AGAIN, I am writing this piece in advance because I am mostly traveling, and I don’t want to be bothered during the hectic Christmas season.
You should be reading this 10 or 11 days after Typhoon Odette.
I am writing this on the day after Typhoon Odette hit the country.
I am just glad the casualty did go near the 6,000+ of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
***
Perhaps the Filipinos did learn something from the experience of that Yolanda tragedy, and prepared themselves better for Odette.
I just wish that we also learn from the lessons of history and the Martial Law experience as we move on to the elections of 2022.
I also wish that we learn from the senseless deaths of the war against drug, and all the other villainous extrajudicial killings.
Learn enough that we make better choices in 2022.
***
On the day of Typhoon Odette, your 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. landfall watch in the Philippines, I gave up morning sex.
I had a luxurious room at Jurys Inn in Southampton, and being fresh meat on Grindr, I was popular.
But, in my superstitious (and oddly religious) mind, I felt that my prayers would be stronger if I abstained from sex.
***
As a sex positive person, I know this sounds crazy and contradictory.
But I didn’t want to take chances with the typhoon, and other forces of God.
I really believed my prayers would be more powerful if I abstained from sex.
I offered a sacrifice!
***
Instead of entertaining university boys (from nearby Southampton University) before noon, I decided to check out of the hotel at 10 a.m.
Then, I took a meditative and prayerful walk from the Cenotaph at Watts Park down to the Old Town trail by the QE2 Mile.
(Yes, QE2 is Queen Elizabeth II!)
***
I tried to enjoy the Christmas feel of the streets and window displays, but I was also thinking of the typhoon in the Philippines, and how my people would cope.
That’s when I also decided to hit the churches.
I visited even non-Catholic churches like the Church of England, because, hey, in desperation, we pray anyway we can.
***
My first church was the Holy Rood Church, which was really just the ruins now.
There was a fire of 1940s or something, and it was badly damaged.
It was also turned into a memorial of sorts for the people lost to the tragedy of the Titanic.
While Titanic was built in Liverpool (in 1910s), it actually sailed from Southampton for its infamous maiden voyage (headed for New York).
Southampton is the cruise ship capital of England.
***
I mean, for sure, the Holy Rood also stands as a memorial for firefighters in the great fires of 1940s.
Now, all these tragedies reminded me of the super typhoon ready to hit my beloved country.
So, which prayerful patriot wouldn’t fall on his knees?
***
I really don’t like to be on my knees, even for the best sex action.
So when I’m on my knees, it only means that I mean serious business!
***
The second church I visited was St Michael’s.
Yes, of the archangel kind.
It is now the oldest stone building in Southampton.
One that has survived the great fires of the 1940s.
One that was established during the Norman Conquest of 1070s.
Norman Conquest: when forces from Normandy (France) invaded England.
So yeah, a church 950 years old (951 to be exact).
***
I’ve always been attracted to Archangel Michael.
(What with his flaming sword!)
I am mostly a Marist.
I mean, I am firstly a Jesus guy.
(Nail me naked to the cross!)
But yeah, I feel especially protected by Mary.
And next to Mary, there’s the Archangel Michael for me.
So I fell on my knees, and prayed hard for Michael to intercede, and help me pray for the protection of my people in the Philippines.
***
The third church I visited was the Catholic Church of St Joseph.
Joseph the worker, the father of Jesus, the patron protector of families.
The church is officially listed as the Catholic Parish of St Joseph and St Edmund, but I only saw the statue of St Joseph the worker in front of the church.
I asked the priest to say a special prayer for the protection of the Filipino people in the face of Typhoon Odette.
***
And then, it was time for me to head back to London.
And I had 1.5 hours layover there before my bus leaves again for Gloucester.
So I spent that time praying at St Michael’s on Chester Square in London.
Red doors, so you know that it’s the Church of England (CE).
But again, in times of tragedy and desperation, we pray however and wherever we can.
***
Thus, the story of my four churches in one day (visitas iglesias) to pray for the safety and protection of the Filipino people during the passing wrath of Typhoon Odette.
Oh, and please do not discount the power of my sex abstinence!
Because my prayers are always in action, and with action!/PN
