Busy As A Bee

I had a very busy weekend.

Last Friday, November 23, me and my kids (Pio and Bea) attended Bo Sanchez's KERYGMA Conference at the ULTRA. My mom, sisters, aunts and grandfather were also there. It was a blessed night indeed. Fr. Gerry Orbos celebrated the Holy Mass. Then, Nolyn Cabahug and Dulce both sung an inspirational song. After them, there's a Praise and Worship led by a former teen idol, Adrian Panganiban (that's how he was described in our programme booklet) backed up by a group of teen dancers. In the community, we call them, dance ministry members. After a long, long time of absence in the Catholic Charismatic community, I felt so alive again and refreshed after the 1st day of the conference. Of course, the last part is a talk by Bro. Bo Sanchez, a very very articulate and passionate preacher. He heads the community where me and my family belong, the Light of Jesus Community. He is also behind the Catholic Filipino Academy, the homeschool provider of my only son and the publisher of various Catholic magazines (Kerygma, Mustard, Didache) and inspirational books (which are as always one of National Bookstores' best sellers). I really admire the guy, married to my college classmate.
Anyway, we went home very happy, feeling so blessed and inspired.

Saturday came, I went to my kids' school to get their report card. I was expecting something wonderful, true enough, my two girls' grades are all ok. They're in the top 5 of their class (30 students in each class). Am really so happy.

In the afternoon, at around 3:00 p.m. we left our place to go to Cainta to attend the 1st birthday celebration of the daughter of hubby's distant cousin who lives in Brookside Hills. Hubby knows it's near Golf Valley (Antipolo). He didn't realized there is another Golf Valley very near Sta. Lucia (Cainta area). So we found ourselves cruising Antipolo and stopped at the Spaghetti Home. After so many calls from hubby's cousin, we went back to Marcos Highway where there's a monster traffic ahead. We finally reached our destination at 9:00 p.m.. Imagine, we were stuck in our vehicle for about 6 hours. We ate as soon as we step inside the very elegant home of the birthday celebrant. My kids enjoyed the choco cupcakes and brownies plus lots of Hershey's chocolates on the tray (on the center table). Then hubby just watched the band playing for older guests. The program for the kids was over, my kids just stayed at the tv room. There, I rested and watched the Disney Channel show. A charming, old lady sat beside me on the couch. We started chatting. She is the grandmother of the celebrant (no relation to us). I was so engrossed with her stories on the Japanese occupation, I didn't notice we were talking for two hours already. Will post her story next time, as soon as I get her permission.

Come Sunday, I did all the house chores and attended mass with my kids. My Gabbie has a mass booklet where the priest can sign (as proof of her attendance in church). My kids are studying in a Catholic school. I find nothing wrong with it (the mass booklet), really wanted my kids to grow up morally upright and practicing all the teachings of the Catholic church.

Yesterday, Monday, after doing some paper works at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), came across with a toddler (about 1 1/2 yr old) walking hazily in our street, I don't know if I will stop or drive because when I stop, she stops walking. Then, when I go on driving, she walks on my path. This is a busy road since our place is the way to the ecopark. Buses come and go. I decided to get the kid. No one else is around. She seemed lost. The toddler cried so loud and wiggled. She won't keep still. I carried her. I asked our neighbors who started to come out of their homes, if they know the child. No, they don't know her. I called the homeowner's roving patrol to check around for the kid's mother. After 15 minutes, the mother arrived. She's fuming mad, cursing the poor child, got hold of the kid and slapped her. The kid just embraced her and stopped crying. Then the mother just left. Without saying a word to me. I could have said you're welcome, instead, I kept quiet. I could have blamed her for not taking good care of her small innocent child. I just bit my lip. They live as informal settlers within our village and members of the small Muslim community here. I wonder how many mothers are as careless and as cruel as that one. My heart really bleeds for the kid. If I can only get the child and adopt her, I would. What would you do if you were in my place?