holy friends

What a holy week! It was my first time to be alone/ away from my family during Holy Week. But thank God for friends, my Holy Week was great and solemn pa rin naman.To start, Holy Monday- I attended the ACOMM EVSEM/PLANSEM at Padre Garcia, Batangas. It was very tiring, but fun. It was our first ever EVSEM as an accredited org. During the first day, we were asked to get ONLY 12 items from our bag (shirt, toothbrush, etc.) We can only add an item if we win a game. It was fun, good thing na lang hindi ako naubusan ng stuff. We arrived in Manila during Holy Wednesday. Maundy Thursday- I was sick, perhaps because of the tiring EVSEM. Nag bisita iglesia kami ni nescy, bianx, archie, kri, ynna, patet. Nag taxi lang kami to go to churches. Here's the list of churches we visited:

1. Our Lady of Pentecost Church- Varsity Hills
2. Sta. Maria Della Strada Church- Katipunan
3. Church of the Holy Sacrifice- UP
4. Chapel of the Holy Family- Eastwood
5. Christ the King Church- Greenmeadows
6. Monasterio de Sta. Clara- Katipunan
7. St. Joseph the Worker Chapel- Marikina

Out of 7 churches, 5 yung first time ko napuntahan. Actually, it was a nice experience. First time ko to do it with friends. Syempre, nag rosary kami and prayed. Ang sarap nga ng feeling to see all those people sa mga churches. I thought kasi nawawala na yung tradition dito sa Manila, hindi pa pala- which is really good and inspiring. Then noong Good Friday, I just stayed sa dorm and nag dinner lang with Nescy sa Shakeys (Shrimp pizza). Black Saturday- nag Easter Vigil kami sa Montalban, Rizal. It was really a nice experience. Actually, first time ko mag Easter Vigil. Ang ganda din ng church doon- simple lang pero they followed the 'shape' of the mountain (so parang rice terraces yung church). Ang daming bata and VIP treatment kami doon (nakakahiya nga). Pinakain kami and we were seated sa front row talaga (although we would have wanted sa likod). Kasama ko pala doon si nescy, bianx, archie and mour. We were invited by bro.ryan. Si bro.nono yung nag homily and si fr.eli yung priest. We arrived katipunan around 12mn na and ate at Burger Machine. Ang sarap lang ng feeling to be with the people there (3 hours of liturgy/mass). Bro Ryan said that it's nice that we were there, the Montalbans really appreciated our presence. Finally, Easter Sunday- nag mass lang kami at Our Lady of Pentecost and nag pa Eastwood with nescy and justin (third wheel as usual). We watched Tristan and Isolde. Pagdating sa bahay at 2am, I watched Pope Benedict's first ever Easter Mass and Message. He spoke in Filipino saying "Maligayang Pagkabuhay ni Kristo!"

Yun lang yung mga happennings ko this holy week. Despite being away from my family, it still was a great week. Thank God for friends! I wonder what my week would have been if God gave me no friends.

Happy Easter everyone!