PATAS KYR at the Victory Church (Robinsons Galleria)

It’s been two months since I lost my need to go to Church for a Mass. That was quite absurd since I have been going to Church since I was 7. Then now I must wake up and go to a Church.

Sunday was a lazy time for me to wake-up just to go to a worship service to a group of people I have always idealized as heathens and heretics. The weather was fine and so I decided to get myself ready to go by bus with a friend. It was a long travel by bus. I hate traveling by bus.

We went straight at the stall, I mean the “Church” because it was already past 11 AM. There were seats outside the Church with some people. I assumed that the Church is already full. So we decided to ask if the Church was indeed full. Luckily and a polite woman told us that there are still more seat inside. Then I wondered why people are opting to stay outside and watch the pastor talking on the screen.

So we went into the “Church.” It’s very spacious and yet it is almost full of people. There are people posted to guide you to empty spaces.

The pastor kept on talking as we found our spot. He was standing in a stage with instruments for a band. Seems legit I say for a bar, I mean a Church. At least it was more lighting than a bar has. He had two projectors at his back showing us his topic and sermon. He was dressed quite casually, I mean smart casual. Like a yuppie would. And he gave his sermon in English.

I turned my gaze to the Churchgoers. It seems they are indeed ready for their shopping. They are dressed in many ways, some decent and some just seems to belong to bar atmosphere. They just sit there listening (I hope so), or just staring at the Pastor. And for the first time I realized that no one brings their Bibles to Church. What an abomination to an evangelical setting.

The Pastor was talking about Grace. He talked about grace in the post-modern way conceivable. You can take his words with different meanings. How convenient is that? He talked and talked while I sighed and made side comments to the dismay of people near me. I didn’t care; I was busy evaluating their service and worship. I was able to open my Bible to Ephesians. That was the only page I will open for the rest of the service.

In the end the whole sermon was boring and uninteresting. Though I pricked up my ears when I heard the Pastor saying; that if you get a Nokia 5110, one must surely throw it away. That was the most annoying thing I heard. I mean if you give that to a poor person you will get a big thank you.

Anyways, the sermon ended with a prayer and a song. They sang a different version of Amazing Grace in keeping with the topic. The band started to sing the song again and again while people sang with them with some hands raised. And that was it. The typical thing you see at TV here with less emotions and crying.

Then it all ended as if the movie ended. All got up and all was clean. That left with me with lots of questions and wonders.

This is not a good place to look for God. This is not also a place for the poor. This place is made to make you feel better and to console you that you have done your obligation to go to Church. It was a real disappointment compared to even a Catholic Mass. 

Excuses

Who has no excuses? We live in a world where excuses have governed our very lives. We always have to excuse our selves most of the time just to be polite and sociable.

We need an excuse when we can’t make it somewhere or even to get somewhere. We need an excuse called love so that we can say that we are happy. We need an excuse called work so can say that we are not bored. We need an excuse called diet just to said that we want to be healthy again. We need an excuse called media just to make the impression that know things. We need an excuse called friends just to say we are not alone, let alone a thing called relationship.

Frankly I am getting sick and tired of making excuses for people I don’t even care about.

Atheist Songs (?)

It is often said that the arts is the best way to learn philosophy (I heard this from a Christian preacher). People will not bother to read books or listen to philosophers when it comes to their belief system. I agree that people would get their philosophies through the arts, like music, painting, etc.

The problem I have is that most of the so called atheists’ songs are not of my genre. I have nothing against rock music and stuff but the thing is that I find them too noisy.

Then there was Nerina Pallot. My first encounter with her was with the song, “Sophia.” I really liked the way she sang, and then I forgot all about her. Then I decided one time to listen to her songs. I then learned of “Everyone’s Gone to War.”

She says in some lines:

“If God's on our side, then God is a joker,
Asleep on the job, his children fall over”

That for me presents some sense of doubt for the goodness of God.

The good thing about this singer is the way she says her words. For me it’s how words are said that makes them more meaningful.

The last song I’ll be presenting is “Damascus.” It’s the reverse of the story of the conversion of St. Paul done in a very poetic and heartbreaking way. The lines go:

“I saw the light-I saw the light!
But hey, it never saw me,
Oh, conversation has just left me heathen”

And “It's hell, hell is where I'm gonna be,
The devil my intimate friend,
And hell is other people's hearts,
And knowing that everything must end.”

So go ahead and pick up her albums. You won’t regret it, even if you are not an atheist.

Rizal had it bad...

It is always said that Rizal said these words:

"The youth is the hope of our future."

He is a highly respected person in this country (thats the Philippines). Rizal was a linguist, patriot, a doctor, a hero. I have high respects with smart people, people who can say what's in their mind no matter the consequences.

But such persons should never be quoted like what they are saying are scripture. They are people too and can make mistakes. The Bible alone is not free from mistakes and errors.

Many a people in this country has taken these very words to unload the burden on them. Who are they? They include politicians, parents, teachers, almost everybody.

It's like saying that it's not our responsibility to make change it's the youth who will do it. They say these words over and over during elections or when the feel arises for them to say such. I say they are empty words.

I cannot imagine the past, current and future youth to be what they are not. An ideal thing to say but nonetheless is a futile attempt for nothing.

I don't know what is going on the minds on the non-youth when they say such to the youth. I mean, what are they going to do? Just leave everything to the youth? That's scary.

If they know everything then they should also do their job instead of putting the burden on the young.

I say we are the hope of our future not the youth alone. If Rizal indeed made a mistake this is one of them.

Political Ads

Nothing pisses me than hearing political ads. It’s a pain both in the ears and the eyes. I think they have jumped on the Postmodern wagon and said what I do is also an art. Well, it’s not art, it’s just crap all of it. But at the same time, it amazes me; the things politicians in the Philippines are capable of doing during elections. Mind you, they will sing and dance, even when they can’t. Be so approachable during the campaign and then forget you when they get the position.

The unending noise barrage sung to the tune of the day, proclaiming their good agendas and characters. As if everyone believes them. Their huge and redundant posters all over the city smiling like their some model. I say it’s all pollution, both noise and eye pollution. Not to mention all the trash and garbage they create before, during and after the election.

One politician that annoys me most is Villar. It’s so too much in ones face. If he wins this election, I don’t know what will happen.

Luckily, I found a much better version of one of his annoying ads. Thanks to Missy from Sampaloc, Manila.

Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng kubeta?
Nagpaputok ka na ba sa gitna ng kalsada?
Yan ang tanong namin?
Tunay ka bang isa sa amin?

Nalaman mo na mapapagdroga ka nya?
Tutulungan tayo para magsindikato.
At ang kanyang plano’y magnakaw tayo?

Si Villar ang tunay na pahirap
Si Villar ang tunay na walang gilagid
Si Villar ang may kakayahan
At gumawa ng sariling sugalan
Si manny Villar ang maghahakot ng ating kayamanan.