Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived
a fourth grader boy who would follow this route
to school everyday: He has to cross the rugged
plains and cross the dangerous highway where
vehicles are recklessly driving to and from.


Once past this highway, the boy would take a
short cut, passing by the Church every morning
just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his,
"Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was
faithfully being watched by a Priest who was
happy to find innocence so uplifting in the
morning, "Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?"
"Opo padre."he would flash his innocent grin,
the priest would be touched. He was so
concerned that one day he talked to Andoy.


"From school", he advised "Do not cross the
highway, you can pass through the Church and I
can accompany you to the other side of the road
that way I can see that you are home safe"

"Thank you father"

"Why don't you go home why do you stay in this
church right after school?"

"I just want to say 'Hi' to my friend, God," and
the priest would leave the boy to spend time
beside the altar, talking to himself, but the priest
was hiding behind the altar to listen to what this
boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.


"You know my math exam was pretty bad today,
but I did not cheat although my seatmate is
bullying me for notes. I ate one cracker and
drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I
can eat is this cracker.


Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was
hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my
last cracker to him. funny but I am not that
hungry.


Look, this is my last pair of slippers I may have
to walk barefoot next week, you see this is about
to be broken but it is okay at least I am still
going to school....


Some say we will have a hard season this
month, some of my classmates have already
stopped going to school please help them get to
school again, please God?


Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but
I know this pain will pass away, at least I still
have a mother God, you want to see my bruises?
I know you can heal them Here here and oh
blood I guess you knew about this one huh?
Please don't be mad at Inay, she is just tired
and she worries for the food in our table and my
schooling that is why she hits us Oh, I think I am
in love there's this pretty girl in my class, her
name is Anita do you think she will like me?
Anyway, at least I know you will always like me,
I don't have to be anybody just to please you,
you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is
two days from now!!! Aren't you excited? I am!
Wait till you see, I have a gift for you . but it is a
surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to
go"

then he stood up and calls out, "Padre,
padre, I am finished talking to my friend you can
accompany me to the other side of the road
now"


This routine happens everyday. Andoy never
fails. Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to
the people in his church because he has not
seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very
positive look at negative situations.


One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so
he could not make it in the Church, he was sent
to the hospital. The Church was left to 4
manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000
miles per hour, would not smile and would
always find fault in what you do, they were also
very well versed in cursing if you irritate them!
They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary
when Andoy, coming from his Christmas
party,playfully dashed in.


"Hello God! I .." "P--!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam
mo nang may nagdadasal!! Alis!!"
Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father
Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the
street and to be able to cross the street I will
have to pass by the back door of this church not
only that, I have to greet Jesus. It is His
birthday, I have a gift right here" Just as he was
about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manang
pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church.


"Susmaryosep!!! (does the sign of the cross
fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi
matatamaan ka!!!
So the boy had no choice but to cross the
dangerous side of the road in front of the
church. He crossed. A fast moving bus came in.


There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting
his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking.
There was so little time. Andoy died on the spot.
A lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body
of a lifeless young boy


Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure
white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle,
but with eyes full of tears He came and carried
the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious
bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked,
"Excuse me sir, are you related to this child?
Do you know this child?"


The man in white, His face mourning and in
agony, looked up and answered,
"He was my best friend. " was all he said. He
took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest
of the lifeless boy, and placed it near His heart.
He stood up and carried the boy away and they
both disappeared in sight.


The crowd was curious
On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the
shocking news. He visited the house, and wanted
to verify about the man in white. He consulted
the parents of Andoy.


"How did you know that your son died?"
"A man in white brought him here." sobbed the
mother. "What did he say?"

The father answered, "He did not say anything.
He was mourning. We do not know him and yet
he was very lonely about our son's death, as if
he knew our son very well. But there was
something peaceful and unexplainable about him.
He gave me my son, and then he smiled
peacefully. He brushed my son's hair away from
his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he
whispered something"
"What did he say?"

"He said to my boy" the father began, "Thank
you for the gift I will see you soon you will be
with me" and the father of the boy continued,
"and you know for a while, it felt so wonderful I
cried, but I do not know why all I know is I cried
tears of joy I could not explain it, Father, but
when that man left, something peaceful came
over me, I felt a deep sense of love inside I
could not explain the joy in my heart, I knew my
boy is in heaven now but tell me, Father, who is
this man that my son talks to everyday in your
church, you should know because you are always
there except at the time of his death "Father
Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his
eyes, with trembling knees, he murmured, "He
was talking to no one but .. GOD"