A candlelit evening

This is my (okay... I'm not bragging about it) award-winning piece from the Division Schools Press Conference Training held last September 2007 in Perpetual Molino Campus. I couldn't find the copy of my Magdalenean newspaper on my bag but thanks to Rob, he posted this piece on his blog and if you allow me to Rob, let me repost it. As I was saying, I am the representative of our school to compete for the Feature Writing in English alongside with Ciara, the representative of Feature Writing in Filipino. I didn't go there to win. I was hoping that I should try my luck and write from my heart. Competition is not included in my system. I was just there to write and nothing more. The topic of the competition is: "What does prayer mean to you?". And what would I write? I have nothing to write. Nothing's decent is coming in to my mind. If I could write five sentences, that would be lucky for me. No, I shouldn't say the word lucky. I should say the word fortunate. It was an on-the-spot competition and we're given a one hour time to finish the essay. As I sat there on the cold, silent room, I think I'm gonna burst in tears! I don't really know what to write to tell you honestly. But then, God must be so good to lend me his power for just a little while so as not to embarass the holy name of our school - St. Mary Magdalene's School. Luckily, I managed to write something but the last problem would be: How would I end this thing? A woman who's on the room said that there's only two minutes left. That made me cry. This is really embarrassing, I thought. But then, God lend me his power some more to end the essay in a very decent manner. When the awarding ceremony came, I was enthralled with the fact that I have actually won first place in my category! And what's the great plus here? I actually bested 45 private school students and even the last year's champion? Talk about luck or tsamba. Now here's this piece (no, I don't wanna call it a 'masterpiece' 'cause that would be too much). Tell me what you think about it guys.

A dark night. A wooden table. A small candle. A tear.

My emotion won over my innocence as we gathered around a wooden table. Darkness filled the whole room. The silence was deafening. As time passed by, silence pained and slaughtered me each and every second.

The pain of seeing my father and my mother separating after so many years of what seemed like an everlasting love was intolerable. I watched the candle’s fire dance rhythmically and modestly with the unseen cold wind. I saw the glimmering eyes of my sister. It was not caused by the candlelight; it was because of her bitter tears.

“Please, Mom… Dad, don’t leave us,” she begged while gripping into my mother’s arms.

“We can’t stay together. It is my fault. I have to pay for this,” sobbing, my mother answered. My sister turned to my father but he did not answer.

What could a little child do? Nothing. I could not do anything. I excused myself from the painful gathering and as I explored the place which I considered home, my feet led me to my mother’s room. Inside it, I saw a crucifix and an altar lit with scented candles. then I said to Him, “If I cannot bring back the happiness I used to have before, You can take my life away.” For that very moment, Happiness was all in oblivion.

Then suddenly, something changed. There was finally warmth that touched my hollow heart. I then realized the essence and magic of prayer.

Prayer is like a dark night. You cry, you stumble and you fall but still there is a new tomorrow that brings new hope.

Prayer is like a wooden table. If you keep on believing, you will realize that you, as a human being, can face and overcome any life’s storm.

Prayer is like a small candle. It may be gone for a while but if you strive to find the light that you search in your life, time will come when you will be enlightened.

Prayer is like a tear. It falls but it never runs out.

Prayer is a candlelit evening. You may think that prayers are left unanswered, but soon you will get to understand that the more you dig, the more you find the enlightenment.

Darkness is just temporary. Prayer can overcome it. I may have failed to reconcile my parents but I am sure that God has beautiful plans for me. He might have made my life like a candlelit evening but I do not get mad. No matter what, I still fervently believe that through my prayer, my life will end up standing and burning - ready to forget the absurdity and melancholy that yesterday gave me.