I arrived near the vicinity of the church at Ronquillo and Carriedo streets before 7 am. It is usually orderly during this hours but the crowd is already building up. I had a hard time getting through the crowd because the I ended up moving with the wave that is also head on with a crowd going out of the church. I have to backtrack and turn to an alley that puts me on another mob trail that wants to get inside the church. After about twenty minutes, I am in the middle of Plaza Miranda and can hear the mass from there. A giant monitor was also setup so that others can see the celebration inside. Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales was officiating the mass.
Little by little I'm inching closer to the entrance doors amidst the sea of people that have some groups going in and some going out of the church. A lady and her companions were complaining that they are heading towards the church again instead of their intentions of going at the back of the church altar to touch the Nazarene. This is one of the problems here. Because of the crowd, you cannot see the steel railings that has been placed to control the traffic of people to the church. Even the signs "Pasukan" at "Labasan" on the rails is hardly noticeable until you are about three to five meters away. It's too late to move to the other side if you fail to notice them.
I found the chance to enter the church during communion when some people have also started to come out while many also seized the opportunity to create another wave towards the entrance. By the end of the final blessing, I was already inside right beside a mom who took her five or six month old daughter. "Sayang" or so I thought, the cardinal started his mass early this year. Although the new priest coming out to celebrate the next mass is quite familiar. And at about 7:30, Bishop Teodoro Bacani started celebrating the mass. Wow, all archbishops and bishops are here to celebrate with the mass and fiesta. I was quite comfortable in the duration of the mass as I was lucky that I am able to place myself in front of one of the wall fans working overtime today.
During communion, I have some hesitation to take it on the left side of the church on where I was because the aides where asking to people to leave the church right after receiving the host. This is because I want to receive the final blessings also inside the church. I scan around and can see that it's almost the same everywhere but I decided to cross to the middle where at least the exit path will be longer and thus have a better chance of hearing the final blessings inside.
I excused myself from the people sitting and kneeling at the pews where I passed with no effort. And as expected, I was led to exit at the middle aisle after communion and was slowly walking toward the back exit with the others. Just before hitting the turn towards the door, the bishop gave his final blessing and I paused to say my final prayers. And after the mass was finished, I cannot move an inch as people started to dart toward the middle aisle. Lay ministers were sprinkling holy water to the people who have raised their hands with their rosaries, novena booklets, images of the Sto. Nino and the Black Nazarene and even handkerchiefs. I too, picked my rosary from my pocket and joined with the crowd.
Going out takes a shorter time than going in but the effort is double. I am caught in the lane of two opposing groups with one moving in while I'm at the edge of another crowd going out. My shirt is being snagged from other people's bags or fans while trying to control my balance from the pushing and the shoving of other people. I can feel the cool winds of January is still here when I look up and grasp for air but my head and body is already hot and sweating from the effort of moving towards the welcome sight of Carriedo streets.
By 8:45 I'm already at Avenida. I feel very hungry so I decided to have a quick meal. All three Jollibee stores that I passed by are full when then I noticed a new Tropical Hut in the area. I proceeded inside and placed my order. It isn't until the food was served that I noticed the claim number that the cashier has given me that I request the server to hold on while I take a picture before they take the number tag. Why, it's the number 9! Cool isn't it?
Call me corny but hey I like corny. Sometimes I take them as signs or assurance that things will be better. I take this time of the year to thank God for all the blessings my family received and as well as for giving me another year here on earth. So, yes I take that as a sign from God that He was listening to my prayers. At lunch time my wife called me that she noticed the crawling vines that we planted about five months ago has started to bloom. Now, that's another sign and He's telling me I am not corny. Believe!
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