The Simala Trip

Simala, Sibonga, Cebu. It’s been a month since I’ve been there but the memories this place brought seems like the trip was only made yesterday.

It’s Yan’s friend, Eric’s, birthday. I did not know until the day of the trip. Funny because I almost did not want to go. For one, I am running out of money. Two, I will be leaving Jennie alone again. But, I somehow feel I had to.

And everything was worth it. Eric paid for the bus and van trips, breakfast and lunch. “Mayo gani kamo lang nagkadto, kung daamo pa gid, maputo ko. Hahaha!”

Belated Happy Birthday, ric! :D

The church in Simala

The interiors of the church/museum. There are more or less 100 statues inside and outside of the church.

The altar. We all prayed and made wishes. When we got tired of roaming around, we heard mass. By the time we got out, we were starving.

The gigantic statue of Virgin Mary. One of the reasons this place is famous.

“God wants me back”.

Yesterday, I woke up and felt like there is less excitement in my relationship with YanYan.

So I texted him and told him how I felt. I told him that we need to work on our relationship if we wanted us to be happy as a *cough* couple. His silence on the other end made me think that perhaps he didn’t give a damn. [He later told me that he didn't reply because he knew I don't have any more load. Hehe.] The day went by with no word from him. Then in the middle of the afternoon, he texted: Simba ta?

Siyempre, my heart jumped. Ooh. He’s making an effort.

We went to Sto. Rosario Church. From where I lived, it is a 5-minute walk. But by the time we reached the church, the priest was already giving the Homily. And while inside, I was also contemplating on my failing relationship with God. The lesser time I spent praying. Not finishing my prayers sometimes. Not going to the church for a few weeks now. Not having confession for three years now. Haaay..

I was listening intently to the priest while my other hand was held by him. That time, I felt drained. Fragile and vulnerable. I felt happy that I was able to see him but somehow, I felt bad with my poor relationship with my Creator. As the priest was speaking, tears welled up in my eyes. When he spoke his last words, tears fell.

“God wants you back”.

YanYan was surprised. I, too, was surprised. Perhaps the emptiness I felt with my relationships with God and my boyfriend were a bit similar or parallel in a way. Both needs to be worked on immediately. So when I stepped out of the Church, I felt forgiven and never did the empty feeling dragged me down again. :) I hope to be able to hear mass again this weekend. And hopefully, it will be with him again. :)

Happy Sunday everyone! :)

getting in touch with my MVs

from Google Images

“If you are not ready, don’t”.

Above is a reminder of most people’s inability to remember or foresee responsibility, or to borrow Sir Poi’s words: cannot get over the puppy stage. Ready for what? Anything. Taking care of a puppy, having a new girlfriend, or taking a huge step in life (i.e. over a puddle or from one stone slab to the other). But that is not the point of this entry, I just placed it there. Just because.

I really appreciate our Philippine Institutions class. More than learning and hopefully ‘applying’ the essence of nationalism as what Rizal taught, we are learning—or reawakening—our moral values. For me, this is something I am not new to. It is as ‘habitual’ as taking vitamins to make up for nutrients which I psychologically banned from my body. For four years, we were overdosed with moral values (me being a student of a Catholic school run by nuns for 8 years).

When I stepped in this University, I was afraid I would lose these values. (Picture me practicing my ‘Panatang Makabayan and Hiligaynon versions of the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary and The Apostle’s Creed at home). I am not joking, I really did. I was afraid because of the many people I know who went in (moral values-laden, conservative and yes, virgin) and went out (the exact opposite of the things I typed enclosed in parentheses) of the University.

That’s why when Sir Poi left us a challenge of practicing ‘courtesy’ for a week, I smiled. I am not bragging but
I am really doing things he pointed out such as: saying Thank You to a lot of people who lent their hands, opening a door for somebody (though I must have given birth to an ingrown or two sometimes, depending on the kind of material the door was made from), and smiling (more like smirking; I don’t know if my daydreaming smiles were included).

I am up to the challenge! This is the one-week vitamins dosage which I will not ban from my daily routine for the rest of my stay here in UP. I am sure the nuns from high school will be proud of me for this, though I am not doing it for them, (insert villainous laugh here). Thanks to PI, I got in touch with them again.