A blessed, restful Sunday

Mike Tan—not the anthropologist-cum-Inquirer columnist—visited Higher Rock (my local church) for the first time. Boy, I was glad to see him again; too bad Luther Caranguian couldn't join him this morning. Mike was among my closest friends in Yakal, like a kid brother, even. I'd go to his room to listen to his newest song downloads, to pass away time, and to ask for prayers. We also shared a keen interest in books and table tennis.

To celebrate the Lord's Day, we headed straight to Il Terrazo, a couple of blocks away from church. We ate at Banapple where the food is always delicious.

Back ribs. The sauce was delicious but a bit overpowering.



Hungarian sausages. For ultimate satisfaction, I dipped each slice in vinegar. Heavenly.



During the whole time we were there, I was taken aback by Manong's sudden indifference to time. You see, these days he's always been panicky, thinking he ought to review every single moment for the upcoming Bar Exams. I think Pastor Bob's preaching on God's faithfulness to the nation of Israel really spoke to him. God is in control.



We finished lunch with dessert. The Banofi Banofee Pie was delicious. The fresh bananas neutralized any excessive sweetness. The texture was delightful. The Pecan Pie was yummy, too, and I liked the familiar taste of cinnamon. The sweetness got repelling after a few bites, so you might want to share that with someone.



I'm back in Manila, and it's raining outside. I'm probably sleeping in a while. I'm just overflowing with gladness. Praise be to God for His tender mercies, His gracious wonders, and His faithful Word. What a blessed, restful Sunday. I'm looking forward to a new week.

Visit us again in church, Mike. And then we'll eat somewhere nice again—your treat, of course.