“Knights in Action”

“KNIGHTS SHARE THEIR CARING HEARTS ON VALENTINE’S DAY!”

In line with that fabulous THEME, The KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, ST. PAUL COUNCIL (8069), under the dynamic leadership of incumbent Grand Knight EDGAR M. RICO, and ably assisted by Community Service director – Past Grand Knight MAR LOPEZ, and Council Officers – PGK DIONY DAMOLE, SK JAKE CAMBELL, SK ROMY ENGUITO, SK BOY GOMEZ, SK JULS GRANT, as well as, PGK VEN NAPOLES, SK MANNY NIERRA, and SK BOY SALANATIN (generously sharing their financial blessings for the success of the said event), once again, played HAPPY HOSTS last February 14th to 12 pairs of specially selected indigent elderly couples, most of whom confided to us later, that in their more than 30 or so years of married life, they had never yet experienced treating themselves to a “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY” date.

The well-planned joyful event was again held at the Ecoland residence of PGK MAR LOPEZ, whose dear wife, THELMA, known for her untiring “LABOR OF LOVE” cookings, gladly whipped out a simple but quite yummy BUFFET LUNCH for all, with some of the All-time favorites: KARE-KARE with manibalang MANGA and guisadong BAGOONG, crispy FRIED CHICKEN, special BAM-E, ginataang SHRIMPS in mashed KALABASA with assorted SHELLS, cocktail BOLINAO with RADISH SALAD, homemade GUINAMOS with CHERRY TOMATOES SALAD, SINUGLAW (sinugbang LIEMPO with KINILAW), sweet WATERMELON, ripe BANANAS, fresh MELON JUICE, and SOFT DRINKS, that everyone enjoyed sharing with one another.

A short program started with an opening prayer and blessing of the food by the Council’s energetic Chaplain, Rev. Fr. ZENON AMPONG, of San Pablo Parish-Davao. It was followed with a friendly witty talk-reminder by PGK DIONY DAMOLE, on the often taken-for-granted true value of “LIVING AND LOVING TOGETHER”, that needs to be MARINATED in a cozy HOME BOWL, spiced generously with RESPECT, TRUST and UNDERSTANDING PATIENCE – to readily FORGIVE each others’ human FAULTS and FAILURES, in order to come up with a “SUPER-DELICIOUS LOVE” that will always be KIND, FAITHFUL and TRUE.

Then, the still half-amazed couples were requested to come to the front, pair by pair, and with the prepared FLOWERS and WRAPPED GIFTS, the “MACHO” HUBBY was given a red ROSE, for him to place in the hands of his seemingly waiting “NERVOUS” WIFEY, while coached to say the ever-sweet words “I LOVE YOU!”, after which it was the GIGGLING WIFEY’S turn to give the wrapped GIFT to her “EAGER LOVER-BOY”, while also saying the same sweety words “I LOVE YOU”. After which, at our proddings, they were made to SEAL that sort of “RENEWAL PLEDGE OF LOVE”, with a GENTLE TENDER KISS, which they very shyly obliged, that made the room burst with HEARTY LAUGHTER for the instantly-made “LOVEBIRDS”, blushing at that, as if they had been transformed once again into INNOCENT TEENAGERS of YESTERYEAR, experiencing their “FIRST KISS”, that had, unknowingly, started for them then, the FIRST DAY of the rest of their LIVES – TOGETHER!

Truly, it was a blessed day of GLADNESS, and so, for all the unselfish efforts of these “KNIGHTS IN ACTION”, to humbly reach out to bring even SIMPLE JOY to some of the less fortunate in our society, during this “WONDERFUL DAY OF LOVE AND LOVERS” – TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

It was indeed, another day well-spent, as said “SPECIAL GUESTS”, almost TEARY-EYED, gratefully thanked these “MEN THEY CALL KNIGHTS”, for SHARING with them an unforgettable MEMORABLE DAY in their lives, putting into REALITY, what had once been just a mere “WISH”, if not another “IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” for them, all these years. We believe that they got our message though, that if we continue to have FAITH in our inherent abilities and never fail to TRUST in HIM, who shapes the destinies of men and nations, with HIS divine intervention, “DREAMS” do still come true, for with our Almighty Good Forgiving GOD, even the “Impossible becomes Possible”.

Finally, as we parted ways, we bade them “ALOHA”, for the word “ALOHA”, known to many to mean – “Welcome”, “Farewell”, “Goodbye”, and “Till we meet again”, among others, had once been so richly described by a romantic Poet, as probably, also the world’s most beautiful way of saying – “I LOVE YOU!.” And so, as the song “LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING”, continue to lift us up to the heavenly clouds, may we, the KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS, say to them again, and to you all reading this – “ALOHA – FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!” (PGK Mar Lopez)