Next week is Holy Week (Semana Santa). It's a time when most of us Catholics take time off from our busy life and make time finding ourselves and the Almighty God in our hearts (Although I think we should be doing this everyday in our life!). And what easily comes to mind every time Holy Week nearly comes? Retreat or Visita Iglesia.
I haven't tried joining a retreat but i always make sure visiting a church during Holy Week. Now I'm thinking of where to go this coming Semana Santa 2014. If given a choice, I'd like to go back to Leyte and visit the Palo Cathedal church in Palo, Leyte.
This was taken last December 2014, barely a month after Supertyphoon Yolanda (International Name: Haiyan) struck Central Visayas, claimed thousands of lives and left many places devastated. Up until now, survivors have not yet completely recovered and are still struggling to reclaim their stolen lives. Typhoon-hit areas are still in the process of rehabilitation. And we're hearing less updates on any developments in the area including Palo where that church is situated.
If you have noticed, this is the very same Church that greeted us on our television sets hours after the land fall of supertyphoon Yolanda. Yes, this is where Love Anover and the rest of the GMA news crew hid at a time when Yolanda was unleashing her fury. TV footage of this church are still vivid in everyone's memory. Not to mention Love Anover's breaking down to tears while reporting live on cam.
This church served as temporary shelter for most of the survivors. It provided them temporary roof when they were left roofless. It provided them hope at a time when they needed it most. I may not be one of the survivors who sought refuge in this church but I will never forget this church. This will forever live in my memory. By the way, the church ground also serves as the eternal resting place of some of the victims as it was converted into a mass grave site.
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