DEAR FATHER
April 22 ____
Dear Father,
Have we done You wrong? Have we sinned so gravely against You that we are punished like this? There is still no food! There is still no water! Father, Your people are hungry, Your people are thirsty. Please, please give us nourishment. Give us the rain once more. We are suffering from so much heat, and our plants refuse to grow in such a place as hot as the inferno. Please, Father, we beg You, pour down Your mercy upon us that we may live.
But, my people and I only want Your will to be done, Father. We will rough out these times if that is what You have planned for us. We will rough out these times for my people are tough and steadfast, and though our land may be parched, we will remain faithful to You.
I pray that your angels will guard and guide us, and that Your Spirit will lead us in these hard times.
Yours,
Isidore
May 10 ____
Dear Father,
Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!
Father, we are dying of hunger. We are dying of thirst. Our lands will no longer yield good crops for us. Our children wail at night, and our women have naught to feed them. Our men look haggard and older than they really are. And the old ones are too frail to lend us any of their wisdom.
Father, please, send us Your Spirit, send us Your rain. Make our harvest bountiful once more. We turn to You knowing that You will not neglect us, and we are waiting, Father, for Your blessings, for Your angels of strength, of truth, and of hope.
Come to us, Father. Your children need You.
Yours,
Isidore
May 15 ____
Dear Father,
Ah! You are wonderful indeed, my Lord, wonderful indeed! I have seen them! I have seen Your goodness, and I myself have witnessed Your angels as they took up a common farmer’s tools and began to restore the land back to its former glory. They tilled and watered, and seeded the land. They fed the animals. They returned water to the river and the spring. Oh dear Father! How good You are.
I am no longer afraid of leaving my people, Lord.
My soul is Yours to take. Bring me home, Father. I long to rest in Your arms.
Yours,
Isidore
May 15, 2009
Dear Father,
I am writing to You from the earth from which I came. I decided to visit my world once again, just to check how my people are, and if they are still serving you with dedication.
Indeed, the Lucbanins are still their ever-festive selves. I have heard much about their hospitality, and how stranger are not afraid to wander through the alleys at night, because the people have gained their trust. I have heard of how they have constructed many shrines of worship dedicated to You and Your followers. I have seen how they strive to preserve nature, and how they have kept Mount Banahaw in all its pride and glory.
But most of all, I have heard how the 45, 616 people of Lucban celebrate the Pahiyas festival to honor me and Your graciousness, Lord. They have not forgotten Your mercy and love for them. Every May 15, they adorn their houses with dried fruits and vegetables, as well as what they call “Kiping”. They have floats pulled by carabaos that boast of their harvest and offerings to You. They have my image, and Yours in front of the parade, as they sing and chant, shout and wave, giving thanks to You.
I have seen the children help their mothers in preparing the food. Some of them even know the secret recipe of Lucban’s infamous “longganisa”. The fathers are willing to aid the tourists who eagerly take pictures of the intricate designs of the town. I have seen their faith in You, Father. I have seen how much they love You.
Oh, they are not without fault; of that I am sure. But in this festival, and in the way they treat everyone, both the young and the old, I have seen how much love resides in their hearts.
Ah, Father, I love my people. I love the Lucbanins. I love Lucban, as I know You do. I pray that they will never have to experience any drought as harsh as the one I went through, and that You will continue to guide them and keep them in Your presence forever.
Yours,
Isidore