Christ the King at Green Meadows

Another Christ the King Church this time at Green Meadows. I caught the rosary just before the mass proper and people were just beginning to fill the seats. My spinster grandmother who died late last year used to have me and whoever is in the household that time say the rosary everyday. Then there were only three mysteries. Now there are four, not to mention the mystery of why people get sleepy and yawn all the time when saying the rosary.The ambiance was pretty solemn except when this one relatively old guy who probably has some psychological condition would almost shout the words to the rosary as he prayed. And he would move from bench to bench in between mysteries. Anyway, the mass started and the place was full of people from the surrounding posh villages of Corinthians and Valle Verde and Green Meadows, etc... And what was nice were their ushers who really went and looked for seating space in the front where people usually would stay away from and lead them there. The homily was the usual forgettable tale and lesson for everyone. The priest did try to make it a little lively. At least I think he did. Did he? Um, anyway...
So it was dark when I left and as I exited the parking lot there was a line of bargain stalls. It's a phenomenon, I believe. Either you put something extra to reel people in the Church or take the Church to the malls. If Jesus were alive now, would he picket the malls and kick down the stalls? Is it sacrilegious to ask something like that?

Santuario de San Jose at Greenhills East

A stone's throw away from the village entrance closest to Chili's and Citibank, we attended the 6:15PM mass. This may be the first time for me to see a church facade boasting of two relatively large, green crosses.The mass schedule is a little odd too. I'm used to the on-the-hour or on-the-half-hour schedules.
And then I know this is the first time I stepped in an air-conditioned church. And since it had rained yesterday, a fan or cardboard/folded newspaper to fan yourself with had no use that time.A newspaper would have still come in handy though because the priest's homily was nothing short of boring, yet he rambled on.One highlight was a solo during the communion. A male soloist sang The Prayer and he was very good. I wouldn't mind singing that song in front of more people, in front of the Pope even if only I had a voice like his. Too bad a pillar blocked parts of my view of the altar so I didn't even know where the choir was positioned.

Church at UST

Another first: first time to set foot on UST (University of Santo Tomas) soil. It's pretty big and even has this mini-mall (?) with restaurants. My friends and I parked the car and walked to the Church. A mass was just about to end. When we went in for the next mass, we sat pretty close to the front. Here's the right side of the altar.And the center. And the left side where the choir is.And the ceiling. The priest's homily wasn't exciting to listen to. Dominicans! :) No, it's not the order, but the priest giving the homily that can make it boring. Some mass songs sung were different versions of the ones I was used to. There were lots of people. And the masses were, like, one after another!

Miraculous Medal at Project 4

My family and I have been part of this parish ever since we moved here in the early eighties. It has been a large part of my growing up, having been a member and eventually the parish Chairman of the Legion of Mary. I almost stopped going to mass there though when the new parish priest was someone I didn't quite share principles with. The next parish priest (the one before this current one) was not as inviting, in my opinion- I didn't like to hear about the intimate affair between religion and politics.

St. Rita Shrine at PhilamHomes QC

A nice little Church inside a subdivision in QuezonCity... The sermon was a little sleep-inducing though. A celebrity couple was spotted- a week later they were rumored to have separated. One thing I thought was quirky (but I guess it's pretty usual nowadays) is that one whole side outside of the Church was lined by stalls you'd normally find in Greenhills. Yes, it was a veritable tiangge with everything you could look for -- pirated music, videos, clothing, bags, slippers, religious items, and street snacks.

St. Joseph Shrine at Aurora Blvd./Anonas

Near the end of the mass, during the announcements, the officiating priest was particularly funny with quips like: "O, magsiluhod na kayo kung ayaw niyong masaktan." (O, kneel now if you don't want to get hurt.) and "...pagkakuha niyo ng envelope, lagyan niyo ng isang daan." (...if you get an envelope, put one hundred in it.) and "pag sa Diyos, tama na ang sampung piso; pero kung makapag-sine kayo kulang-kulang dalawang daan ang bawat tiket- ang kapal niyo naman!" (for God, ten pesos is already enough; but when you go to the movies, you buy tickets worth almost two-hundred- that's thick-faced of you!). The extra collection was for the catechists and I thought about doing something similar, maybe volunteer to teach the less-fortunate somewhere.

Penafrancia Celebration at Brgy. Bagumbuhay

I attended an anticipated mass last Saturday celebrating the Feast Day of Our Lady of Penafrancia. Most of the attendees at the event hailed from or can trace their roots to the province of Bicol which is devoted to Mother Mary. The sermon was a usual story with the usual lessons about being close to the Mother, delivered by a usual priest, except this one was from the Bicol region too. There was food after the mass and everyone was calm bee-lining for the caterer's long table. It was particularly humid that night and you can see mosquitoes hovering around people's legs. Unfortunately, I was in shorts and had to keep swatting the bugs away with a brown envelope.

Christ the King at Veteran's Vill./Proj. 7

This parish was assigned a new parish priest. During his sermon, he described how he liked things - he starts his masses on time and expects people to come to Church on time as well. He says he goes around and visits parishioners and has meals with them. Funny parish priest - he asked people if they remember last Sunday's sermon or Gospel. And no one was volunteering to answer. The priest then asked people to raise their hands if they went to mass last Sunday and true to Filipino form, no one raised their hand. We are a funny people!

St. Paul the Apostle at Mo. Ignacia/Timog

During the mass, the electricity went out for at least 8 times. The priest and the commentators and the choir just kept on preaching, commenting and singing during those times.

There were lots of people standing outside even though there were still vacant seats near the front. Filipinos may be shy like that.