We were told that the seminar is at 9:30am and the actual baptism starts at 11am. Knowing the effects of the sun on baby's skin, we naturally decided to only bring Y to the church right before baptism. My sister and I got there before 9:30, but we were told that the seminar would only start after the mass ends. The mass has just begun, so we waited for more than an hour for the said seminar.
To make the long story short, we were told to enter church at around 10:30 and I texted my mother to go to the church already. By the way, the church's just 5-10 minutes from our house. I was surprised to see everyone taking seats; it turns out they would be baptizing 26 babies! Anyway, the seminar started with my baby-less entourage taking seats at the last pew.
This old man, around 50-60 years old, asked me where my baby is. I told him that they're already on the way. He began to raise his voice and asked me why I didn't bring the baby along with me when we were told that the baptism starts at 10:30. This is how our conversation went.
Me: Ang sabi po sa amin 11 pa magsisimula. (They told us the baptism would start at 11.)
Him: Sinong nagsabi sa inyo na 11? Alam ng lahat dito na 10:30. (Who told you it'd start at 11? Everyone knows it's 10:30.)
Me: Hindi ko po alam kasi lolo at lola ng baby ang umasikaso. (I don't know because the baby's grandparents took care of the church requirements.)
Him: Taga-dito ka? Saang GKK ka? (Do you live here? To whhat GKK do you belong?)
*GKK is a Catholic church organization.
Me: Dito po pero hindi ko po alam anong GKK namin. (Yes, I live here, but I don't know the name of the GKK.)
Him: Taga-dito ka? Bakit di mo alam? (Why don't you know?)
ME: Hindi po kasi ako talaga nakatira dito -- (I don't really live here --)
What I meant here is that though my family lived in the place, I mostly stayed in my college dormitory and never really "lived" there. But he didn't let me finish. He actually pointed his finger at me and said:
Him: Sabi mo taga-dito ka?Sinungaling! (I thought you lived here? Liar!)
Really, sir? You knew me for a total of 2 minutes, and you're calling me a liar? Take note that this entire conversation happened in front of many people, inside the church, in fact. I was really stressed because my mother is not answering her phone, but he kept on attacking me, making me seem like an incompetent person.
Sir, I maintained my poise and never disrespected you. I assured you that the baby was already on the way. It didn't even matter because the baptism isn't starting yet. But you pointed at me with your hypocritical finger and called me "LIAR," even though I didn't lie at all.
And you know what? When I told my mother about it, she said we really don't have a GKK. So there was no error on my part.
Later last night, I told J what happened. He said he wouldn't have let it happen if he was there. I think that's the problem. He saw that I was young and unmarried, an easy prey for his bullying tactics, the same bullying that happened inside the church. And yet he wears his spotless church uniform with pride.
Sir, if you are miserable and have a problem, don't take it out on me. I don't know you and with what you did, I don't find a reason why I should. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
For a church servant, one would have expected a godly character from you. Take a look at yourself. Do you embody God? Do you actually think God would do something like that?
I'll remember you, sir, and I pray nobody would be bullied by you anymore.
