Standing Up to the Storm

I have never seen so many angels as I have today, not surprisingly, on the feast of the angels. I remember this day yearly because today also happens to be the birthday of my cousin, martina ANGELa. (Happy Birthday, Mima!)

Who says angels have to have wings? Church doctrine and common practice has associated the term with cute Cherubs and Seraphs, and the archangels Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Gabriel.But as far as I know, the term "angel" is derived from the latin term for "Messenger".  So, technically, when you've got a message to deliver, you are an angel. Maybe that's why even in his most evil state, Lucifer, is still referred to as a "Fallen" angel.

But lest I veer off from the goodness of this day, I have never seen so many angels as I have today. I have also witnessed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish. But this time, it was the multiplication of relief goods.

Lyceum's CPAD (Communication and Public Affairs Department, where I belong) all went to Poveda to help out with repacking the relief goods. When we got there, the place was filled with angels with a unified message to send: "No storm is going to stop us from doing our little part". Classes were suspended for a whole week, yet students of all ages (some even as young as Grade 2) were all there, packing sacks and sacks of relief goods for families they don't even know.

The strange part is that the boxes of relief goods for repacking just kept on coming and coming. No politicians' names, no NGO name-droppijng, just boxes and boxes, sacks and sacks. In his time, Jesus did this same thing with just 5 loaves and 2 fish, and this took place in a specific location (a small mount, with around 5000 people, or so they say). Today we packed goods that will go out to a much bigger range and number of people. Humanity and the spirit of "bayanihan" transcend and religion. I will go out on a limb by saying that not everyone present today is Catholic (maybe not even Christian). But the angelic message still remains.

Immortalized by the most controversial "angels (in their own right)", Lennon and Macartney... "All you need is LOVE".