Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Miracle of Jesus and Mary in Davao By Marinneth S. Babao
I WAS 6 then. It was around 4 p.m.; my popsie was again late for the afternoon pick-up. I was playing tigso with the other kids in school who were also waiting for their ride home. I was one of the best players among my peers. Often, when we grouped ourselves for the game, I find myself in the middle of two competing teams.
Four p.m. was kinda' late for a 1st grader to still be at the school playground. I wasn't worried at all because I was enjoying the free time playing with my schoolmates at Sped-Sales.
The sun was still up. The guards closed the gate for our protection because a few weeks prior there was a student who was rumored to have been harassed by a bystander. Aside from the kids, there were few yayas.
I don't know everybody but I remember that I was with my classmate, Giovanni. Giovanni was the smallest kid in our class but he was the fastest. He runs like crazy and we would always want him in the team.
While my playmates and I were in the middle of the game, one of the kids shouted that there was something up in the sky. He was so frantic that he got all of our attention.
We can't move. Perplexed.
I could vividly remember some of the images.
Papa Joseph was standing behind Mama Mary who was sitting on a wooden chair and infant Jesus on her arms. This image came in different angles, like a story.
Then infant Jesus. Then a huge sword. Then an archangel with golden wings in white robe holding a huge sword in his right hand. Then fire.
Mama Mary appeared in long white dress and blue veil. Her hands were open like inviting us to go to her. There was gloom in her eyes but there were rays all over her like sunshine.
Then Jesus. His hands were open. There were holes on both. The images fade in and out like every 10 seconds. Huge. Colored.
Another kid shouted and dragged everybody to the school's backyard.
Farther up in the sky, we saw of what seemed to be a stairway to heaven. But the steps were of earth. There were little angels on every step. The little angels (or cherubs) had curly hair floating in their little white robe. We can't see the feet though. But the images at the other side can't be seen from there.
I left that group and hurriedly went back to the front. The images still continued but after a few seconds, it faded out into a huge rainbow. I went to the back to catch up with the other kids but the images had also disappeared.
Until today, I still can't figure out what the experience was. I never heard any stories about it.
I can only call it a miracle now. It was a miracle for the almost 20 kids that were left at the school that afternoon.
I still question myself if the images we saw were true or was there just somebody who was flashing those huge colored images on the sky.
I am not religious. But I deeply believe in God and His great works. As I was growing up, I had the opportunity to be exposed with the Bible. My lola was a Pentecost and every time she's got, she sat me down and told me stories she has read in the Bible. The verses she taught me lived throughout my life.
Psalm 91 (King James version) is my mantra amidst fear and anxiety. My lola taught me to memorize that and I did with all my heart. My mother is also a devout believer of Mama Mary and I saw how she has made her strong all these years.
While I was already in Manila, sometime in 2002, I chanced upon an article in the newspaper that Mama Mary's image was seen on a stone somewhere in Europe and that was the only time after 1970s.
I wanted to talk to a priest that time to inform them that we saw Mama Mary and Jesus Christ in Davao in 1982. But thought it may not be necessary. I presumed that many of us experience Mama Mary and Jesus Christ everyday in our lives.
Every now and then, I still remember the experience. I tried to reflect on what was its message to my life because I believe that everything happens for a purpose.
Today, I am happily attending a Christian community. My knowledge of the Bible improved. My belief in God grew. I love God more than ever. However, I continue to sin.
But more than that, I know that there is a virtual hand that is guiding me in my life. Sometimes when I feel like I could give up on my dreams, I go down on my knees and I know in my heart that there is somebody up there who is just waiting to hear me because I know that I am greatly favored.
I always look forward to my share of small and big miracles. He just amazes me everyday. And I have never stopped counting.
I thought about joining those pilgrimages to Jerusalem to experience the miracle of Jesus Christ. Then write about the journey.
It seems I need not go far. This time, I decided that this is the perfect time to tell this part of my journey -- the miracle of Jesus in Davao City.
