A Social Ritual

Last Saturday, we were invited to watch a concert organized by Ate Joan Basirgo – a long time friend since college, composer and musician, mentor when it comes to music and is like a sister to me. We went there after a day of sleeping and just bumming inside the house, after hours of indecision on what we should do that night. I know we were ‘destined’ to be there that night and my eagerness to see Ate Joan of course after months that I have no news of her made it happen. I am so glad to see her, cant help but muse over the old days, Katipunan/ Proj 4 moments, with the Chinese nuns (Catholic), the singing and lunching together and the solitary garden at the back of that old house.

The host of the concert is Hillcrest Family Life Organization – a Baptist church headed by Rev. Reuel Tica, and for more than an hour, we were entertained by the ‘Gracenotes’ – teenage group/ choir of six members – including Hans – Ate Joan’s hubby :-D (to avoid confusion, Ate Joan is not a cradle snatcher, so Hans is older than the teenage songers.

I don’t have any inhibitions about Ate Joan inviting me over to hear some music, it’s also one of my passions, she is a witness to that, but the complexity comes when we talk about religion. Although, the Reverend is very much welcoming, very friendly and doesn’t sound like preaching dogmatically, I still cannot take off my head that I am surrounded by believers! And I hate to be rude by telling them that I do not believe, actually they are not even asking about it. I am also uncertain if the reverend whom we had a great conversation and who walked us around the house telling stories about the ministry already assumed that we, indeed are believers, well, Willy do believe, and he understand the unspoken war within me at that time. I fear that I have totally lost my faith. Am I chronically detached from that Supreme Being you call God?

Anyways, I sincerely appreciate what happened that night, those young singers with dreamy eyes, the community (almost ideal) that the reverend is starting to build, the friendship among the members of the community, and one thing that is worth mentioning here, the old man that the church adopted – everything about them seemed morally idyllic, if that’s the kind of community those ‘believers’ want to achieve, why not believe in God?

This Wednesday (Oct 14), we might watch the ‘Gracenotes’ again, and we’ll wish them luck on their tour to Hong Kong.

By the way, yesterday, I learned from Jane that Kuya Ronald David (a friend from college) is dead due to Meningitis – such a short life, he’s just two years older than me, once a very gentle creature, very kind, what else can I say? Sigh..

P.S. Exam Day. I went to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife RC alone (‘-,’)