Following a yearly tradition, our family went to the Church of Antipolo today. We heard mass, offered prayers, and of course bought cashew nuts and pinasugbo. (A trip to Antipolo is not complete without kasoy and my fave pinasugbo.)

Going to Antipolo is for us, a vow or a panata. The long journey there is some sort of symbolism for our individual journey through the year, our collective journey as a family, and the journey through life. We embark on the long journey together and ask blessings from Christ, Mary, and the saints at the Antipolo church.

I'm not really very religious. I go to mass and the like but I've always preferred being spiritual over being religious. Religious connotes doing Church stuff whereas spirituality means being attuned to God and His word whether one is religious or not. I think a thing such as a family vow is both religious and spiritual. It touches both levels. It's a commitment. It's an activity that centers the family around faith. It's the way to start the year (academic year in this case) right.

I urge all of you to go to Antipolo. Bring your family with you, bond, and pray. :) I know it's cheesy but remember, the family that prays together stays together.