Parish of the Holy Sacrifice

I went out with highschool kabarkadas Tere and Nikki today. We had a 2-hour lunch (yes, two hours) at World Topps Katipunan and then we caught a movie at SM North (just like to old times... Hindi, jologs talaga kami). After stories of graduation, family matters, Nikki's boys, batch chismis, love lives, and more of Nikki's boys, I drove Nikki back to Katipunan to go home. Tere and I then proceeded to her boarding house in UP.

Left driving alone in UP when the sun had just set is normal for me. But today I decided to go around the Academic Oval to take in the campus one last time. I've taken many trips like this, especially in the last year. Never mind the gas, I need to cherish my school when I still have the chance to. So I went driving. I saw the Sunken Garden dotted with people. I saw Ikot jeeps with yellow roofs. I saw the MainLib, Educ, Vinzon's, BA, Econ, Law, NEC and Eng'g. I reminisced of lab times in NEC414 and past Eng'g Weeks in Eng'g. Then I stopped short.

"I have to go visit," I said to myself.

I took a turn at the Eng'g driveway and headed back. In minutes, I was parking beside the chapel.

I got down from the car and an old man, that I always saw around the chapel, approached me. "Konting tulong lang po..."

"Mamaya na lang po pag labas," I told him patiently.

I walked in the middle of the garden, towards the church. The dome stood out with its lights as the surroundings darkened with the setting sun. The sculpture of the crucifix and Jesus's resurrection hung from the middle of the dome. It never ceases to amaze me. Up to now I still love praying to this huge crucifix, seeing His face clearly even from afar. I reflect and realize the times when I've seen this church. I've seen it from early morning to high noon to nights like this. I've seen it with sunshine and flowers in its garden's trees. I've seen it with the rain pouring outside.

Tonight, surroundings were dark. It was a hot night. The mass was over and a handful of people were left praying at the chapel. Some were there to confess and pray after confession. I sat down and took it all in. This is where I got my faith back. And because of that, this chapel will always have a special place in my heart. It will always be the most beautiful to me. I remember the days when I would walk under the heat of the sun from Eng'g to the chapel just to pray. That was the time when I was losing loved ones - one from death, and another from emotional differences. My life was a mess. I didn't have anywhere to go and I really needed Him then. He answered my prayers in this chapel.  He fixed it all up for me by just listening. He held my heart in His hands and He healed it with His light. I believe this is what happened at that time and I will always be thankful.

I prayed tonight as if it was my last time to visit. I thought of people who have touched my life in my four-year stay in UP. I thought of friends, of classmates, of mentors and of professors. I thought of all my blessings - my family, my friends, my achievements... an overwhelming number. I thought of how strong I've become since I first visited the chapel. I prayed that He guide me to be faithful even when I leave UP. I prayed that He remind me to visit His church once in a while. I prayed for so many things and I teared up when I remembered how much He helped me.

When I finished my prayers, I walked out to the garden. I remembered the old man asking for help and looked around for him. Convinced that he already left, I started to make my way out of the church. I was literally surprised when he greeted me the moment I stepped out of the gardens. I didn't expect him there. "Nagulat naman po ako!"

He smiled silently. "Nagulat ba kita?"

"Opo..." I handed him some money.  "Eto po, o. God bless po."

Then I remembered that he always told me whenever I gave him help that he'll pray for my studies. I said, "Salamat po sa pagdadasal, ha." I patted him on the shoulder.

He smiled again and I said, "Graduate na po ako eh, kaya baka hindi na ako makabalik." That's when I really started to cry. Imagine me driving a car and crying like a baby at the same time. That's what I looked like tonight.

It's pathetic but I'm proud to admit that I'm really a crybaby. Now that I've graduated, I'll miss everything there is about UP, my campus for four years. I'll miss my friends, Eng'g weeks, fishballs, Ikot jeeps, and the huge acacia trees. Most of all, I'll miss the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, the place where I got my faith back.