Last December 30, 2006 I got a chance to watch a movie in Greenbelt 3 with my pamangkins Erika and Denden.  The film did not move me at all however, a commercial that rolled prior to the movie has actually touched my "still existing" compassion. 

It was the Unicef’s commercial about a kid waking up in the wee hours of the morning to prepare to go to class and the daily obstacles he needs to overcome when going to school (riding a banca, crossing rickety bridges, walking on dirt roads, climbing hills).  The commercial says that a large chunk of Pinoy kids today in the provinces would travel at least 6 kilometers by foot daily just to attend schooling.  A way of helping these poor kids to bring schools closer to them is by texting.  Each text is equivalent to a one peso donation.

Just this week, a number of close friends has lately questioned me how come I did not send a New Year text message greetings to them. Nagtitipid daw ba ako? (translations: Am I being a penny-pincher?)  The reason behind this is because I promised myself last December 30, 2006 after watching the movie that every time somebody would text me a happy New Year greeting, I will not text them back but instead text Unicef’s project for the Filipino children.

Therefore to those who thought that I was being insensible and did not bother texting back last New Year’s Eve, don’t be disappointed. Your text messages I received last New Year holiday did not go to waste… O ‘di ba ang bait ko?

Send ON BATANGPINOY to 2800 for Globe and 2899 for Smart…

Google Earth is simply amazing!  The picture shows the building where my unit is located in the lush and lovely City of Pasay…

As I always admit, I do not go to church every Sunday.  However, August 13, 2006 is a more complete Sunday since I was able to push myself to go to my favorite church.

Baclaran, Redemptorist Church for me is the place where I can clearly pray.  I can still remember when I was in college that I went to Baclaran on some Wednesdays to recite and sing along the immaculate novena for the Mother of Perpetual Help.  I even remember during my early childhood days playing at the aisle of this church and wonder how I could reach those colorful balloons at the church’s ceiling that have flown and skipped other children’s hands.

Surprisingly, every time I come in this place, I feel that my prayer is so complete.  People who have gone to this place may say otherwise, but not for me.  Other Catholics will admit that there are some churches where they can focus praying better than the one in Baclaran.

Moreover, going to Baclaran is a feat in itself.  It’s like climbing Mount Banahaw (which, by the way, I already did).  Why? It is because before you can reach the church, you need to penetrate the hoards of people coming in and going out of the church; those sampaguita vendors who would offer their merchandise right to your already oily face; those jeepneys calling and waiting for passengers since they are about to start their route may it be going to Monumento, Divisoria and Sta. Cruz in the north or to Alabang, Zapote and Bacoor in the south; those big black loud speakers playing songs from pirated CDs; those mini-colored TVs running pirated DVDs; those mouthwatering lechons (roasted pigs) for sale being displayed on the street; those carts cooking ‘isaw’ and ‘tokneneng’; those vendors barking aloud their various commodities for sale (curtains, posters of Phoebe Cates, graded eyeglasses, blouses, calculators, slippers, panties, fruits, bottles of ‘pamparegla’, and a lot more); plus other people with varying reasons why they are there.  It is so surprising that as soon as you step in the gates of the church, all these mayhems seem suddenly gone.  It’s suddenly calm and you would feel a sigh of relief.  It’s like being home after a serious battle.

Maybe this is the reason why I love going to this church.  It’s like being rewarded by reaching the House of God after passing through the tough hurdles in life.