Power of presence

#50TaongMisyonngPagibig

I am glad that we showed up.

A priest friend re-sent me an invite to his golden sacerdotal anniversary. Months back, I had given my regrets as it fell on a weekday which meant I had to work, not to mention that it also coincided with a sibling’s birthday and that traveling to get to his community would entail a four-hour drive through unfamiliar roads. He said that I should go to get to know him better and that there was the possibility that it may be one of his last major celebrations being of age.

His words made me reverse my previous decision instantly. It wasn’t because the issue of mortality was raised, but more from realizing what it meant to him. How could I have been so insensitive? Dropping everything, we left at 4:30 a.m. and made it just in time for the 9 a.m. Mass. To ensure he knew we were there, I ran to him just before he entered the church and jubilantly said, “Father, present po kami!” With twinkly eyes and a beautiful, wide smile, he graciously replied that he would catch up with us later.

The religious celebration was simple and made more meaningful through the testimonials from people who knew him well. While we may have had conversations mostly about possible collaborations for promoting the importance of public health, in the few years I have known him, he never really talked about himself or the various roles he played.

From them, we learned that he was a man of means and was well-connected but left everything to become a missionary. With his good looks, intelligence, gift of gab, and musical talent, it was impossible to overlook him, and he used these to his full advantage to draw people closer to God. Listening to heartfelt messages of gratitude from indigenous farmers, children he helped send to school, and people whom he had worked with, assisted, and inspired, brought on the waterworks. It was evident that his ideals and values were very much in line with his mission, and his sincerity and genuine wish to serve continuously endeared him to many. One can understand why he remains youthful. His face, aura, and lightness of being radiate serenity which could only come from a place of peace.

#Kahitlate

Was it possible? The day was filled with two scientific conferences, one in Quezon City and the other in Mandaluyong, and was to be capped off by a fundraising event in Valenzuela, Bulacan. Prepared to face the day, I found out that it was to be the last day of the wake of a senior colleague whose remains were in Antipolo. The window between the second conference and the event was narrow. What was to be the priority?

“Hindi talaga namin siyang lubos na nakilala. Akala nga namin konti ang pupunta kaya dalawang araw lang ang burol.” This had come from a younger brother who said they were 12 siblings. Our friend was second to the eldest and instrumental in helping him bring up his children. He shared that his “Diko“ was strict and mostly kept to himself so the family was quite surprised that many came to pay him a visit.

Wanting to leave him with memories of how his older brother was with us, we happily shared that he was highly respected and liked in our circle. He was one of the founders of the society and part of the board of trustees for years, ensuring that our affairs were in order. He will always be remembered not only for his humility but also for the kindness he extended to everyone. His quiet and unassuming ways made people want to be in his company. There was no doubt that he was on his way to that special place that we hope we will all be worthy to be part of, someday.

Making my way up the steps to where his urn was, I laid a hand on top of it and said my goodbyes. It felt good to have had that chance, for it somehow alleviated feelings of regret that we should have paid him that planned visit while he was still around to hear how much we appreciated him.

There will always be times in our lives when we fail to seize precious moments just because we are too busy or we just think we are. Given situations where we are made to prioritize, choose those that will help us reflect, appreciate, and contribute to believing in the goodness that still surrounds us. Lending your physical presence goes a long way in showing just how much they are of value to you. Lending your physical presence goes a long way in showing just how much a person is of value to you.

Make the effort and show up.

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