The little theater, albeit named 'little,' was quite spacious. We sat on the second row on the seats located at the right side of the theater, together with other representatives from our municipality. We had no control over that because the seats were designated. Maaga rin kami kaya't hindi pa ganoon karami ang mga tao.
Limang upuan ang mayroon sa kada row. Dahil doon ay may katabi akong isang babae sa gawing kanan habang si Juancho ang nasa kaliwa, malapit na aisle. I cannot help but feel anxious because I hate sitting near the aisle whenever there are sessions like this one. Prone kasi sa tinatawag ng mga moderator. Iyong tipong mabibigla ka na lamang na inaabutan ka na ng mic.
"What's wrong?" Juancho asked in a low but still deep voice when he noticed my uneasiness.
Mabilis akong umiling. "Wala."
Nakita ko ang pagliit ng kanyang mga mata, tila naninimbang kung nagsasabi ba ako ng totoo. With that stare, I feel like he can see through me. Para bang batid niya na hindi totoo ang sinasabi ko.
"What is it?" pag-ulit niya.
Humaba ang nguso ko dahil tama ang hinala ko. Alam niya nga na may munting problema. It seems like he's got a mirror of my emotions. Hindi ko nga lang akalain na magiging makulit siya. I could say he's quite persistent.
"Uh... kinakabahan lang akong maupo rito. Baka kasi biglang matawag," bulong ko, hindi nais na makagawa ng malakas na ingay.
Juancho stared in front before returning his eyes to me. "You won't be called. Don't worry."
"Paano mo naman nasabi? Manghuhula ka ba? Nakikita mo ang future?"
"Sharina." He released a deep sigh and eyed me meaningfully. Parang nagtitimpi ang tinging iyon kaya't napangiwi ako.
"Joke lang naman," depensa ko.
Hindi na siya nagsalita at bumaling na lamang sa harapan. Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago dumami ng sobra ang mga tao sa loob. Hindi naman sobrang puno subalit marami pa rin ang mga dumalo.
Hindi nga ako makapaniwala. Gaya ko ay marami rin pa lang interesado sa ganitong makabuluhang mga gawain. Ayaw ko man ay hindi ko napigilang makaramdam ng panghihinayang. Sana pala, noon pa ay sumali na ako sa organisasyong iyon. Kung alam ko lang na hindi naman pala boring at aksaya sa oras.
The session started on time. There were a few introductions from the facilitators including the main moderator. They told us that their school has been giving catechetical instructions to various barangays for years now and that they want to encourage others to do the same. That was one of the reasons why they made this session happen.
Tahimik kaming nakikinig sa mga itinuturo nila. Mayroong booklet na ipinamahagi sa amin na naglalaman ng mga itinuturo ng mga ito. Mula sa sinaunang mga katekista, kasaysayan nito maging ng simbahan, kabuluhan, at marami pang iba.
"If we will ask your own opinion," the female moderator said. "What do you think is the purpose of catechism?"
Nakangiti ito habang sinusuyod ang mga hanay ng mga nagnanais maging katekista, naghihintay na may boluntaryong magbigay ng sagot. Ilang segundo ang lumipas ay wala pa ring sumasagot kaya't nagsimula na akong kabahan. Pakiramdam ko, magtatawag na 'yan.
The coldness from the air conditioning is crawling along my skin. I could feel the hair saluting as a reaction to the temperature. I don't have a jacket but it's alright. The cold is bearable. And the nervousness I am feeling is spreading heat inside my body.
"Wala? Opinion n'yo lang 'to, mga anak. What do you think is the purpose why we're having this session right now? What's the purpose of catechism?"
The moderator's head tilted towards our direction. My eyes immediately widened when her eyes met mine.
BINABASA MO ANG
Meet Me In Your Sanctuary (4th District Series #1)
Novela Juvenil4th District Series #1 If being devoted to public worship's a part of the criteria to be considered as a religious person, then Sharina Aerika Villares long crossed that out of the rubric. She's the type of person who finds eucharistic celebrations...
