The House Of The Unholy

The St William the Hermit Church is being flocked by its people who come to worship the Lord that first sunday morning of October. Seldom had its people lined up by its huge wooden doors earlier than the church's scheduled mass. The news of the attacks in the neighboring towns brought in fear to the people of Pasi; and brought down them to their knees to ask the Lord for protection.

The church was built from lime and coral stones with massive buttresses which support the front and back walls; its floor made out of marble; originally planned as a fortress church. The Augustinians built the church with its militaristic stature which worked for its advantage as it sheltered the townsmen against attacks from Moro raiders and slave traders from Sulu and Mindanao for years.

Surrounding the massive structure is the Garden of Saints at the southeast entrance doorway of the church where plenty of life size statues of saints are on display. Thing morning the townsmen found themselves invading the statues sanctuary while waiting for the doors to open. Families can be seen busying themselves introducing their young children to the saints scattered at every corner of the gardens.

From the wooden doors through a hall there settles the baptistry on the left. Proceeding further is the large central altar with four lateral altars designed with gilded hardwood decorated with polychrome statues.

Separated from the church stands its tall belfry which houses three bells; two of its bells are massive while the other is smaller. A chain attached to the large bells clapper has to be stepped on to ring them, which could be a struggle to the church's limp bell ringer. As the huge bells start to ring aloud along with its surrounding smaller bell, these signal the doors of the church is about to open. The echoing sounds of the bell tower summon the people as the line going in to the church thickens.

Families, old men and women cram the doorway all intend to be seated until there's no more seats to be had. It is only until today we can find church goers who settled to hear the mass outside; all contented just to hear Fray Luciano's oration. They all long to be blessed and be protected from the impending attacks of the bandits in their town.

Near the grand central altar seated Teo and Isko, behind them seated Chuy who is fanning himself with his hat. Across the aisle to the left of the altar seated Teniente Leon and his wife Ana Rosa covered in veiled and dressed in white garbs, behind them the other women of the town with some carrying their progenies with them.

"It is as if this mass is for Christmas Eve," Isko whispers to Teo

"All because you only attend a mass during Misa de Gallo!" Teo answers back with a laugh

"I was a child of the church, Teo" Isko pauses, "the masses I have missed as an a.d.u.l.t was compensated with my services as a sacristan when I was young"

"Let Fray Luciano hear your blasphemy," Teo warns as he gestures with his head to point to the friar fixing his vestment in the central altar

"I can still administer the waters to him when he washes his hand," Isko quips

"And I will ring the bells once Fray Luciano unveils the chalice," Teo replies with a childish smile

"Then have Lito present the water and wine cruets," Isko retorts

The young men fall silent as Isko uttered the name.

"I wonder what he could have been," Teo finally answers as he looks away

"We could be both plowing your lands," Isko responds, "if only he did not go with The Burned Man,"

Teo shakes his head upon hearing Isko's claim

"I was still young then, my memory could have been cloudy" Teo claims

"You saw The Burned Man, the Maranhig walked away with Lito," Isko whispers

"We all saw Lito's body," Teo dismisses, "And we were there when he was buried,"

"Even your Uncle's wife saw the Maranhig few nights ago. The Burned Man must have come back for us," Isko claims as his eyes bulges out

"Her recollection of that night was too vague. The pangasi could have caused her to mistake the rice paddies for a shadowy figure," Teo answers

Chuy catches the young men's attention to remind them to keep their silence as the mass is about to commence