ramon. I love listening to these guys especially when I heard that they also idolize “King DJ Logan (KDL)”, which is also one of my favorite radio jocks. When I reached the church, to my surprise, it’s as if I’m in the same scenario as last week, with almost the same number of crowd..

“Ano na naman to’!?”

I just stood at the same ground where I ask my self that question. Listening to “Our Father”, I removed my left earphone and retain the right to simultaneously listen to the BrewRATS where they have, “bring-a-friend-tuesnight”, and they have a priest guest, Father Francis (I didn’t get his last name), and their topic is about Christmas, and all. I noticed that he was cool and delivers good humor while conveying good information about the Christian life, particularly during Christmas. I’m learning a lot.

Benjie Mode:
(Benjie is an old officemate who knows a lot, and talks a lot at the same time. ^^)

“Did you know that Christ was born on 6 B.C.?”

I bet you didn’t.

Meanwhile, I heard the voice of the Greenbelt Parish Priest through the church’s speakers, and noticed his American accent. Intrigued, I moved closer to the church to take a closer look. That is the time he was just giving the final Blessing. Afterwards, he mentioned about the book “365 Days with the Lord”. I learned that he was a Filipino the time he spoke tagalog and cracked a joke about the book.

“Ayos ah! Ang cool ng mga Pari ngayon!”

By the time most of the people left, I entered the church and planned to buy the book and have it signed by him, the cool priest. Since couples of persons were lined up for the book, I decided to sit and wait. Still having my right earphone on, I continued listening to the radio. When I noticed the people cleared up and saw the priest is still there helping to distribute the books, I approached his assistant for one copy of the book, paid for it, and asks if I can have it signed by the priest, he said, “Opo, pwede po!”.

“Ayos!”

By that time I was already beside one woman standing next to the priest, but she was busy talking to the other woman on my back, so I got the chance to make an eye contact with the priest..

“Excuse me Father, pwedeng..”

Then I gave him the book along with my pen. He said, “Sure!”. While he’s writing on the book I mentioned my first name and realized he do not usually write names, maybe because he’s not used to signing books, but he wrote it anyway. Then the woman between me and the priest asked if she can, borrow my pen, and have her book signed just like mine, so I said, “Sure!”. After that, I asked for the priests’ name while reaching for his hand and placed it to my forehead. “It’s Father Mario. God bless.” Then I thank him.

As usual, I make “tambay” in the church for a while. Still listening to the radio, after about 5 minutes of browsing in my new book, I put it inside my bag and decided to go to Greenbelt Park to see the water fountain. I love fountains! In the pathway of the church, I turned around to my right, faced the altar, and gave off a sign of the cross. When I opened my eyes, I noticed in my peripheral vision that a woman on my right was looking at me. I did not mind her, and instead I turned around to my left. After a few steps, I took a peek at her to my left, and saw her once again looked at me. She is not the girl with the mark on her forehead (maybe I’ll tell you about that story some other time). I continued walking and sat beside the fountain in greenbelt. It’s about a few minutes before ten, and the show it about to end (the BrewRATS). I heard that they’re now accepting phone calls for any questions to their guest, Father Francis. Looking at my book I formed a question. Knowing I don’t have enough load for a call, I just texted them. By the time I sent my message they have just took a caller. Few minutes after the caller, I send the same message again. A moment later, I heard DJ Angel talking to the priest, “Father from the text line, Minsan may Isang Kamote is asking, where is the original Bible?”. Father Francis answered in details and said it was in the Vatican City, split up. After that, they asked the priest for a parting message, and gave their closing remarks.

Me, running low on battery, still managed to switch to mp3 mode on my phone, once again passed by the church going to the jeep terminal. That’s the only time I knew why there are a lot of people in church that night..

“I think I have just attended the first mass of “Simbang Gabi” this year.”

Sobrang lapit na pala ng Pasko, hindi ko pa alam.

Merry Christmas everyone! ^^

- minsanmayisangkamote