6th of May
Saturday, 6th of May 2006:
Since the event we are preparing for will push thru (oh god!) in a matter of days (15 days to be exact) with few participants registered (fewer than last year’s that is) and small number of exhibitors (compred last year…again!) to date, we have decided to pay a visit to the patron of "desperate people with desperate needs"… St. Jude… with our desperate intentions!
On our way to the parish was already a sacrifice. First, we had to contact few people to ask for directions on how to get there given the fact that the last time I’ve been there seems like years for me (…memory gap) and my good friend Ronqui, who happens to be my companion on the said "pilgrimage", haven’t been there. Secondly, we went out of the office around 3pm… when the sun is "at its best" So you can just imagine how hot it was… and we had no choice but to walk from the point where the jeepney stops to Malacanang. Wheew!
After doing all the "ceremonies" we do, we walked back to where the jeep going to SM Manila stops… near San Sebastian Church. Since we’re already within the vicinity of the church, we decided to go inside to complete our pilgrimage! hehe… It’s my first time to see the insides of the church, plus i get three wishes for that…yey! :Þ
The church was fully decorated, with all the white daisies and red carpet… there were few people gathered outside for pictorials and socials. Inside, everybody was fixing themselves. Some of those ladies in rust-colored long gowns mingle with those men in barong tagalog. One of those ladies was coaching the little boy in cute barong, carrying a heart-shaped pillow with coins wrapped in lace on top of it, how to walk. On the pew where we were seated was where they placed a box of small bouquets of flowers where all the ladies of the entourage can pick and choose flower arrangements they like. There were very few guests. I was guessing only the closest relatives and friends were invited… or, most of the guests didn’t attend the ceremony… but were already in reception…where ever that is (Pinoy!). Everybody seems to glow, happy, excited to march the narrow but sweet aisle. You cannot guess who’s the groom in the group of gentlemen gathered, since each of them projects an overwhelming beam.
Suddenly, everybody fixed themselves, straightened up, as if preparing for a performance. Quickly after, an organ played Johann Pachelbel’s Cannon in D major and two by two they walked along the aisle, kids walked one by one. Some walked gracefully as if they’re one with the tune, others so fast you’d forget their faces. After everyone had their turn, the music fades, all the guests were requested to stand, then a guy from the choir sung "Ikaw" as the center door of the church opened… and a petite but beautiful lady entered in a simple white gown with trail and veil. She was wearing an unexplainable smile as she slowly walked down the aisle. All were silent as they watched her stride away from singlehood, flutter away from childhood as she kissed her parent alongside the aisle.
As I witness all these things come to pass, I felt nice as if I’m one of those invited. I was happy for them that they finally decided to settle together, although we were not related. It was good to know that more couples these days still opt to be wed traditionally like I do…hehe…(but definitely not at this point). They both looked satisfied as though they want to cry out "finally!" Very nice. It seems as though I was watching a breath taking piece into play.
Beside the fun stuffs that happened in the office (all caused by our little one… Zachy…haha!) and during our adventure to St. Jude, this instance at San Sebastian Church made my day!
