Missed Philippines

Last week, I joined the procession of the International Eucharistic Congress as they marched from the Capitol to Plaza Independencia. There were so many people, more people than was expected. It was a peaceful and somber affair. The slow shuffling and repetitive chanting were hypnotic in a way and put me in a contemplative mood.

It was a pretty big deal since so many people joined it. I've heard some people even put the number to a million although that's probably exaggeration. Perhaps a little below a quarter million is more reasonable. The event was so remarkable in fact, that the national newspapers hardly mentioned it at all. Instead the front pages were dedicated to that Pia Wurtzback broad and Vic Sotto's wedding. I guess since it didn't happen in Manila, it didn't happen at all.

Sheesh.

Hover Thy Father

The big thing in Cebu at the moment is the International Eucharistic Congress. It's supposed to be a big deal but I'm not sure why. People keep saying it's important so it must be? I don't know.

It's just a bunch of priests talking about how important the mass is. The last time people were talking about the mass, it was because some priest decided to wheel around in a "hoverboard".

Why do they call it a "hoverboard" if it doesn't actually hover?

I thought it was amusing despite the impropriety of it all. Frankly, church is pretty boring. The outrage over the incident was understandable. "The Eucharistic celebration is the highest form of worship", the self-righteous Catholics huffed. True. However, this is a culture that tastelessly holds masses in the middle of noisy malls and shopping centers; spirituality drowned in a sea of materialism. So much for the sacred...

Keep on rollin' padre.