Trip to Antipolo Church

Every May, my family goes to Antipolo for our every year trip to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church. It is not clear to me when did this "pilgrimage" started but I remember, as a child, I'm excited for this because I can buy any thing I want in the market near the church. Also, I can feast my eyes in "kasoy"(cashew nut) and suman.

Today, I had this trip again with my family. We departed at about 2:30 am and arrived at the church 4:00 am. Because it is early, we had the privilege of finding the best space in the parking lot. Also, my mom had an early look at the market near the church to buy kasoy and suman. I went to nearby 7-11 to buy sugar and bottled water so I can eat the suman while waiting for the first mass. At 4:30, I decided to enter the church and I took some pictures. The mass started at 5 am.

I just want to share the priest's homily. Inpired by today's Gospel, where Jesus asks his apostle to spread unity to the world through God's word. Unity is no strange word to us. It is common in school groupings, organizations, political party, etc. But, what is really UNITY? Is it just sharing happy times together, going out on a trip, planning on something, creating a project? What if there is no happy time? No trip? No plans? No projects? Will we go our separate ways?

Unity is being together even in difficult times. It is easy as being a crying shoulder to a friend during a heartbreak or a married couple staying together
even in the middle of a big problem.

It sounds very very simple, yet, Unity is one of the world's problem. War happens because or lack of Unity! Corruption happens because of absence of Unity! Crimes, Financial Crisis, Broken Families, Unwanted Pregnancy: need I say more?

Unity starts with us; inside our own home-in our family! If we stay unified, as a family, as a nation, as one world, I'm definitely sure, nothing can destroy us!