Completed in 1620, and given its barouque-style architecture, St Jerome Parish, is among the favorite subjects of photographers and photography enthusiasts and there's no need to ask why. The moment I reached the place on a Saturday afternoon, I can't help but be fascinated too. The church's facade is already enough for me to consider this place of worship postcard-worthy. I never thought history could be this beautiful -- and just like what a friend's hashtag in his posts would say, old but gold.

This is how the interior of the church looks like.The altar may have gone through renovations but history is still visible from the other religious materials found in the church such as the paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross found on the walls.  My mom was able to attend the 6 am mass in this church yesterday while I was taking the exam. And just like me, she also couldn't help but marvel at the church -- particularly the fact that history was preserved in this place -- and how solemn the morning mass was held free from the usual distractions of crying kids and distracting gadgets. She even mentioned that the place is an ideal backdrop for one's travel and event journals.

St. Jerome Parish Church

Gov. Martinez St.

Morong, Rizal

There was also a separate room that housed paintings by Spanish artist Juvenal Sansó. Incidentally, an ongoing exhibit entitled Two Halves of a Whole that featured some of his works was happening on the day I visited.

Pero ang totoo, bukod sa gusto ko ng katahimikan at panatag na isip that time, the reason I delayed giving a response was I just wanted to spare the person from my "sungit" tendencies. being sick and going through stress, alam ko na may possibility that I might just obliterate and show my worst side. Ayoko siyang masungitan o matarayan because the person doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. They say if you cannot be kind, be quiet. I know during those moments, I could not be kind so I chose to be quiet instead and let the negative emotion pass before I said a word.

Kasi, kung nagkataon na sumagot ako sa kanya nang mga panahong mataas ang negative emotions ko, I might have said a lot of wrong, hurtful and unnecessary words. Words that I could not take back. Kung nagkataon, yung words na yun could cause me irreversible regret. Those words could cause the person to be hurt. And hurting that person is something I did not want to do. Ayoko nga siyang nasasaktan ng iba, mas lalong ayoko na ako ang maging dahilan para masaktan siya. 

And as I write this, I can't help but get a bit teary eyed. I never thought such ugly moment would teach me a beautiful lesson. This is one of those rare moments I realized that I unconsciously did something right. Oo, nakagawa ako ng isang tama at magandang desisyon nang dahil sa taong ito -- at dahil ayokong masaktan siya. Parang nakakapanibago pero ang hindi ko agad napansin ay binabago rin ako (sa magandang paraan, ugali at pananaw) ng taong ito.

:-)