Manila Trip: Part Three

This is the last part of my pilgrimage tour update. I know the previous two posts were kind of long. Sorry. Now let’s just hope this one would not be any longer. XD

18th June – Day Six: Today is the last day of our trip. Our flight home is at 4.00 pm. Well, if there was one good thing about our new driver yesterday (who was kind of reckless and non-negotiable), him dropping us early at Fray Juan gave us much time to pack our stuffs so thank you for that, Ramson. :D

Anyway, today we have two drivers because we needed an additional van to carry our luggage. Who knew 13 people would be bringing so much, eh? Our only stop for today is the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan. Here, I went to buy a regular-sized bottle for the Holy Water Papa Marcus requested. He wanted the big bottle but seeing how packed my luggage bag is, I have only enough space for the regular one. Sorry, Papa!

Uncle Paul took a picture of me filling in the bottle. I was a little bit late behind the group because I went ahead to the church upstairs first, as soon as I arrived here. =.=

Those hanging crutches are said to belong to the people who came and were healed from their limping. And there are a lot of pairs hung!

The above is the exterior view of the shrine building. We actually took the back entrance because the building looks different in front but there was an afternoon mass going on when we arrived so I did not feel like taking any photos up there. Since today is our last day, I was thinking of taking a particular picture of the day.

He was the one who drove us around Manila for the whole week. Name? Robert. I am really grateful that he is acquainted with Aunty Rita. If it was not for him, we might have not visited other churches unlisted in our itinerary, and we might have only been using the highway and missed out lots of other things. Now when the picture above was about to be taken, he asked if I do not mind him putting his hand on my shoulder. It feels good to know that there are still people who do consider about others. And politeness is not dead yet. Good thing, especially when some people are already getting on your nerves. No, I did not get his contact details. Hahaha...

I realised something else though… I AM THAT SHORT. Ugh. Seriously, that short? Oh, bummer!

Oh, and I see something else. Even before they leave, the people would ask the priest to bless their vehicles and themselves. You do not get to see that here in KK.

This is us. There is one thing about going in a small group – you get to know everyone. You get to really enjoy, have fun and laugh all the way. Of course, it helps when you already know each other from back home but personally, despite it being my first, I can say that our trip was anything but dull. Sure, the days were hot but who cares! Now that I have visited the Philippines, next stop would be ROME! And then on to Jerusalem – well, if God is willing to let me travel that much and far.

Being a Christian, a Roman Catholic, the trip left me awed by the magnificence of the churches and shrines we visited, as well as amazed with the faith of the people. Now I know that there is no place safely tucked from the challenges of the modern world but at least, just seeing those holy buildings reassures.

 

 So, after the Shrine of Divine Mercy, we head on straight to the Clark Airport. I thought I could make it on time for sunset mass but unfortunately though, our flight was delayed for an hour and a half, due to bad weather in KK. I know there were many more places we did not visit so I am wishing I could go on more tours in the near future. Big thanks to Aunt Rita, Uncle Paul and my family for letting me go on this trip!

Well, this wraps up my Manila trip which was a month ago. Hey! Looks like my memory did not fail me.

18th June 2011 @ 9.45 pm – Home, Sweet Home