Last weekend, Baby and I attended a conference of Kerygma. Kerygma is the umbrella organization which was born out of the magazine of the same name written and published by a Catholic Charismatic group under Bro. Bo Sanchez. Bo was a precocious child, starting his preaching ministry at age 14. At 18, he co-founded Anawim, a Catholic community in Montalban, Rizal which served the lost, the last and the least–urban poor who mostly earned their living recycling Metro Manila’s trash. Under Kerygma, he has published an assortment of magazines, devotionals and prayer books totaling 10 million copies reaching Filipinos at home and expatriates in 46 countries. The first activity was a Holy Mass which lasted for almost two hours. Fr. Jerry Orbos was the Mass celebrant. For his homily, Fr. Orbos introduced a girl named Fatima Soriano. Fatima has spiritual gifts. As a child growing in a town in Cavite, she would call her neighbors to pray the Holy Rosary everyday at 6 p.m. This pleased the priest and he wanted to meet the child. Fr. Orbos first talked to Fatima on the telephone:

“O Fatima, pwede ka bang pumunta dito sa radio station para ma-interview kita?” Fr. Orbos said.
“Hindi po pwede, Father.”
“Bakit naman?”
“Kasi po Father six times po ang dialysis ko araw-araw.”
Taken aback, the priest said:
“Eh, di, ako na lang ang pupunta dyan para mag-kita tayo.”
“Hindi rin po pwede, Father.”
“Bakit naman?”
“Eh, Father, bulag po kasi ako.”

So it came to pass that this girl who was reputed to have special gifts had kidney disease and was blind.

She eventually had a successful kidney transplant.

So, for that Mass, Fr. Orbos called Fatima to the stage, to stand behind the altar with a mic.

She was a stunner. She reminded me of Leah Salonga when she was still singing “Tomorrow, Tomorrow.” The same voice, the same smile, the same demeanor, the same style. Only, Fatima was blind.

She sang. She sang the song that won a Catholic Mass Media Award for Best Inspirational Original Song. The song basically said that all of us have our own suffering. That we should offer our suffering to the Lord, that we shouldn’t complain.

She was a stunner–visually and spiritually.

Finally, she said to the audience in a clear voice that “Mama Mary was there.” She was walking through the audience, embracing each one, Fatima said. “Mama Mary loves you,” she said.

My facial orifices were streaming. Tears and uhog. How could I complain at all, I thought, for the little inconveniences I have, when this girl has had a catastrophic disease and could not see, but she sang with the voice of an angel and smiled like Mary, in all humility, grace and blessedness?

Later on, after the event, I told Baby that I had a 1,111 experience. She did not react to what I said, maybe not knowing what I meant.

The following day, I repeated, “I had a 1,111 experience last night.” This time I proceeded to explain what I meant by “1,111.” When a kid has nasal mucus streaming down both nostrils, that’s “11.” So when you have nasal mucus and tears, that 1,111.

“Ah,” Maud said.

Baby and I drove her to Benilde, to get some admission forms. Our conversation was cut short because we were already on Taft avenue and they had to go down to the Admissions Office.

Right after they went down from the vehicle, I proceeded to check the time. I forgot to strap on my wrist watch, so I picked up my Nokia 3120 and looked at the time.

It was 11:11.

Wow! The exact same numbers I used! God was, is and will be there! God listens to our conversations! He is in the details of our lives! He blesses us with his presence! Like an ever loyal friend, He is all ears to what we say, not missing a single word, thought or deed, for He loves us to unimaginable heights (John 3:16).

Praise God!