May 27: Flight to Victoria

Congee with Raw Egg

I had breakfast with my brother and his two sons. We went to Causeway, a Chinese restaurant. I had congee, the traditional Chinese breakfast. After that, I stayed with my mother for about an hour before I headed back to pack and wind things up. Things had gone on well.


I think I had been able to wrap my head around what I had come here. I had heard the voice of God in the midst of all the events.

Would I come back to the Philippines despite the scorching heat, the traffic, congestion and all the corrupt politicians? Yes I would. This is where I was born. My parents raised me here. I found my faith here. I started my family here. Despite the many problems, this is what made me who I am. This is where my family is and where the friends are. Being with them is more important than the difficulty of travel and all the other things around the country.

This gives me a perspective of what heaven and hell is. St John Paul II said that heaven and hell are more than places. They are a state, one, a state of union with God, the other, a state of absence of God. I have realized that what makes a place heaven is not the absence of suffering. And neither does suffering make a place hell.

What makes heaven what is it, is the presence of God, where God is, heaven is there. One can be in the midst of intense suffering but that person can have a sense of heaven if that person is at peace with God. One can be in a state of material prosperity, but if that person has rejected God, that person is in hell. In the end, what determines our heaven and hell is our decision of accepting or rejecting God.

The trip back to Victoria was uneventful. Check in was frustrating. The airport was really hot. I really think the manager should be fired. It is a disgrace to our country and an insult to countrymen who shed their blood, sweat and tears to pay their taxes only to get this messy service from their government.

Exhibit of items used by St John Paul II

In the waiting area, there was an exhibit of the things that St John Paul II used when he visited the Philippines. It is quite touching to see the actual things that he touched. From the utensils during his flight, to his pillow and blanket.

Philippine Air Lines (aka PAL - Plane Always Late) was on time. We landed on time in Vancouver and left on time for Victoria. We arrived home at around 8:00 pm. The Lord has taken care of my children. Thank you Lord, you kept them safe.

All in all, a tiring trip, but a fruitful one. Thank you Lord.

More items used by JPII