Mauie Flores

You couldn't just imagine what we had last night!

Absent ako kahapon kasi interview and exam ni Ralph sa Don Bosco Makati. After his exam, we went straight to Glorietta so I can do some Christmas shopping on the side. Daddy Jun picked us up there and we decided to drop by at Festival Mall so he can buy his Christmas party costume.

So, we were already parked in a nice spot in Festival Mall. I went out first, then Ralph. As Daddyjun was about to get the keys out, he noticed that the car alarm switch wasn't attached to it anymore! Buti na lang he noticed it before closing the door by the driver's seat. Kung hindi, ay naku....

We went frantic looking for that damn thing! I started groping under the seats. Syempre, insticts told me na dapat nasa may bandang ilalim lang ng driver's seat yun. But, to no avail.

We decided to go back to Glorietta at baka nga dun sa parking area nahulog. Sinara ni Daddy Jun ang door niya and he tried to start the car. Hindi nag-start! Tapos nag-lock ang doors with the three of us inside! Panic-attack!

We needed to go out or else we're going to be trapped forever! Daddyjun's door won't open, I tried to open mine and it did. Kaya lang, nung pagbukas ko, biglang nag-alarm! Ngak! Panic attack na naman si Daddyjun. As in sigawan kami sa loob ng kotse.

Lumapit ang guard, kala siguro carnappers kami. Buti na lang at naka-office clothes ang Daddyjun at may kasama kaming bata. The guard helped us to disable the alarm. Tinanggal niya yung connections sa battery. Kaya lang once na sinasaksak uli, tumutunog uli ang alarm.

Iyak na ng iyak si Rap. He started praying. Haay, nakakaawa nga eh. Takot sigurong di makauwi. Tapos, me guard pa. Lahat na dinasal niya, Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles Creed. I went on reassuring him that everything will be fine. That God will send us an angel and probably an answer to our problem.

We looked for the car alarm's manual. Nakuha na rin ni Daddyjun ang technique kung paano i-start makina then disable the alarm. We were ready to go back to Glorietta. Before closing the door, Daddyjun went to the backseat and tried to find the alarm's switch. Haay buhay! Nandun nga sa floor.

It turned out na on the way from Makati to Alabang, natanggal siya and nahulog sa floor. Tapos syempre umatras ng umatras hanggang napunta sa backseat floor.

Ang sarap ng tawanan namin afterwards. We treated ourselves to sumptuous meals at Fat Choi. Nung mahimasmasan na kami, we realized that maybe God knocked on our doors that night. That He reminded us of His power. Masyado kasi kaming aligaga sa pagbibili ng mga pangregalo, sa pagpaplano ng mga ihahanda sa Pasko. Puro saya. Talagang suntok sa utak at puso. A very humbling experience.

What's funny that night is that Daddyjun and I, who were supposed to be the all-knowing adults, didn't even think of asking God for help. Si Rap pa ang nag-initiate. Sabi nga ni Rap, in tears ha, "Sana matulungan ko kayo. Pero bata pa ako." Kaya siguro nag-pray na lang.

Bigla kaming nagising. Pati ang anak ko na-realize ang power of prayers.