We were on our way to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, a good eight-hour trip from Manila, to conduct the first ever, Talk on Purgatory to parishioners and lay organizations. This Talk was organized by Sis. Odette Pille and Chi Trinidad of the Divine Savior parish, North Fairview, Q.C.. Being the most organized and driven area coordinator of the PWHS, we were practically just catching up with the activities of Sis. Rose Baybay. In fact two months ago she was already in Solano, coordinating with the parish priest of St. Louis Beltran Parish, Fr. Vic Tiam. She had earlier distributed 300 starter kits and now we were armed with 600 more.

A portion of the crowd in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya that attended the outreach session conducted by Bro. Vic Sevilla, Jr. and organized by Rose Baybay, Area Coordinator-at-large.

As it turned out, she went ahead of us and was busy stitching up the three towns of Bayombong, Bagabag and Solano for this talk. Our approved date was a Sunday, the 9th of March 2002. The talk will follow after the Sunday Mass and an Induction of members. Since we could not use the Church nor the Parish Hall because of our large group, we were asked to use the Community Center which was right next to the Parish Church.

The trip was scenic with our trooper crawling through Bulacan and Cabanatuan due to only one lane for each direction vs. the great number of vehicles traversing the only "hi-way" to Solano. It escaped my imagination to visualize how heavier the traffic will be in 2-3 years time and the National/Local Government’s sloth in providing a parallel Expressway to the North. When we got to Dalton’s Pass it was nightfall and the constant undulating mountain road (also-one-lane) kept us alert and anxious because deep ravines and landslides punctuated every other turn. We admit we were not familiar with the dangers. As if in answer to our prayer, a van appeared in front of us and saw us through the mountains, safely. Thank you, Holy Souls.

It was 8 o’clock pm when we finally arrived at the Inn of Sis. Odette. All three (Odette, Chi, Rose) met us and we had a quick dinner. I was being escorted to my room with my son, Lawrence, while my wife Nona was presented another room. Quickly, I joined my wife in her room and a hushed surprise escaped the lips of Sis. Odette. "Bro. Vic is bedding in with Sis. Nona!?" Luckily Sis. Rose exclaimed: "Sis., they are husband and wife!" That saved me the embarrassment of just keeping silent. "Whew!" That night was uneventful as we discussed the final proceedings of the following morning. But Nona was smiling victoriously because she was mistaken for a young secretary.

The intermittent rumble of busses lulled me to sleep and upon waking, we saw we had little time to be at Church. A quick change and we were all walking the patio of St. Louis Beltran. Sunday Masses are always packed full. This was no different. The people of Solano are certainly devoted and religious. After Holy Mass, the assistant Parish Priest presided over 200 new members of the PWHS. We all trooped to the Community Center for the Talk. Only a little more than 100 people joined us and a good number were begging to leave after a few minutes. We hurriedly served snacks and got the presentation underway. The talks lasted around 2 hours and not one person stirred on their seats. They were so touched by the stories and plight of the Poor Souls, many were teary-eyed. That morning, 100 militant soldiers of Christ became committed Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls. The Talk answered questions on: Where is the location of Purgatory? How many levels are there in Purgatory? What are the kinds of pain? Who suffers the most? Do Protestants, Buddhists, Moslems also go to Purgatory and Heaven? Can God save us from Purgatory? Do we have to stay in Purgatory for hundreds if not thousands of years? How can we help the Holy Souls, why are they "Poor" and "Holy"?

We all agreed that membership is the most important 1st step and that they have to write out an application form and send this immediately to PWHS in Manila. To have masses said for their departed parents and relatives is the most important activity. And finally to reach out to other relatives, friends, and neighbors and invite them to become active members. Special talks can be scheduled for other groups, upon a written request or verbal arrangement in coordination with their Parish Priest.

Lunch time saw us at the LNM Travel Inn of Sis. Odette. She prepared lunch for us consisting of the very famous Solano longganisa (not much fat, tasty and full bodied), kare-kare and a fish dish. The rooms to the Inn and the meals were her "way of Love for the Holy Souls". On the way to Manila, we were very full warriors indeed. Not just the stomach but in our Hearts as well. We were full of Hope.