“Build on Christ”: CFC’s 29th Anniversary

@ the Quirino Grandstand on a hot late summer afternoon

June 19, a Saturday early afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand grounds near the Luneta Park.

With two of my kids, Sonny Boy and Joshua, we came to this place to join in the yearly anniversary celebration of the Couples for Christ (CFC) community. Unlike last year when only Junior was absent, this time around my wife and youngest decided to just stay home. Maybe it was for the best, as the smoldering heat would have surely drained them of their energies. In a sense, participation in these types of events is both a blessing and a sacrifice.

Lunch @ the Yellow Cab restaurant in Roxas Blvd.

As we came early for the formal festivities, we looked for a cool place to eat lunch first. There was a quick consensus. Where else but Yellow Cab Pizza Restaurant along Roxas Blvd. My family members are such pizza lovers we try never to miss out on the opportunity to eat some when such opportunity presents itself. As it turned out, it was one of those days.

Joshua eagerly slices ‘New York’s Finest’

Probably due to the heat, the grounds remain relatively empty at this point

As we went back to the grounds, the field was still relatively empty. Our CFC brethren probably were waiting for the temperature to cool down as the air remained very warm throughout the rest of the afternoon.

Joshua and Sonny with YFC/SFC ates

North B-1C leaders and members arrive!

When members of our Sta. Lucia chapter finally arrived, we had a few quick pictures after which I guided them to the parade participants’ assembly area which in the past for the North B sector has always been beside the famous Manila Hotel.

As parade participants we joined the rest of the North B Sector representatives

Each parade entry like the Big North joined in by representatives from the whole Mindanao area are assigned a ‘pastoral theme’ derived from this year’s CFC theme (Colossians 2:6-7). For the aforementioned group, the theme was “Rooted in Christ”.

Personally, I didn’t see the pastoral themes nor the distinctions they were suppose to create except for the small green banners we were made to carry for the Big North sector.

All smiles despite the blistering heat

Beside the grand and illustrious Manila Hotel

Still in high spirits

The ever ‘sweet’ Marquez couple

The parade is finally on!

Though not as long as the year before, participants this year again languished under the hot sun for hours at the assembly area before any movement ever took place. I hope they could still make some improvements on this part of the anniversary program.

Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) members dress up for the occasion

North B waves and cheers!

With Youth for Christ (YFC) members

We move forward…

The historic grandstand is nearby

The crowds do arrive but not so much as in the past

With YFC Klare Gapuz

With YFCs Berna, Kevin, and Ghen

Heavy rains poured by dusk as we exited the grounds. The downpour forced us to buy three umbrellas at prices higher than usual from opportunistic hawkers. We waited a while for the rains to die down but it only got stronger. I thought we would have more chances of getting a cab along Roxas Blvd. so there we went.

The rains forced us to buy three umbrellas

The rains just got a lot stronger

Unfortunately, we hailed taxi cabs for a good 30 to 45 minutes to no avail at the corner of the boulevard and United Nations Avenue. It was a futile effort. It was best that we just first took the time to eat dinner and resume our transportation search after a good meal. Where would that place be? Where else but at the same place we ate earlier today, the Yellow Cab restaurant at that same street corner.

Back @ the Yellow Cab relieved by its delicious ‘comfort’ food

Comforted by Yellow Cab’s pasta, we walked through UN Avenue in search of a cab. What eventually gave us movement were jeepney rides through Manila and Quezon City. We arrived at my parents’ home in Project 8 past nine o’clock in the evening, roughly more than three hours when we left the anniversary grounds.

We passed by Project 8 that evening so we could greet my father a slightly advance Happy Father’s Day. Junior who came from UST arrived there hours earlier waiting for our arrival. Lucky for him, he relatively didn’t have any problem with transportation.

A quick advanced Father’s Day celebration in Project 8

After sharing generous servings of the ice cream we bought at the Ice Cream House outlet near the corner of Short Horn St. and Road 20, my three kids and I headed back for our Fairview home to the north of the city.

We definitely had our share of adventures and misadventures today. But building our lives for the Christ that we love really does involve a share of both enjoyable AND not so enjoyable interludes! God never promised a bump free ride through life when we accepted His Son as Lord and Savior. Rather, by our lived faith we were assured of His grace, providence and salvation.

Happy anniversary to our CFC community!

May we continue to build ourselves on Christ!