CATHY CHENG BONDOC
A decade ago, one mother managed to stay tranquil amid a literal firestorm, realizing family and faith matter most in times of peril.
Ten years ago, my family was invited to join the first Pilgrim Queen family group, comprising a network of 10 families here in Metro Manila. It was the first time I had heard of our Lady of Guadalupe as a Pilgrim Queen. She was to “visit” each family in the group for three days every month, one family handing her triptych to the next with the goal of promoting the household prayer of the Holy Rosary during those days and beyond.
One time, my family was skipped over, maybe because my family’s assigned three days fell on the last days of the month, and the other families in the group were still adjusting to keeping Our Lady on schedule. But the month after that, we were bypassed again. So, on the third month, I asked the family booked before mine if I could have her earlier. And so, this particular month, I was to have her for six entire days!
WHAT FIRE DOES NOT DESTROY, IT HARDENS
The second night Our Lady was with us, our neighbor’s home, just three houses away from ours, caught fire. Neighbors screamed, and panic filled our street. Eventually, the firefighters, before midnight, declared: “Fire out!” That house, though, had already burned to the ground.
While heartbroken for our neighbor, there was a general sense of relief that the fire had not spread to nearby houses. Then, at 2:00 a.m., we heard new crackling, popping sounds. Is this real? Was my mind playing tricks on me? I looked out my window and saw flames that were engulfing the house immediately next to the one beside my next-door neighbor!
This time, there was just one house between ours and the one ablaze. I had to wake my husband, Johnny, who rushed out to help our neighbor, Tito Jojo, move his cars out of his burning garage. After clearing out two cars, Johnny and Tito Jojo realized they could no longer retrieve the other vehicles – the blaze was too big, too hot.
As this second house went up in flames right before our eyes and chaos consumed our street, I told Johnny, “I am going back inside our house. I can’t watch this anymore. Just come back in and tell me if it is time to leave and wake up both girls.” I readied myself to lose everything.
Back in our house, I looked at our possessions slowly and intently. I wanted to remember everything in our home as it was that night. Then, I grabbed a backpack and, with clarity of mind, stuffed it with our passports, property titles, original birth and marriage certificates, one jewelry pouch where my wedding and engagement rings were kept, and our wedding album.
This bag was all I would take. This way, if we needed to escape, I could sling it over my shoulder and still have both hands free: one to carry our four-year-old, Haley, and the other to hold Trixie’s hand as we flee our home. They were the ones I held dear in life, the only ones that mattered.
HELP ME, PLEASE
Then, I saw the Pilgrim Queen atop a shelf facing the bed where our girls were sleeping. I repeatedly knelt before her and prayed: “Mama Mary, there must be a reason you are here….” as I trembled with fear. I was shaking all over.
Next, I turned to the Divine Mercy and desperately begged the Lord to protect our home and family.
By now, the latest fire had made its way to the house beside ours, gutting the bathroom on the second floor. Exhausted but not wanting to lose one more house that night, the firemen, those heroes, somehow extinguished the flames. “Fire out!” was again declared at five in the morning.
It became clear to me why Mary had to be with us earlier than her scheduled visit to our family. Our Lady found a way to remind me:
“Am I not here for you?”
A NEW DAY DAWNS
The following day, we awoke to the chirping of birds. It was the most beautiful morning ever in this house. We could have arisen to the gloom of blackened walls and charred belongings, but our beloved Mother, the Pilgrim Queen, had saved our home – from our tears and heartache.
On that day ten years ago, our hearts were opened wide to our Lady of Guadalupe. Her prayers to our Lord helped protect our home and saved us from the upheaval of losing everything we had worked so hard for our family.
Hereafter, we have consecrated ourselves to the Blessed Mother and have realized the power and deeper meanings of praying the rosary.
She is truly our Heavenly Mother and as well as being very near us here on earth, always ready to bring us closer to her Son.
Never forget that she quietly asks, “Am I not here for you?”
*With CATHY’S permission, her article is taken from the book, PILGRIM QUEEN – STORIES OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE published by Pilgrim Queen of the Family, Regnum Christi Philippines, 2022.