Throwback
Beautiful Sunny Sunday Morn
Butch Galicia
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. The phone rang. It was from an unknown number, an unknown caller. Normally, I don’t talk to strangers. But I picked up and said “Hello.”
At the other end of the line, a lady’s calm, collected, confident and reassuring voice greeted me. She asked if I wanted to hear the Good News. Certainly, I replied. And she read from the Holy Bible.
Done, she thanked me for lending her an ear, for giving her spiritual time and space.
Gratitude respectfully returned, we bid each other adieu.
Indeed, it was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning.
*****
Over a few days that followed, I kept asking myself what just happened.
Not until I went over and reread the chapter did 1 Peter 5 make sense.
As was written: “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.”
*****
Frankly, my fervent wish is to put St. Peter’s exhortation in context, but I have very little knowledge of how things were going about where and when the Apostle wrote it.
Quick Net surfing said the epistle was a clarion call to leaders to keep the faith, at the time when Rome was ruled by the tyrant Roman Emperor Nero.
Whether or not 1 Peter 5 rings a bell and is sound advice in view of what is happening in the world these days is for all the good and righteous to discern and, eventually, take heed.
I can only pray, as I can only believe, that life will always be like a beautiful sunny Sunday morning.
*****
Waking up to beautiful sunny summer weekends has lately promised a lot of outdoor fun, after Toronto and larger Ontario were declared reopened under Stage 3.
Noticeable were people packing up food supplies, folding chairs, tents and other outdoor gear – prepared and ready to wheel into and settle for a couple of days at the province’s huge camping grounds and parks.
Unfortunately, the physicality of what I did then as a young Boy Scout and, later, as a sports-driven roving provincial reporter in the hinterlands of southern Philippines no longer applies today.
Advanced in age but not necessarily in wisdom, I have been declassified as vulnerable until the disdained virus disappears. Meanwhile, I have to make myself comfortable staying at home, staring at the great moments – enshrined in sepia, black-and-white and colored pictures — I have kept through the years; then relive the stories and memories behind each frame.
By just glancing at these photographs, I could have traced in my mind a page or a chapter in my life. Most pronounced among these throwbacks were the roller-coaster instances that tried my patience and strength, events that made me feel the world as it came on me and how I survived, things that made me cry, laugh and appreciate the blessings of Mother Nature and of God, etcetera.
Ha! I never retained mementos of people, places and events that bothered me and made me crazy? Who does? Bluntly, I find this kind of behaviour disturbing. The huge collection of the despicable in my existence has provided the very learning essence and experience of my purpose on Earth. Without it, I could have been an angel assigned as security guard.
Whatever, may I go out? It’s a beautiful sunny Sunday morning.
*****
Two pre-pandemic years have passed, yet I can still see the joy and excitement of 25 classmates, some with their spouses and family, as we converged for a two-day three-night reunion and adventure in Toronto and Niagara Falls from August 17 to 19, 2018.
We were defined by our gladness to have belonged to the University of Santo Tomas-Education High School Class of 1970. We were qualified by our eagerness to meet and be with each other; as we renewed and further firmed up friendships while reliving the teenage years and antics we shared together in the late ‘60s.
Catching up on one another became a bigger but more exciting task when UST-EHS ’70 marked its Golden Anniversary, with a more pronounced celebration and gathering of about 70 classmates and batch mates at the UST campus in Manila, the Philippines on January 25, 2020, weeks before lockdowns and quarantines hit the world.
Although faced with serious pandemic concerns, Batch ’70 has also recently raised resources to sponsor an Alma Mater scholar for the incoming school year. This continues a long-standing batch scholarship program.
Nearly seven months later today, images and stories of what happened during the 50th year fete never stopped to fill fun memoirs. Agreed recently were big reunions every five years –mini meets and eats in-between.
It is, however, so sad to note that Batch Mate Maritess Gonzales-Cabalquinto could no longer be with us in this earthly pilgrimage. Maritess joined her Creator on July 20, 2020. Her memory – and those of Evelyn, Ligaya, Nelson, Aurelio, Jerome, Donato, Gilbert and Wilfredo – will forever stay in every batch mate’s heart.
Till we all meet again, guys; wherever, whenever.
*****
Seriously, I am getting fond of the moments and memories reunions create.
This must be why it is my fervent hope that December 26 will be Vaccine Day.
Walang kokontra! And sana all.
*****
Tik Tok Pilipinas Tik Tok
Namaos ang manok sa kakatilaok
Walang pakpak ang dayukdok
Sinungkit ng daga ang ulam sa palayok
Dalawa ang paa ng kawatang hayok
Natuyo ang poso sa kasasalok
Tik Tok Pilipinas Tik Tok.
Utak na ang laman ay bulok
Sa bawat galaw buto’y lumalagatok
Nananakit na ang manipis na batok
Nawalan ng hangin sa kapal ng usok
Tumigil ang butihing puso sa katitibok
Tik Tok Pilipinas Tik Tok.
Walang binatbat ang walang maisuksok
Hindi puwede ang BBQ na tusok ng tusok
Kahit rumatsada ka ng kapupukpok
Pababa lang ang usad ng nasa ituktok
Dagok sa ugok, mabilis ang bulusok
Tik Tok Pilipinas Tik Tok.
*****
Eyelids. U follow? Ah, ewan.
Anyways, remember the age-old seven-pronged protocol that may save us all from the virus: Wash hands more often. Practice physical distancing. Wear a face mask. Avoid crowded places. Keep off enclosed spaces. Stay safe. Stay healthy.
Need I say more? Yes. It’s a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. #####