I lost the paper I had used to write on the thoughts I had earlier yesterday. It was actually around noon time when I had accomplished all my tasks on the other island where we are soon to inhabit. It didn’t really start off too well but ended good enough for me.

I rushed to the City Hall of Mandaue to get our latest Cedulas since I’m going to need it for the water installation application for MECO. I got it in a flash but had to suffer the bills when a woman from the counter recognized me on TV and so I decided denying any income won’t do me any good today. Thank God the taxi driver patiently waited for me and took me straight to MECO. 

This time around he wasn’t the quiet type as he chattered about the old Mactan Bridge that had been built during the Marcos regime. He says, if only Marcos had envisioned the future, he would have built the bridge with four lanes, 2 on each direction, since the influx of automobiles in Cebu have increased for the past 3 decades. He spoke of the wealth of the Asian nations as well as their governance and socio-economic status. According to him the Philippines is a richer country than Korea but we have very corrupt officials that render us slaves to poverty. Korea has such an exemplary governance that they could afford to send their people to different countries to further enhance their investments and sell their products. If only our country has been led by people who have only intentions of serving the majority this would have been possible too for us. 

I was amazed at how insightful he was on things. I enjoyed the conversation that before we know it we were already at my destination. I wished him well before we part ways. And then later on that day I stopped to smile that somehow this day had brought me bounty of goodness from the people around me. Such short ride has become an informative one for me.

MECO was a swift affair and so I had to ride the motorcab so I called it (the local traysikol) towards the pier so I can hop onto a ferry boat back to the city on time. Shortly, the church was in sight and I still had time to visit the Birhen sa Regla on the second floor adoration room.

It was instinct that called me up there, or was it divine calling? I knew I had to never let another chance pass me by so I paid her a visit. The first statue was that of another saint (or was it Jesus Christ himself, oh, please forgive my ignorance) to whom I prayed for guidance. Hers was in the middle and I stood there for some minutes with my eyes closed, deeply meaning what I prayed to her and felt like the tears from my eyes are about to burst. When I opened them, I was alone at the front, the people around me have left but I wasn’t ashamed to be alone at all. Somewhat I felt like I needed more time. I was just grateful for the time I spent with her.

When I briskly walked towards the pier I was already wiping tears from my eyes. I anticipated the grumbling of my stomach and grabbed a siopao and C2 for lunch; paid my ticket for the ferry boat and jumped into it. I found an empty seat and started to write on what was to me the only available paper I could use - the back of the MECO receipt. I realized I lost it at the house and so I have to recall the thoughts while I’m writing this now.

I can tell you for sure it was a fulfilling day.