faith

i love dogs! our neighbor's pet "Digger" is the one that made me appreciate their existence. but, when i was little, i was afraid of dogs. i found them unruly (instead of playful), dirty (instead of cuddly), and frightening (instead of lovable). because of that, my grandmother taught me a prayer to San Roque, the patron saint of dogs. It was more like an incantation which i have to repeatedly recite outloud or in my mind everytime i come face to face with dogs. here's what it is...

"San Roque, na matagal na naming pintakasi,
and alaga nyo pong aso ay inyo pong bantayan
sapagkat dadaan po ako."

And believe it or not, everytime i chant that litany, dogs act as if they do not see me at all. so it stuck to me as a habit.

then last night as i passed by two pitbulls, who love to bully my lovable Digger, i once again prayed the above litany. then i thought, "Heck! why the hell am i reciting this where in fact i don't believe in saints!"

and i realized that it wasn't the "faith" in San Roque that keep dogs from attacking and biting me. it wasn't his name either. otherwise, every Roque guy in town would be adored by dogs.

i believe that somehow, the litany gives me a sense of peace within me instead of fear and panic. and normal dogs don't just attack you when they don't sense fear and hostility from you.

=)