Water!

One early morning so many mornings ago, a young girl stepped out of their green-painted metal gates into the street. Curious about her surroundings, she stood outside just taking in the street scenery when a few moments later, she hard the roar of a tricycle approaching from her left. Making sure she stood close to the curb and therefore, giving plenty of room for this vehicle to pass her by, she stood and waited until the vehicle drove by. The next few moments were a blur for her. She saw people sticking out from the vehicle with wide smiles and then, SPASH! The next moment she was drenched from head to toe in cold water and she heard laughter.

Shocked and humiliated as she listened to the fading laughter and tricycle roar and not understanding why those people just emptied a bucket of water to her as they drove past, she ran back inside the house confused and in tears.

Yup, I didn't know any better that day. Some grown up in our home said "Basaan kasi ngayon." , or " Today is Get-Wet-Day" while tears were spilling down my chubby cheeks. I still don't understand why. Why do a bunch of people that day just decided that to just splash everyone they see with water?

I wish someone explained who John The Baptist was to me and how the town that I grew up in - San Juan (in Metro Manila), is named to honor John the Baptist and that every June 24rth, most people would go to the street (at least in my neighborhood) to celebrate his feast day by chasing each other with water hoses, pitchers and buckets of (clean) water.

I've lived pretty much my first 11 years in that town and sadly, the only time I joined in the fun of the town's Feast Day (again) was our last year there. It was unforgettable. I had a pitcher full of water in my hand I would sit up the tree by our adobe wall and splash at some random person walking below. No one got mad, at least from my experience. Everyone expected it. Everyone knew better to stay indoors if they want to stay dry. I was drenched and soaking in water but I was living the moment. Besides, it was a tropical country and it was refereshing.

I feel blessed to have lived in such a town and to have that experience as a child. It was probably God's way of also introducing me to John The Baptist. I can't remember when I knew that he baptized Jesus in the river Jordan. But I remember encountering him again in my teens or pre-teens.I think it was Lent. In the Philippines, when it's Lent - everything is closed for the entire Holy Week. The malls, restaurants, schools, businesses, radio shows and local tv shows. There was a however a movie that they would show on tv and this was before Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of The Christ". One of the scense that stood out for me was this Wench, I can't remember her name, had asked for the head of John The Baptist on a platter. I was sickened to my stomach when I learned that. John The Baptist died because he was beheaded?!?! Then I learned more as I grew older. How he leapt from his mother Elizabeth's womb when Mary the mother of Jesus came to visit her and then more about his parents Zachariah and Elizabeth who had him when they were quite older.

I want to go to Jordan next year and I read somewhere (probably Wiki) that John The Baptist once walked that land.



And this was the church where I was baptized in San Juan , Manila Philippines. It's called Santuario Del Santa Cristo.

I wish my heart is as kind as JTB.