Filipina classmates ( L– R )Sister Regina Kuizon, of the Religious of Good Shepherd (RGS) Province of the Philippines, Maria Luz Ortega.

On June 24, 2004, we had a concluding mass in our class at the Gregorian University, Rome. After receiving our certificates of completion we the graduates went to a picnic at the park with plenty of food and drinks courtesy of Rev. White. It was already late when the picnic was over but we had another destination. We wanted to see the boarding house where Myrna Bermudo stays. It was a convent where Sr. Myrna Estrada, also a Filipina was the superior.

“Sister, we want to go up the Vatican dome. Can you give us money for the elevator ticket as graduation gift?” How much, she asked? “10 euros”, I replied. She opened her Liturgy of the Hours Prayer book she was holding. Behold, was the exact 10 euros we need stuck on one of the pages and she told me to get it. Then she brought me to their kitchen, opened the storage and gave plenty of food.

After we left the convent, we were waiting for a bus that would bring us home. After waiting so long, we realized we were at the wrong waiting area and so we transferred to the other lane. It was past 12 when we reached Piazza Venezia, which was near the Gregorian University. There were no more buses so we couldn’t go home. We climbed the stairs near the Piazza and ate. Continuation of our picnic! We reasoned out, God might have wanted us to see Rome at night before going back home to the Philippines. At 2 a.m. I forced Luz that we sleep at the Gregorian doorsteps. After two hours we continued to walk until we had a ride reaching home at 6 a.m. 

Rosie Labon, our caring and understanding Filipina landlady at Rome during our studies. 

The following day, June 25, Sister Regina Kuizon of the Good Shepherd invited us twins and Myrna Bermudo, her three Filipina classmates to their place. After appreciating the beautiful and spacious place and partaking of the good food, I remembered the t-shirt of Michelangelo which Luz had wanted to buy as a souvenir because of the portrait of Adam and God. “Sr. Regina, could you give us money as a graduation gift to buy t-shirt?” Sr. Regina gladly gave 15 euros; 5 each for the three of us. With the 10 euros we went straight to the stalls and bought the t-shirts. 

Wearing the Michelangelo t-shirt, we were on top of the Vatican Dome. With sweet smiles we were photographed holding our cherished certificate of completion for the special course at the Gregorian University. The seed of faith is planted to us at our Baptism. The ability to believe God’s Providence is a grace, a gift from God. The humility of asking makes us become witnesses of God’s love. 

Harrowing

Pilgrimage at Nice, France and Avila, Spain I am sure we all have tales to share on God’s Providence and this is our story. In our Mid-Course Break at the Gregorian University in 2004 where we were enrolled in Pastoral Communication : Theory and Practice, we twins were supposed to go to Avila, Spain to see the first Carmelite monastery founded by St. Teresa of Avila. On May 28 we went to the train station to buy our tickets for Spain but we were told that we can only buy tickets up to Nice, France.

We left Rome on May 31 riding on an ordinary class. When my twin woke up the following morning to go to the comfort room, she saw my two small bags in front of the door. She asked, “Why are your bags outside?” I immediately opened my bag to see our money. “Thanks God, our money was intact. I exclaimed, St. Hannibal prevented the thief from getting our money.” I kept our money inside the bag we used during the canonization of St. Hannibal, which had his picture, a rosary and God the Father beads.

Arriving at Nice, France on June 1, we immediately went to buy our tickets for Spain. We had another dilemma. Contrary to the cost of ticket we knew, it turned out that our money is just enough for a round-trip ticket to Spain for one. When I told Luz that we go back to Rome for I was afraid that she would get lost, she said, “It’s like you have pierced my heart with a dagger”. I know I had to let her go; it was my twin’s obsession to see the place.

After buying her ticket, we went out of the station and started walking when I saw the signage ‘Caritas’. We asked where we can find a Filipino community or a Filipino priest, and we were told us to go to the Basilica. There a foreigner priest looked at the directory and gave us the address of a Missionary House.

Fr. Clavero Guerrero, a Filipino priest based at the Mission Philippines, Nice, France. agreed to let me stay at his place. Fr. brought me to the bus station to see the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Laghet (Notre-Dame de Laghet) in the morning. He handed me a leaflet about the Sanctuary When you enter the church building, you will notice hundred of Ex-Votos, testimony expressing gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary for healings and graces obtained. 

Notre-Dame de Laghet Sanctuary. 

Early in the morning the following day I went to the Carmelite Monastery at Carros Village as suggested by Fr. Clavero. 

Ex-Votos testimony

As I was going down from the Monastery it rained and I was touched when a lady I met at the monastery gave me a ride.

Carmelite Monastery at Carros Village

Meanwhile, Luz was so happy having seen Avila, Spain. With the inspiring Saint Teresa’s Bookmark _ ‘Let nothing trouble you, Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing; Only God is changeless. Patience gains all things. Who has God wants nothing.’ She was so awestruck with the Walls of Avila.

The Walls of Ávila, completed between the 11th and 14th centuries, are the defensive walls of Ávila, Spain, and its principal historic feature. These medieval fortifications are the most complete and best preserved in all the country. The Old Town of Ávila, including the walls and its extramural churches, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.