Sanctuary Island (ɢxɢ / ɪɴᴛᴇʀꜱᴇx) REPUBLISHED

04

Sunday. A day of worship for all Christians. Nasa St. Agnes Shrine ako ngayon kasama sila mama. Nasa harapan kami ng malaking altar at nakikinig sa homily mass ni Rev. Father Isaac.

Puno ng tao ang buong Shrine, may iba nagkukumpolan sa labas at doon nakinig. The priest's homily is about the importance of being humble, forgiving, and loving, especially in times of misunderstandings due to differences in opinions and behaviors. Very relatable ang topic nito, kaya naman madami ang dumalo.

Father Isaac is my uncle, kapatid ito ni papa. Isa ito sa mga paboritong pari ng probinsya namin dahil sa pagiging timely nito magbigay ng homily. That's why my brothers admire him so much, the reason why kuya Matthew became a priest, and soon, Peter will follow.

Both of my mind and heart is in full concentration as I listened to him speak. He used his wonderful humor along with spiritual reflection. Nakakaaliw ito pakinggan, hindi nakakasawa ang mga hirit nito. He brilliantly connected the Word of God to the lives of God's people in a humorous manner. No wonder everyone, including the Bishops, loves him. Masaya at puno ng tawanan palagi ang resulta kapag ito ang nagmimisa.

Final words and final blessings, natapos din ang homily ni Father Isaac. Tumayo na ang lahat para sa The Apostle's Creed.

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried."

Nasa ganitong ganap kami nang makaramdam ako na parang may nakatitig sa akin. Saglit akong lumingon sa gilid ko para alamin kung sino. Pero maliban sa isang matangkad na babaeng nakasuot ng shades at baseball cap sa unahan, wala akong nakitang tao na nakatitig sakin.

Isinawalang bahala ko ang naramdaman ko at ibinalik ang atensyon sa altar at nag concentrate sa misa. Maya-maya pa'y lumuhod ang lahat para sa Eucharist or Holy Communion.

As Father Isaac did the consecration of bread and wine, nakaramdam ulit ako na parang may nakakatitig sakin. I tried to ignore the feeling by focusing my attention to the altar but the tension I felt was strong, like real strong.

Hindi ako nakatiis. Muli akong lumingon sa gilid ko para alamin kung sino. But again, no one was there aside from a group of old church attendees who were on their knees while bowing their heads, and a tall woman who wore a cap and shade. Ang babae lang ang hindi nakaluhod at nanatiling nakatayo. I know it was a woman even though panlalaki ang hairstyle ng buhok nito. Therefore i'm assuming it was her who's staring at me.

At bakit ka naman niya tititigan? Tanong ng isip ko.

Perhaps.....my clothing? Agaw pansin kasi yung outfit ko. Nakasuot ako ng damit na usually ginagamit ko sa tuwing nag-aattend ako ng misa. It's a brown ankle length dress that was cinched at my waist by a white cord and a long rope with three knots tied into it representing the three vows of chastity, celibacy and obedience.

On my head, I wore a sort of close fitting cap and over it was a waist-length veil. Overall, madre talaga ang dating ko, and it's not something worth staring for dahil hindi naman gold 'tong suot ko........or baka nag-assume lang ako na sakin nakatititig yung babae kaya ganon nalang reaction ko.

I shook my head and ignored my thoughts. Nagfocus ulit ako sa kasalukuyang nagaganap at nakinig sa preaching ni Father Isaac. Moments went by, tumayo ulit ang lahat para sa universal prayer na Our Father. Soon after, Penitential Act na.

Ramdam ko parin ang tensyon sa katawan ko habang nakatayo. In my peripheral view, I could feel the woman was staring at me through her shades, ngunit pilit ko lang yung ini-ignora dahil ayokong mag assume. I just acted normal, as if nothing happens.