MY CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH POPE JOHN-PAUL II

MY CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH POPE JOHN-PAUL II
(Excerpts from my Pilgrimage Diary: Oct.1-26, 1995)

Rome, in spite of the Arab pickpockets and the Gypsy snatchers was also home of the Pope and an audience with the Pope was a most romantically Divine encounter.

October 25, 1995: We arrived at the St. Peter’s Square at 8:30 a.m. but allowed only to enter after another half hour. There was a very big crowd and to keep everything in order needed a lot of security people – the Swiss guards in their colorful uniform.

We were assigned on the twenty second row in front of the canopy where the Pope was going to sit. Disabled persons were placed on the right side of the canopy. We were surrounded by pilgrims coming from all corners of the world: British, Portuguese, Indonesians, Guatemalans, Polish, American Indians and many others waving their own banners.

With all those pilgrims coming from everywhere, all bringing love and expressing it in a hundred different ways, the Vicar of Christ must be romantically overwhelmed. He moved around riding on His Pope mobile.

Our small group, fourteen in all, expressed our love by shouting at the top of our voices: “John-Paul Two, we love you… John-Paul Two, we love you…Philippines!”At the same time each of us was waving a tiny Filipino flag. I saw the Pope looked at us for a short while but that short while was full of heavenly bliss that culminated our Holy Pilgrimage.

SUMMER BONDING TIME

SUMMER BONDING TIME

It is summer time again. Four of my grandchildren came to visit their “Lolo”. Three girls and a boy who is only two months old, was considered as their “bodyguard”.

I bonded with them through plays and storytelling and by doing other interesting things from origami to magic. This morning, to animate breakfast time I asked: “Who can define Love?” The six grader quickly replied: “I don’t know much about that”, while the fourth grader answered: “I am too young for Love”.

I explained that by love it can mean love of God, love of parents, love of friends, love of pets and many other things and not necessarily the love that was in their minds. This was followed by enlightened laughter. Then I looked at the two year old girl and jokingly asked what she could say about love. She childishly answered; “I love catfish”. More laughter ensued.

During dinner time I announced that our dinner topic was Honesty, and then asked “What comes to your mind? The six grader quickly said “Real”, to which the fourth grader immediately said “I agree”. I elaborated that they were both correct since honesty means truthfulness and if one is true; one is not a fake or plastic. Turning again to the two year old I asked: “How about you pretty girl, what is honesty?” She yawned “soup; horse”. I explained that she was honestly enjoying her soup while wishing to go horse-riding afterwards.

Since it was the period of lent I ventured to introduce Prayer as our next topic. The sixth grader quickly mentioned “Church” and the fourth grader replied “ God”. I explained that while prayers are commonly done inside the Church it could be done anywhere as prayer means talking to God and God is everywhere. Turning again to the two year old we all eagerly waited for her reaction. She carefully look to the left and to the right as if groping for the answer then she furrowed her forehead as if in deep thought before smiling at everyone and continued eating. Yes, I said, prayer could be done quietly as she very well demonstrated to all of us. A very lively discussion followed for quite a time.

I found this kind of bonding very effective as it stimulated the children to think and learn playfully. It also gave them a chance to actively participate. I was very careful not to allow anyone to feel guilty or totally wrong. Afterwards they were suggesting topics to discuss and so it turned out to be a continuing school while on summer vacation.

GONE ARE THE WELCOMING STAIRS

GONE ARE THE WELCOMING STAIRS

It gave me a bit of heartache when I saw the bulldozed stairs that used to be at the northern side of the Town Plaza.. It was built, if I remember right, during the time of Mayor Adelardo Rosanes. That time the building of the stairs was praised and applauded by the community since it was the building of those stairs that closed the southern portion of Rizal Street to become a part of the Municipal Park that beautifully expanded the Plaza.

Where the covered court now stands used to be a rugged portion of the town. When the stairs were built the town Plaza was flattened and was decorated with several colorful circular concrete tables covered with umbrella shaped roofing. There was also a Spanish well that used to supply water to the Casa Real and to the community.

The stairs were so welcoming that the seat of the government suddenly look so “kind and accommodating” to its people. I consider it as the legacy of Mayor Adelardo Rosanes. It is too bad that it was not properly maintained.

Now, it is gone. I don’t know what they are planning to do with it but for sure the vacated portion shall be turned into a parking area of undisciplined parkers. I am afraid the area will turn to be a public eye sore and if the Plaza shall be fenced it will psychologically separate itself from the people. It may look physically beautiful but emotionally segregated from the community that it is supposed to serve.

I hope and pray personally that a good architectural design shall be as welcoming as the discarded stairs.