This was my first time to get involved in church’s activities. When the event organizer approached me about representing the Philippines during the feast and got my approval, I didn’t realize what I was putting myself into.

But along the way, I proved one thing. “Time given to Christ is never time lost, but is rather time gained."

Surprisingly, all things came into place and went easily for me in relation with my multicultural day assignment from the church. Roger Gonzales, the assistant of Cultural Attache’ Joy Quintana of the Philippine Embassy was so accommodating and spared extra time with me in the office to lend me four Filipino costumes, a Filipino flag and a parol (lantern) owned by Tess Taylor from the Couples For Christ. I had also bumped with Jonathan Degala, former driver of Philippine Ambassador to Washington, DC Albert del Rosario who now works at the Embassy of Egypt, during lunch time. Jonathan cooks like an angel and during our conversation we had agreed that he would cook “adobo” and “pinakbet” for me.

And so, we had filled up the empty Filipino table during the event. We displayed two Muslim costumes, the parol (lantern), a kid’s barong tagalog courtesy of Grace Jaramillo also of the Philippine Embassy, the adobo, pinakbet and some rice.

My daughter, Kristine, wore the Igorot costume from the embassy while I wore my old barong tagalog. I didn’t realize that this barong, which I bought eight years ago now from Malacanang’s employee cooperative, would play a role for me in the future.

The invited Filipino performers who were from McNamara High School stood out in their very challenging Tinikling and Bangko dance. Incidentally, some of them were my kids’ friends from the CFC Youth For Christ group.

After the presentation, a Jamaican couple approached us commenting on the Tinikling and Bangko dances. They said they had been to the Philippines at some point in time. Likewise, when we bumped into Father David he said, “you have to teach me that dance!” Another lady, from Trinidad & Tobago, also approached us saying how much she loved adobo. She gladly hurried back to the Filipino table when we  assured her there’s adobo in there.

It was a most valuable experience for me. It was a night of reflection and discovery. Watching the people’s cultural diversity, its oozing beauty, and being among them (beyond my expectation), brought about a sense of amazement, great admiration and reverence to the One responsible in this wonderful creation.

“We are God’s work of art!? Father David continued as the church attendees, the parishioners, settled down following the beginning of the cultural mass that started with a colorful parade. “As God’s work of art, we are called to do more. To give back to God our time, talent and treasure. What percentage of ourselves do we give back to God . . .?"

By Hermie Climaco