The Power of Prayer!

A big thank you to those who sent pictures in, especially to Chris F. for the awesome panoramic. Great shooting, buddy! Check out more of his pictures here.


So I thought this comment deserved an entry of its own, thanks to commenter CELEBRATED PENTECOST who posted this on Our Separate Ways:

I was at Amoranto Velodrome in QC last night, May 10 (6;30PM) up to this morning May 11 (2:00AM)!

I saw empty whitE mono-block chairs drenched by the rain at around 7:00 to past 8:00 PM.

I saw an empty (of people) stage with electronic audio equipment dangerously exposed to the weather.

I saw few people about 2,000 to three thousand with worried disappointed look in their faces, some of those next to me said: "pag-tumila ng kaunti ang ulan alis na tayo!"

I saw Fr. Paul take the mike from the SFC or HOLD member in black (she is from Indonesia?)and then Fr. Paul led all to prayer and songs of praise: a prayer for God to stop the rain.

I saw some handmaids and CFC leaders start praying to Mama Mary and the rosary prayer also had one petition: "Stop the Rain!"

Then I saw the raindrops thin out to a drizzle, then just to a mist, then IT WAS GONE!!!!!

Then the lights and sounds came on again and then the announcement:"THE PROGRAM WILL PROCEED"

HALLELUJAH !! GOD IS GOOD!! BLESSED MOTHER INTERCEDES !!

Then everything is history!

1. CFC begins and ends a night assembly, despite the threat of bad weather, with at least 15,000 to 17,000 members of CFC and Ministries!

2. CFC completes formation of a HUMAN CROSS (will someone please provide the external measurement of the cross, so we can more or less estimate how many persons they filled it with!) with my humble estimate of at least 12k to 13k brothers and sisters & kids standing there.

3. a first celebration of a PENTECOST RALLY with a celebration of Holy Eucharist as top attraction and reason for being ( I forgot the Latin words)!

4. I think it is also a first in CFC gathering that a big GK related show - 'TAO PO' was presented. I am sure happy that it was announced that the show will be done also in Singapore.

By the way, please pray for a male 'Tao Po' performer who met an accident after he played his role: HE FELL OFF THE SLIPPERY STAGE STAIR. DOCTORS MIGHT HAVE DIAGNOSED A BROKEN BONE AS I SAW THEY TIED UP HIS LEG WHEN THEY BOARDED HIM ON THE AMBULANCE.

The MOTHERS HAD A BONUS, as Mass Celebrant Bishop Yniguez greeted them for Mother's Day; he reminded us too of Mama Mary's being our mother!.

One more before I go: PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED! GOD IS WITH US -- an no rain can stop what we do for Him to affirm HIS GLORY!! (by the way, people did not leave when the rain stopped!)

Here is jiggs' moving account:

Our busful of CFC/YFC left las pinas at around 630pm. It was not raining yet but along the way rain started to pour. When we were at the Baclaran area, rain was terrible. I was silently praying and hoping that the rain is confined only in the south and that in QC its dry and not raining. i was tempted to text friends in the QC area to check, but i did not because i know God would listen.

Rains started to become stronger as we enter Manila. but while in the quiapo area, rains start to quiet down, it was heavy drizzle na lang and not as strong.

we passed along Espana and we saw a lot of floods plus some traffic in the area. I prayed as i looked at the traffic and the floods. I prayed that the rain fully stop so as not to dampen the spirit of our members and the youth/children with us in the bus. We dont want them to get wet.
Finally, we arrived at around 820pm in Amoranto. I thanked God because there was no more rain. as we entered the complex, there were arleady people in the grandstand around 30% filled, gathered at the center. The oval/velodrome was empty of people, chairs are still stacked up with no one to use them.

And then just about a few minutes after we entered the stadium, the program began. We came in just in time. :)

As the program progresses, my sight was on the grandstand which continued to fill. People continue to arrive, people started to fill the grandstand at both ends. then people started to fill the oval as well. Stacked chairs were lined up inside the oval. and people continue to fill the grandstand to around 60-70% capacity. people were singing, dancing and clapping their hands during the festivities because the rains stopped. i was saying to my seatmate, ang lakas talaga natin kay Lord.

just when the mass finished, some drops of rain were felt - yun na nga yung final blessing coz i think the rain did not pour anymore. its as if it was there to bless the people.

i will not talk about the program anymore, but i saw God's hand in all these. the rain stopped just to allow the program to proceed... to form the human cross... and to celebrate the Pentecost mass... ang galing talaga ni Lord!

Please share your experiences!

A belated Happy Mother's day to the Blessed Mother Mary and to all the mothers out there, I hope we are making you proud! To the beautiful and hardworking mothers in my life, MOM and MAMA...I'd just like to say:

Thank you for bringing me into this world, keeping me pointed in the right direction, keeping me grounded when I was flying too high, and uplifting me when I was down. The love you give and show transcend mere words like "in-law", and I will be forever thankful for being embraced with the love you show an undeserving son. There are no words to express the gratitude I feel, but I will live the rest of my days trying to live up to and deserve your love.

Thank you...for EVERYTHING.