SISTER GABBY

Another Sunday came... It was our scheduled visit to our dear friend Maricel, now sister Gabby. We were all excited... finally!!!

As we entered the convent, we already saw Sister gabby... we can see the nervousness in her face. I was the first one who got out of the car and upon seeing me, Sister Gabby immediately enveloped me with her warm embrace. I felt her happiness as i felt her body shivering... Maybe sister Madel really stood to her promise not to tell Sister Gabby who her visitors will be... She was so happy to see Ernie. Ernie, my husband, was her elementary classmate by the way.

I opened the car and she was again surprised to see our other friends Mayla, Au, Ann and Cel. She was so happy and teary-eyed at that moment. It was almost 3Pm and just in time fot the 3 o'clock prayer. We entered the Adoration Chapel and there prayed as thanksgiving for our reunion.

As what Sister Madel promised, Sister Gabby gave us a tour to the beauitful place of Trinitas. it was a garden of beautiful flowers and green vegetables! It was so refreshing... just looking at the green bushes around the place and not to forget the calmness... but the silent monastery was visited by the chipmunks! hahaha!!! Suddenly, laughters can be heard all over the place. Sister Gabby was all alone in the convent, the rest of the nuns went downtown, maybe went shopping??? Hahaha!!

Then there we met Father Vladimir Echalas, a very kind priest who helps run the Society. He was so kind to let us in to his so beautiful and artistic home! I'm not kidding! It's so one of a kind. It's a beautiful native hut , but the inside is so artistic. And not to forget the cute tree house just adjacent to his quarters. He was so happy to know that we visited Sister Gabby and he even took some of the pictures since he was into photography. And we invited Fr. Vlad and the 3 boys who lives with him to our simple snacks that we brought for Sister Gabby. The kind priest immediately granted our invitation and we had a very happy afternoon snacks them, but of course with hilarious laughters and teasing...

It was time to bid goodbye and we promised Sister Gabby that we will be back in a couple of weeks just before her final vow... And surely we will, since we wanted some time with the other sisters who were not there at that moment... Maybe they left the convent in purpose... Maybe they wanted us to be with Sister gabby privately! On our way out of the convent, Sister madel and the other Sisters has just arrived! We cannot delay our stay at that moment , we were about to drop Sister gabby and Sister beth at the church for the mass. We just promised that we will be back ... Surely we will....

It was so compensating. It's so great to have reunited with our good friend Maricel/Sister gabby. All of us agreed that it's much better than to meet at the Mall... eat out...but the best of all, our friendship becomes stronger since it has an additional binding... a religious binding. And meeting father Vlad and the rest of the Sisters is another blessing from SOMEONE up above!