Lenten Season: PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday or referred as "Passion Sunday" for other Christian churches, indicates the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem before he was crucified, died and resurrected; thus, concludes on Easter Sunday (one week "Passion of Christ"). Christian followers will bring palm leaves and other branches to be blessed during the mass on that day. And Philippines is one of the country that truly celebrates this liturgical event.

Me and my mom went to church early this day to celebrate the Palm Sunday. Blessing of the palm leaves began before the mass had begun. People carrying their own palm leaves and other branches in front of the church, making an aisle in the middle to where the Priest will pass and walk while showering the people with holy water as entering the church. The people will wave their palm leaves while it receives it's blessing like an reenactment base on the Gospels; Jesus's followers wave and covered his path with palm leaves (palm branch - symbol of triumph and victory in the Greco-Roman culture) as Jesus was entering Jerusalem.

Here are some photos I took while my mom was buying palm leaves. Sellers make these palm leaves on streets (on the spot) with different sizes and styles. They positioned themselves around the church, so it is up to you on where and which you will buy your palm leaves.

Quick note: "It is not on what size or what your palm leaves look like, it is the essence of celebrating Palm Sunday and solemnity of our prayers, reminiscing the passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ through out the Lent Season."

Nobody to You *Short Story*

"Why can't you see me?"

"Am I really invisible to you?"

"Or I'm just a ghost to you?"

These are the common questions asked by people who loved someone who can't loved them back. Sad right? Well, I'm one of them. A girl who changed herself and reached her best, but still, the guy who is the reason of never noticed it and still remained no one to him.

It was a new school year, new faces and new experiences. But for me, there's nothing new, I'm just an ordinary girl not even looked more than once. Though the school is so big, my school life would still be plain same as usual.

The bell rang and I went to my first class. To my Math class which I hated the most, is where I first met him---the reason of everything. The guy who I never thought who would mean so much to me.

Before I entered the room, the chairs were already filled with students except for the chair right behind him. At first glance, he really captured my eyes and it captured me more as I walk closely to the chair behind him.

He is a guy who is handsome with a bright smile with a very pleasing personality. He is so friendly and loved by everyone. As time goes by, he only didn't captured my eyes but also my heart. I was caught off guard by love, I was falling in love with him.

 But this feelings for him was only one-sided. I was the only one falling and he is not there to catch me. Well, who I am to oppose? I'm just plain and simple; not famous.

I kept this feeling for six months straight, not telling anyone even my best friend. I feel so satisfied just to see him during our class. But everything change when something came in. I never thought he would court someone. At first I didn't mind it but when I saw it with my own eyes, I felt the worst feelings I could ever felt. My heart was like crumpled that time, it feels like it would torn into pieces. And they called it "my first heartbreak".

They say that heartbreaks could truly change a person, either for good or for bad. In my case, I could say I changed for the good. I learned so many things and gained confidence, thanks to him.

It came to the point that I finally realized so many things. I gave my best and did all I could do but still in the end, I gave everything and got nothing in return.

And now, I came to the point that I wrote him a letter, not a letter of petition but a letter of thanks. Hoping that someday I could give this to him, during the time that I am really ready to let him go; during graduation day.

Few years have past and finally I can now receive the fruit of my hard work, I will be graduating tomorrow and not only a simple graduation, I will be graduating as a Cum Laude---all thanks to him.

Graduation day came and everyone was so happy. Picture taking everywhere, laughter, embraces and congratulatory messages to each other. While everyone was busy talking to everyone, I took the courage to go near him and gave him my congratulations together with a letter.

That was the time he finally noticed me. He congratulated me as a reply and even shake hands with me. I felt so happy that time but I need to let him go. He was already taken and still can't catch me.

The time he said his thanks, I finally walk away from him with a smile on my face. After how many years, I could truly now move on. Thanks for everything.

------------

MY EVERYTHING,

How's life huh? I bet your always happy since you found the right one. Congratulations to both of you. For sure you will be reading this after our graduation day, so I wanted to greet you also a "Happy Graduation Day."

I know you are wondering why I wrote you a letter? Well this letter will be my confession---confession of my feelings for you. Please don't be shocked, I didn't write this for you to feel pity over me, instead I wrote this letter to thank you. Thank you for being the reason why I became of what I am today.

All because of you, I changed to a better version of me. Before I was only a no one to everyone, but now, I am noticed, believed and loved by everyone. If you would ask why I am telling that it is all because of you, yes it is really because of you. I know that you didn't do anything to me, you didn't talk to me nor even make friends with me. But my feelings for you did it for you.

I was so plain before, with simple beauty, simple everything. I'm not even intelligent. So as time passed by, I always notice that you really didn't see me as a girl, but only a stranger, just a classmate that is just a no one to you. And you even court a girl that gave me, my first heartbreak.

That's the time I started proving to you that I am not a stranger. I started to groom myself, fix my hair, put some lip balm and change my wardrobe. People around me did notice my beauty, but you, still you didn't.

I also did excel in our class. I studied well all in my subjects to show you that I am not only a girl with beauty but also with a brain. I topped our class and expected to be Cum Laude in our graduation. Everybody looked up to me, but you still didn't notice me.

After all I did, everyone noticed it, but you? You still didn't care, I'm still  normal to you. Though in the end, I ended up still losing you, still I won. I won in the point that I was able to break and come out of my shell and that's all thanks to you.

You may not be mine now, I know for sure someday, someone will love me like the love I gave to you. I know it maybe not now, but someday. Thank you for showing me that someone really deserves me more.

I guess I will end up here. Thank you for being my first love, and my first heartbreak. Thank you for everything!

The girl who is nobody to you.

Disclaimer: The story does not depict anyone in real life. All events happened in the story were all fiction made by the author, Laezee.