Yes, I believe!

I don’t have to see the Creator to believe in His existence. All I have to do is marvel at His creations. In Rome, I saw structures built centuries ago and I knew that somebody long gone had created them. Closer to home, every time I watch a show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), I know that somebody created the sprawling building. The creation proves the reality of the creator.

In this seventh annual Lenten Reflection series, believers answer the question, “How do you know that there is God?” This is the first of four parts.

Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo

On an overnight train ride from Moscow to St. Petersburg in June 1981, my Russian escort, an intelligent and stunning cross between Greta Garbo and Vanessa Redgrave, saw me clutching my Rosary and asked what I was doing. I said I was praying to God through the intercession of his Mother, Mary. She asked me how I knew there is a God.

I asked her to look out the window and imbibe the fresh and gentle air that made the trees dance. I asked her to flow gently with the river that glistened like silver under the myriad stars illuminating the heavens. I asked her to bask in the moonlight that serenely cast a beautiful shadow on her lovely face. Finally, I asked her to face the mirror and behold the mastery of creation that she was.

I then answered that only an omnipotent Being that transcends Creation can breathe life into her and her country’s wonders. That’s why I know there is a God.

She stood transfixed; incredulous. The next morning, she asked me if she could keep my Rosary and maybe learn to use it. By the way, her name was Masha, Russian for Mary.

I knew for certain that there is a God. That night, He touched the heart of an unbeliever.

***

John Arcilla plays Fr. Fernando Suarez in a movie about the Healing Priest

John Arcilla

I grew up with both religious parents. My father was a Cursilista while I was growing up, and my mother became a Carmelite Sister after high school but for some reason she was convinced by her elders, the siblings of my grandparents, to leave the convent. Then she met my father who actually came from a clan of priests in Bicol. We are related to three bishops — Bishop Arcilla (deceased), Bishop Sora (deceased) and Bishop De Los Santos of the Diocese of Virac, Catanduanes.

So everyone in my nucleus family was born and grew up with a patron saint assigned by my mom to each and every sibling. My mother would pray for a patron saint while we siblings were being (carried in her womb) until we were born and grew up. Then she would introduce the assigned patron to each of us by giving us a novena for our particular patron and by hanging an icon of our patron saints on our wall. She would tell us to ask anything or pray to our patron saints as our guardian.

But these are not the ultimate reasons why I believe in God Almighty. As an adult, I followed my mother’s teachings — she always told us that if we wanted to ask God for any wishes, it had to be accurate, all the details should be accurate. If it’s material, the brand, the color, the numbers, everything should be accurate. If it’s intangible, all the details should always also be accurate.

So far, in most cases, all my prayers from my patron saint, and as I grew up, all my wishes were granted. My fervent prayers were mostly answered and I am very thankful for that. These answered prayers made my belief and my faith stronger.

And so every time I look at nature, I can feel God’s love and embrace and I am very thankful for that.

***

Gerald Santos as St. Pedro Calungsod in the musical staged at the Music Museum last year

Gerald Santos

My belief and faith in God are reaffirmed every time I sing this song in the silence of my room, imagining that He is in front of me and I am singing it to Him:

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night, a candle glows

I believe for everyone who goes astray

Someone will come to show the way

I believe, I believe.

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard

I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry

Or touch a leaf, or see the sky

Then I know why I believe.

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