Lorna Tolentino recently arrived from the Holy Land to talk about her two-week stay spiritual journey with sons Renz Marion and Ralph. Yesterday on Startalk, Lorna had a heart to heart talk with her friends and Startalk hosts Joey de Leon, Lolit Solis, and Butch Francisco.
After the "Welcome back" greetings and the usual Joey de Leon humor ("Lolit, lumayo ka kay Lorna, baka matunaw ka! Holy ‘yan!"), they discussed Lorna's trip, particularly her first visit to the Church of Ascencion.
"Yung first na first na church na pinuntahan namin," Lorna began, "e, yung Church of Ascencion. Yun yung church ng mga widows. Noong nalaman ko ‘yon, medyo lumihis ako ng landas sa dapat na pupuntahan pa. Nandoon kasi sila sa ibaba ng church, ‘tapos mayroon pa silang misa na parang magpe-pray muna sila, e, ako hindi na. Dumiretso na ako doon sa church. Nagdasal ako kasi sobrang simple lang nung simbahan. And, noong nasa harap ako noong altar, lumuhod ako at sinabi ko na, ‘Babe, [Rudy] paramdam ka naman sa akin.' Noong sinabi ko yun, e, naramdaman ko talaga. Parang lahat ng balahibo mo, tatayo ‘tapos parang yung puso ko kalmado pero alam ko na may sakit. So, sabi ko, nandito siya. And I prayed to God diretso na and to him as well."
"So, senyales iyon na Rudy's in a better place?" Butch asked.
"Sigurado ako doon," Lorna answered. "Actually, yun ang consolation na, if you lose someone, siguro alam mo na talagang he's in a better place. He's safely home, the real home."
What did Lorna realize after her church visit?
"Marami, kasi it's not only a healing process," Lorna said. "It's an encounter with Jesus, with Mother Mary, with all the saints, di ba? Yung lahat ng pinagdaanan ni Hesus para iligtas tayo, mapagdaanan mo din."
After all her experiences in the Holy Land, did her pain lessen?
"Kahit papaano, e, oo naman," Lorna said. "Nakakapag-pictorial na ako sa Forever Flawless and Good Housekeeping and My PLDT DSL. Unti-unti, e, I'm moving on. 'Pag may free time, e, inaasikaso ko pa rin ang dapat asikasuhin for him."
ORIGINAL PLANS. Lorna's trip to the Holy Land was actually planned way back when Rudy first had his operation. The trip would originally be composed of Rudy and his friends, Sen. Bong Revilla, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and their wives Lani Mercado and Precy Vitug, respectively.
"Hindi lang natuloy yun," Lorna added. "So nung nabanggit nga sa akin ni Pinky Tobiano na may pilgrimage, e, sabi ko na ituloy nga ang planong iyon. We might as well join and then think, assess our lives, and pause and do a spiritual healing."
Did it help?
"Oh, yes. Hindi lang spiritual, pati physical ko. Kasi nag-MRI [magnetic resonance imaging, a more high-tech version of X-ray] ako bago ako umalis dahil mayroon nga akong headaches. Makikita mo doon sa first MRI ko, parang yung veins ko sa ulo, e, mayroon siyang beads at humps. Nagkakabukol ako sa ulo, e, akala ko nga, nagkakaroon na ako ng sungay, e. Nitong second MRI ko noong 27th [after the trip], paglabas ko, sabi ng doctor, e, ‘Well, it's your trip to the Holy Land. Smooth na smooth, straight na straight lahat ng veins mo.'"
After her experiences in that trip, what's the best advice Lorna could give to all people going through similar situations?
"Wala ka naman hahawakan na iba pa kundi ang pinakamalakas na mag-heal—through your sorrow—is only God. I feel na the encounter with God here sa Holy Land ay isang malaking-malaking bagay."
FUNNY INCIDENTS. Lorna's trip was not without moments of fun. She shared some anecdotes; like one time, Renz, who was tired from all the walking, joked, "Ma, puwede naman tayong mag-healing sa Maynila. Bakit dito pa tayo nag-healing."
Joey also told everyone a rumor about Lorna being approached by an Arab. The Arab was going to give Lorna 100 camels in exchange for her love.
"Pero," Joey added, "ang sabat daw ng anak niyang si Renz ay papayag siya 'pag 1,000 camels."
"Hindi naman siya pumayag," Lorna corrected. "Sabi niya, 1000 camels, kumbaga bargaining sila, like yung Arab, sinabihan niya, ‘No, no. make it 1,500 camels-2,000 camels and a gasoline station!' May ganoon pa, e! Hindi naman yun ang first.
"Siguro, they're not used na malalambing ang mga bata, di ba? Lalo na boys with their moms. Minsan si Ralph at Renz pinagkakamalan na boyfriend ko. Yung first nun, sa Egypt, e, sinabihan ako ng ‘My Queen'.
"Sumunod naman sa Aman, naghahanap ako ng heart locket. Sabi ko, ‘I need a heart locket.' Sabi noong merchant, ‘I can give you my heart.'
Yung pangatlo na yung Arab. Sabi niya [referring to Renz], ‘Is he your boyfriend?' Sabi ko hindi, he's my son. So lumapit siya kay Renz at sabi na ‘I give you 100 camels for your mom.'"
"Hindi naman inumbag ni Renz?" Butch asked.
"1,000 camels daw," Lorna laughed.