Pili’s Baptismal Day | Mt. Carmel Shrine

It was raining so hard in Manila during the week of this photoshoot. But, by God’s grace the baptism of Pili pushed through and all of us attendees got showered with the warmth of friends and family members coming together to celebrate.

The baptism was held at Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, at 9AM. Parents Pam and Miguel invited their best friends to become the God Parents of Pili. Big brother Manu was also celebrating his birthday, and for the reception, it was a super-fun double celebration ( I this reserved for another post, coming soon!).

Even if it rained, the plants around the baptistry made our occasion even more memorable, as raindrops graced the patterns on leaves and even the petals of a pink Gumamela. Seeing it bloom on an originally gloomy day made me remember my childhood chapters too, when I played with knotted stems, to make bubbles at my Lola’s garden. Now, I get to help Pili preserve some colorful and beautiful moments from her early childhood. 🙂

Some thoughts and musings from this shoot:

One take home lesson from listening to the priest during this ceremony — the children will follow your example, not just your words. So the ‘work’ does not end in the baptism, it is just the beginning. It is with hope that parents and god parents will hold themselves accountable, to not only teach good values to the kids, but also, that they too, will live those values out through their life as well.
If it is raining during the shoot, it’s better to keep the photo-ops indoors to prioritize the comfort and safety of little children.
Sunday is a very busy day in Mt. Carmel Shrine. Parking might be a challenge, so guests might have to plan their trips early.

Thank you for time traveling with me!