I have been dreading this for a couple of months already. It was January 25, when we first went to my Parish (Our Mother of Perpetual Help - Cabanatuan) to inquire. They scheduled us for interview on June 12, 2014, Independence day. Ironically, perhaps the day I will be free from this anxiety bottling inside me. You see, I do not do well with interviews.
On the contrary, every time I tell Otep how nervous I am of this, he laughs at me. He was so calm and confident. I had to go over and over reciting prayers and memorizing (again) the ten commandments. I even searched online on what to expect during this interview. Some things I've read are dreadful I almost thought of calling off this wedding. Chos! In the meantime, Otep continues with his life and get busy with other things.
But It was a good foundation that we both studied in a Catholic school our pre to elementary years, I just had to refresh my memory. But being the nervous wreck that I am, I instantly go panic mode resulting to doing some extensive research regarding bible verses and holydays, which I think is a good thing even though those would probably not come out in the interview. At the very least, I get to know more of the Lord's teachings. My only struggle was praying in tagalog, because I am used to praying them in English. We regularly go to church on Sundays and the prayers were in tagalog, but there was a projector and we would just read them. I assumed we were going to recite it in our native language because they gave us a list of the prayers in tagalog. So just to be sure and prepared, I memorize it in tagalog as well. Haha, that was how nervous I am. To add fuel to the fire, I ask a colleague who usually reads on Mass on sundays in our Parish how would the interview go. And he said the priest is really strict, if we do not answer correctly he might not sign our clearance.
So the day came, we were scheduled 9 am and we arrived 15 minutes early. There were no other people aside from two oldies also waiting for the priest regarding the blessing of their house. I was unusually relaxed though, probably because of all the prayers I was reciting last night, God calmed my nerves. The Parish office was still close so we waited. At exactly 9 am a woman appeared, and asked us what we were doing there,
"Hindi ba kayo naitext? Na-move na yung interview mamayang 2pm kase may seminar si father baka hindi siya makaabot this morning."
We said thank you and was more eager to get home. Although I am a bit disappointed that my agony is prolonged, my tummy is already growling. I wasn't able to eat breakfast before we went to church because I decided to sleep more. Haha forgive me but it's a beautiful bed weather today!
We went back at 2 pm, and unlike the deserted church in the morning, there were a few vehicles parked in the vicinity. I was relieved that we are not the only ones getting interviewed today. We first had our orientation of the do's and don'ts, and tips on our wedding day c/o the church wedding coordinator, Ate Nila. He told us that if ever anyone of us have hired a coordinator, we won't be needing them in church anymore because Ate Nila will be in-charged inside the church.
After a few minutes, Fr. Mark arrived. He wasn't smiling and he does looked really strict. Immediately my heart beats faster again, and this time Otep felt the anxiety as well. Yes he was strict, especially regarding the women's attire but after a while he eased up and started making jokes, in no time we were all hysterically laughing. The jokes calmed my nerves that as soon as Fr. Mark started the one on one interview with the other couples (we were the fourth couple), I wasn't even glancing at my prayer notes anymore. Almost everyone were seriously and silently going over the basic prayers on their head while Otep and I were chatting and joking around.
When it was my turn, Fr Mark asked a few personal questions like, how many boyfriends have I had, why I broke up with my previous boyfriend, etc. Then he had me recite the 7 Sacraments, Ama Namin, Aba Ginoong Maria and Sumasampalataya Ako. I actually forgot a line or two in Ama Namin and Sumasampalataya but it was all good.
When I came out, the couple before us, asked me if we made it, because unfortunately they didn't. They were asked to come back next week. I was asked to wait in the office while Otep was being interviewed. When he came, he told me he also forgot some lines but it was okay. We were not asked to come back anymore. Yahoo!
Next on our list, the Pre-Cana seminar. We were scheduled August 24, but they say they held the seminar every fourth Sunday of the mont. If we want we can attend earlier than the scheduled date. I want to get over the things to be done as soon as possible, so we can focus on other things already. We decided we'll attend the July seminar instead.
