I almost forgot to write about this amusing incident about my attempt to hear mass during Simbang Gabi (Midnight/Aguinaldo Mass) at the St. Isidore the Labrador Parish Church in Binan City.
Coming out from the nearby market to buy veggies for my salad, I decided to pay homage to the Lord and His family to celebrate His birth.
I was in my shorts and an umbrella on top of my head as it was drizzling.
I walked past a civilian watchman at the gate who immediately called me out. “Bawal po pumasok ang naka-shorts (Shorts aren’t allowed),” he harked back.
“Why naman (is it so?),” I asked.
“’Yon po ang (That is the) rule,” he retorted.
I was very spiritual in shorts simply because it’s the most honest, sincere and decent way to move around in a fast-paced suburban hub apart from taking advantage of my time to commune with Him.
Besides, it’s not the material dress we don but the pure heart we wear that matter in social interaction that includes religion.
I hope the Diocese would reconsider regular shorts in going to church.
Another thing that stirred my consciousness was the missing Saturday morning pay time at Prime Water office in San Pedro.
I am alone in the house as housemate and fellow entertainment journalist Art Tapalla is manning Fil-Briton filmmaker Jowee Morel’s house in Pagsanjan and no one would pay the water bill before we get disconnected.
I came all the way from the province and I was anxious I should be punctual in paying my dues every 19th of the month.
The 19th of January fell on a Sunday and as a dutiful utility user I would want to fulfill a half-day Saturday pay time I used to do to evade disconnection.
I woke up very early to fulfill my duty aside from other chores I had to do on a Saturday only to be told that the PW office is closed on Saturdays.
One of the confreres of the guard said Saturday payment has long been suspended and we only have to refer to the PW Facebook for announcement.
What if I don’t regularly subscribe to their FB and miss any of their advisories?
I mean, there are other ways to advice customers aside from FB.
PW should, at least, print even a one-liner of a Saturday non-payment anymore on the receipt like a notice of a half-day Saturday office before.
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