CONVERSATIONS : IMAGINED AND ACTUAL

It was just two years after the Liberation, 1947 to be exact. I never knew any sister. I never studied in a Catholic school. Simply, I had no contact with any religious, this I can tell. I was a party goer. I not only attended all the dance balls not only in our little town Guagua, Pampanga but went as far as  Manila  to join  the veteran dancers  in the elite  city.  I gloried in my crown as Miss Guagua in my heyday and I prided  myself in having boys running  after me. Never mind  who these  prominent  bachelors  were.

One day, I felt that this was not the joy that would give me everlasting peace.  Hence, I  joined the  Sodality of our Lady in our parish. As the Prefect of this religious  organization, I took upon  myself the responsibility of   making the statue of our Lady as clean and immaculately white as possible . While “ bathing ”  the statue with Chinese soap and water, I had a colloquy  with  Mama Mary, I told her that  I wanted to serve the world. I heard her whisper in my ears, “  Would you like to be a Sister ? ”  That was farthest from my mind because I never chanced upon a Sister  to talk about  my vocation .  Secondly, I questioned her about my weak lungs. How could I possibly serve in the convent ? I knew I would not last because convent life is very demanding. Again, I heard the Blessed Lady  encouraging me, “ Try. If they do not send you home on account of your weak lungs, then you are for the religious state. If  they send you home  because of your health  , then, go and marry the most eligible  bachelor.”