“When God Closes a Door, He Opens a Window”

            Last 22 June 2009 , the ABS-CBN management led by no less than its President Ms. Charo Santos-Concio hosted a Thanksgiving Mass and Salo-Salo Party for us – the cast and staff of the Number 1 top-rated show “May Bukas Pa” at the 9501 Resto located at the 14th floor of the ELJ Building of ABS-CBN Compound.

             Invited to celebrate the thanksgiving mass was the parish priest of the San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga –Reverend Father Jesus Manabat. The San Guillermo Parish Church is the location of the show  “May Bukas Pa” which is being  used as the Monastery where the 12 priests and Santino live.

            Father Jess delivered a very fitting homily that centered on the message of hope. He opened his homily with a story about a boy that a priest gave a piece of candy who instead of saying thank you for the candy had asked for another one! The boy epitomizes some of us who are not cognizant of God’s simple blessings in our lives. That instead of being grateful to God for the small things that we receive from Him, we oftentimes fail to express thanksgiving to the Almighty Creator.

            Father Jess continued his homily citing the production staff specifically the scriptwriter how appropriate the choice of the name of the town Bagong Pag-Asa  in “May Bukas Pa”.  Bagong Pag-Asa (new hope in english) is a word that gives a flicker of chance for a thing that one is praying for in moments when it seem that the possibility of it becoming an answered prayer is nil.

            Father Jess continued his homily with the story of the town of Bacolor . When the town was devastated by the onslaught of lahar coming from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo, the townspeople never gave up hope that someday when the lahar would have stabilized the town would rise again from its ruins. There were talks before to relocate the town so that the residents could construct their new houses on safer grounds. But, the Bacolor residents did not agree with the proposal.

            One of the badly affected by the lahar flows was the San Guillermo Parish Church of Bacolor which was buried 15 meters under. Literally, God closed all the doors of the Church! What was left with the old church was the rafters and the roof. However, the parishioners never waived their faith, continued to use the church to celebrate masses, and used the windows of the church as the new doors!

            Today, with the church being used as the set for the monastery of May Bukas Pa, the ABS-CBN has been paying daily shooting fees which greatly helped the church in financing its renovation –its rising from the ruins!

            On a personal note, when I was chosen  as one of the twelve priests in the monastery in “May Bukas Pa”, it meant that I could not accept other offers to appear in their shows. There were at least 3 calls for more meaty roles that turned down because of my present assignment with “May Bukas Pa”. However, I always console myself that  I am getting good exposure in “May Bukas Pa” considering that the show is getting good ratings! I am doubly sure that God meant it this way that I am in the cast of “May Bukas Pa”.

Even if my role does not have long speaking parts such that most of my friends are complaining, I feel that I am blessed with the role for I am sure that God has his own reason for this!  Panalo ka Bro!