It's raining cats and dogs.
Various parts of Metro Manila are still flooded due to the plummeting tropical cyclone “Crising.”
Novadeci Convention Center is located in Novaliches which was unfortunately affected as well by high waters in the big city.
The Center was the venue for the concert of Filipino balikbayan singer Gloria Papin who is planning to stay in the Philippines for good but celebrating as well her musical years in the country with a fitting show titled "The Blessing Gloria Papin: A Night of Praise and Worship" Saturday night at seven.
It took me three hours to get to the venue just from Makati City.
Initially, I took a Carousel bus to SM North and there, I had a bus ride going to Novaliches.
Congressional Road was already a tight traffic.
When the bus got to Quirino Highway, it was a battle neck not only because of too many vehicles plying on both directions but the deep waters had covered the main thoroughfare and side streets any small car could get drowned along the way so each one had to move snail-paced to pass through and avoid being trapped on excavations or on a minor case, potholes.
There were, at least, three corners which were heavy with water and each vehicle had to struggle to get to the safer, more waterless space.
By past eight, we were still on the road only to get to the city proper by nine.
I texted Aileen Grace Arcilla Papin, one of Gloria’s sisters, to inform her that I was still caught in a horrendous traffic jam but would love to watch the show as they invited me.
Grace Aileen didn’t respond immediately so I thought the show was postponed or something although no official advisory of sorts.
It was raining hard at the urban Nova where I had to find a ride to Novadeci.
Good it had an available trike in one corner tricycle hub.
On the way to General Luis Street, another heavy traffic greeted the trike it had to detour to inner streets but once we were in the middle of a thickly populated and flooded neighborhood, my ride had to divert to another alley until we were in another stiff and bumper-to-bumper line, but as we moved slowly, I could see the neon lights of the Center.
And I thought the show must have ended already by about this time and there was still a downpour. It’s good I got a sweat jacket with a hood.
When I arrived at the hall, it was deserted and I thought once more, no more show but I haven’t looked at my FB Messenger until I went up slippery flights to the foyer of the auditorium only to find out from a janitor that yes, there was still the Gloria Papin gig.
There was a motley group of people outside the hall but I could hear the friendly and chant-like music as I got to the door.
Oh! The floor was jam packed and I suddenly realized Glo had a captive market from the Christian community.
Indeed, important non-sectarian guests were in the house but most of the audience were from Papin’s religious group.
At the time, Aileen’s FB message I caught when I was inside the venue when only one-fourth of the musical numbers were done as yet.
Most of Gloria’s repertoire were praise and worship songs as mentioned in the blurbs of his ad poster.
In my past interview with her, she mentioned that she has been in the Christian ministry for thirty years beginning in the US.
Gloria, the former Gloria Belen, elder sister of Asia's Sentimental Songstress Imelda Papin, has been here in the Philippines for two years now to give inspiration to the latter in terms of filial assistance.
"I love my sister so much," said Gloria.
Imelda and Aileen didn’t fail their sister.
The duo did admirable numbers ditto with Maffi Papin Carrion and guest singer Garry Cruz and a certain Pastor Armand.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Director wasn’t in the poster although there was a circular blank space with a big question mark stuck on it as a guest.
My guess was as good as yours.
True enough, Mel was a very special guest.
Even if the weather wasn't cooperating well with Gloria, everything was in place for the concert featuring inspirational songs.
The elder Papin had indeed defied the bad weather.
Rain or shine, Gloria exclaimed days before the actual performance, “the show must go on.”
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