C.A.T.ales: Suffering...Enjoying

 

 I think it was great for us to take part for the Grand Marian Procession that Sunday because it will be the turn of our batch to experience this, such that this will be the last time we may take part of this as a student of Saint James Academy.

 

            I was able to go to school in time before 1PM. I went ahead of my family to go to church and met some of my friends who are also going to be part of the procession.

 

            I saw students moaning complaining on “why should we do this?” The reason for this because it is not only our requirement to do so but it also a chance to experience   being with the rest of the Dominican community united on celebrating the victory that Roman Catholicism in the Philippines was saved due to the miraculous help of the Our Lady of La Naval. We must come to observe this, especially now that we are now seniors. Other   batches gone before us have already got through with this so there shouldn’t any problem as to why we should.

 

            Although my feet hurt as we march on a long stretch of road, documenting the procession and at the same time saying the rosary with rest of the squad, I saw people lining up along the streets that we walked across and those holding candles near their homes.  Having being living right near with the sanctuary that houses that statue of Our Lady Of naval, had probably made the local residents get used to the annual celebration. It is a good thing for many of them have observed it very well, many lining up as we walk along the procession, holding either candles or rosary. There are also some who walks along with us. It is a great pleasure for many that Filipinos have even now, stayed connected with their fate despite all the technological advances that we have been experiencing in recent years.

 

As the sun sets and the night rises out, it became known to us that the procession have brought together many people, not students from Dominican-administered schools, but also ordinary people from all walks of life. United and bound by their devotion of the Virgin Mary.

 

In conclusion to my insight, it is now up to us to stay through to our religion, to live up to the faith and spread what is to spread and to stop what is to stop.