Today is the feast of the Our Lady of Assumption. I feel nostalgic.
All my young life was spent under the auspices of Mama Mary in Leveriza, Malate, Manila. Every August 15 we celebrated our parish patron feast inviting neighbors, classmates and having a field day because often the feast falls on a weekend. But compared to feast in the provinces, feast in the city is subtle (except maybe the Feast of the Black Nazarene), it's just an excuse to cook a little excess to be eaten for almost a week unless of course you have that many friends like my mother.
I was born in another part of the city and had my first birthday in another then because of a fire we moved to Leveriza and lived there until my late 20's, before I left for Cambodia. My youth was shaped in there ... met my lifelong friends, learned my first sports - roller blades, go malling, to going to school and having my first crush and even my first love and being broken hearted. I also lost a brother there and learned the ways of life other young girls don't experience.
Facing the church is the famous Palaruan ng Batang Maynila and facing that is the Manila Zoo, an after mass treat second to balloons and cotton candy. For a young girl that is something you imagine day in day out until its time to go to church. All around you will find everything you want a city to have - hospital, restaurant, fancy shopping mall, hotels and many more.
The parish also shaped my faith ... Mom always bring me and my siblings to the church and let us join activities so is out school. Its what helped us be who we are now and it was what spared us from the pull of peer pressure to vices which was very strong when you're growing up. I became selective of people and friends that are good influence on me so my parents were spared of that kind of headache, I gave them another kind :) after all kids would be kids.
As I continue to reminisce allow me to leave you with a Prayer for the Assumption of Mary
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
All my young life was spent under the auspices of Mama Mary in Leveriza, Malate, Manila. Every August 15 we celebrated our parish patron feast inviting neighbors, classmates and having a field day because often the feast falls on a weekend. But compared to feast in the provinces, feast in the city is subtle (except maybe the Feast of the Black Nazarene), it's just an excuse to cook a little excess to be eaten for almost a week unless of course you have that many friends like my mother.
I was born in another part of the city and had my first birthday in another then because of a fire we moved to Leveriza and lived there until my late 20's, before I left for Cambodia. My youth was shaped in there ... met my lifelong friends, learned my first sports - roller blades, go malling, to going to school and having my first crush and even my first love and being broken hearted. I also lost a brother there and learned the ways of life other young girls don't experience.
Facing the church is the famous Palaruan ng Batang Maynila and facing that is the Manila Zoo, an after mass treat second to balloons and cotton candy. For a young girl that is something you imagine day in day out until its time to go to church. All around you will find everything you want a city to have - hospital, restaurant, fancy shopping mall, hotels and many more.
The parish also shaped my faith ... Mom always bring me and my siblings to the church and let us join activities so is out school. Its what helped us be who we are now and it was what spared us from the pull of peer pressure to vices which was very strong when you're growing up. I became selective of people and friends that are good influence on me so my parents were spared of that kind of headache, I gave them another kind :) after all kids would be kids.
As I continue to reminisce allow me to leave you with a Prayer for the Assumption of Mary
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.