my mind wanders... on a thought of a green sunset

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Kumpil 101

I sent a group message saying that the truth hurts.

I haven’t been confirmed, and I am already sixteen.

I attended the confirmation ceremonies of my cousin Jan Reynald today at the Holy Trinity Parish here in San Nicolas, Cavite. I wasn’t the one to be confirmed, not even a godfather.

I was the official photographer for my cousin.

(I am avoiding apostrophes and double quotation marks because my template doesn’t support it. As you have read some of my posts these symbols in particular appear weird.)

So I was there, watching a lot of people twelve years old and above getting ready to renew their baptism and confirm their entity of being a Christian. The liturgy of the Word was observed.

The great part here was the homily of one of the youngest bishops in the Philippines, His Excellency, Luis Antonio Tagle. According to my aunt he is a very bright bishop, and with that he was ordained immediately.

He started about discussing the importance of the sacrament of Confirmation and its deep link with baptism and the Eucharist. He then pressed the issues of how some people take Confirmation for granted, and how a newly Confirmed Christian must act. After receiving the certificate, Bishop Tagle pressed some issues about how people have distorted the purpose of godparents. They should be guides to the people who consider them as second parents. It’s not about the gifts.

Bishop Tagle: Kayong mga dalagita, ‘wag patulan ang mga lalaking presko agad sa inyo! Kristyano ako, sabihin mo, at huwag mo akong bastusin, sabay sampal! Hindi porket gwapo yung lalaki sasabihin mo ay sige wag mo lang ako halikan!
(laughter arose)
Bishop Tagle: Sa mga lalaki naman! Magkaroon kayo ng dangal! Hindi yung pagnakakita ng magandang babae e parang nauulol! Kristyano ako! Meron akong dignidad!
Bishop Tagle: Taas ang kamay ng mga ninong at ninang!
(godparents raised their hands then)
Bishop Tagle: Kayong mga ninong at ninang, huwag magbigay sa inyong mga inaanak!
(people clap in a mixture of laughter and a little frustration for the godchildren who are expecting, err, something)
Bishop Tagle: Taas ang kamay ng mga kukumpilan!
(hands appeared in the air)
Bishop Tagle: kapag binigyan kayo ng regalo ng inyong ninong at ninag, ‘wag nyong tanggapin!
(people laugh at the insane yet true and sensible mockery of the usual tradition)

The Bishop then described his thumb, which he told everyone that was already thinning because of the thousands of foreheads that he has anointed.

The ceremony was quiet and well organized. The Bishop skipped the Eucharist and proceeded with the Lord’s Prayer, then ended the ceremonial with the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

As for my photography, as I took a photo of my cousin being anointed and viewed it, I was dismayed at the result. Bishop Tagle had a very big hand and my cousin’s face was covered. I was too amateur of a photographer.

I had other ideas.

So I took a picture of them in front of the altar, besides a good pot of flowers, up in the balcony where behind them was a large stained glass icon that looked very nice, and another shot as they went down the stairs. I guess I was too hyper back then.

Then lunch was delicious and heavy.

After all of this, still the truth hurts. I am not yet confirmed.

Ciao~

my mind fleeted at :8:10 PM ;