16. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. The Lord Jesus promised to come back for him.

8 September 2020

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)

Back in May 1976, that is 44  years ago, during summer vacation after third year high school, I had the opportunity to ride an airplane for the first time. I was a participant to the Youth Science Camp in Ormoc City, Leyte. 

I was sent off by Tatay and Inay at the Manila Domestic Airport, we, coming from Batangas City.

When we landed in Tacloban Airport, we were brought to tour the newly built San Juanico Bridge (please click for related link) and crossed over to Samar Island.

We stayed at St. Peter's College of Ormoc.

From the summer camp, heading home, we, participants from Luzon, then experienced sea travel. If I remember it right we boarded a ship from Tacloban to Cebu, to transfer to a bigger ship in Cebu bound for Manila. As a sixteener, I was oblivious of the accommodations at the ship. I would say we were not in the cabin section and would remember sleeping in improvised cot bed. I would later realize that the ship is a Roro, Roll on Roll off vessel, being able to accommodate cargo vehicles, and general cargo including hogs.

Why I suddenly became aware of my surroundings at that time was that we encountered a typhoon along the way.

I googled now information and found out it was Typhoon Didang, International name: Olga (please click for related link) with sustained winds at 185 kph. The typhoon occurred May 10-28, 1976 causing 374 deaths.

Also, I became aware that our ship took shelter in the vicinity of Romblon Island. I checked the map now, the area is a cove, Romblon on the north, Tablas Island on the west and Sibuyan Island in the East; Cebu is far south where we came from.

I took notice of the general cargo on board the ship, including the hogs, because word came out that some hogs have been slaughtered for food for the crew and the passengers. I would say rice must have been also among the general cargo. I cannot remember how many days we stayed in the vicinity of Romblon.

Also, I am sure we sheltered near Romblon because some small boats went by the ship side and some men boarded selling marble souvenirs like bird figurines. Romblon is known for marble rock deposits.

Why I am recalling this is that as I looked back, how was Tatay able to come and fetch me at South Harbor in Manila on time. He was then a head operator at Caltex Batangas Refinery. I did not wonder at that time how he was able to monitor the arrival of our ship in Manila. Landline phone was the only means of communication at that time; nobody would think that mobile phone even just with SMS would come to existence. We had landline phone at home back then, and I now assume Tatay made long distance call to the shipping company. I do not remember asking Tatay how he came on time to pick me up.

As I now recall this oblivion in me, it reminded me of the faith of a child in the care and protection of his father and his mother. I had no worries back then.

On board the ship, before taking shelter in Romblon, I recall while on my cot bed, there would be empty softdrink bottles rolling on the deck creating noise. I was oblivious, I did not lose sleep given the disturbing surroundings.

All along, the oblivion in me, was the implied promise of Tatay that he will pick me up at South Harbor and I had every reason to trust him and he lived up to the promise.

Tatay was there when I had my first communion in grade school, when I graduated in elementary school, to pin the fifth honors medal on me, when I graduated in high school, proud along with Inay, to put on me the top honors medal, he was there with me when I enrolled college in Manila and to bring me to my boarding house, he was there when I graduated college. He was there, with Inay and my three sisters, when I got married; my two older brothers were on board ships at that time being in merchant marine.

Tatay passed away in 2010.

This is the tribute to Tatay which I posted on Father's Day in 2019 (please click for related blog).

One day, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, the Lord Jesus promised to come back for him.

As Tatay then lived up to the promise that he will always be there for me, I have complete belief in the promise the Lord Jesus gave his direct disciples.

I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ (please click for related blog).

The promise of the Lord Jesus is the promise of Our Heavenly Father. 

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)

The Lord Jesus promised, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Amen.

_______________________

John 14

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 

4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14

Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”