17/03/2026
Last Saturday, I found parking right away at Opus Mall.
The problem?
I couldn’t park.
And it took a broken gear shifter, a YouTube video, a screwdriver from my trunk… and a desperate need to p*e before I finally figured out why.
Here’s what happened.
After my 10 AM coaching class, Mama, Ally, and I rushed to Opus Mall for Feast Opus at 4 PM. Before leaving the house, I noticed something odd — the gear shift button felt a little weird. It wasn’t depressing smoothly, but if I pressed the top of the shifter harder, it would eventually go down.
Still, while driving to Opus, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something might happen to it. I kept praying, “Lord, sana makauwi kami before anything happens.”
When we got to the parking level, I found a spot right away. But just as I was about to reverse into it… it happened.
The button wouldn’t press anymore.
I tried with all my strength, but it was completely stuck. No reverse. No park. Nothing.
By then we were already 15 minutes late, so I told Mama and Ally to go up to the chapel while I stayed in the car. I said, “Tapusin niyo na lang yung Feast, then baba agad kayo so we can go home.”
I called Sonny right away, but since we’ve never owned an automatic car before, this was unfamiliar territory for both of us.
He then advised I move the car forward to a spot where I wouldn’t block incoming vehicles.
As I sat there feeling defeated, I wondered:
“Lord, bakit naman ganon? I found parking right away… but I couldn’t even park. Bakit mo ko pinagbigyan sa parking pero di ako makapark?”
Then another problem came up — I really needed to p*e.
But I couldn’t leave the car because I couldn’t remove the keys from the ignition.
So there I was… stuck in the car… needing the toilet… with a broken shifter button.
At that moment, I realized I had two choices: panic… or pause and ask God what He wanted me to do next.
Honestly, I was starting to panic. My mind was running a million miles an hour.
Then in the middle of all that noise, a quiet thought came to my mind:
“Calm down. You can fix this.”
Because of the growing urgency to p*e (😂), I felt a strong nudge to start looking for solutions online.
After watching several videos, I finally found one.
The guy’s Accord wasn’t the same model year, but it was worth trying.
In the video, he unscrewed the two screws holding the shifter casing, removed it, exposed the metal rod underneath, and pressed the top part of the rod to change gears. Thankfully the shifter had the same screws attached!
So I went to the trunk, searched through our tools, and found the shortest Phillips screwdriver we had.
I followed exactly what he did in the video, praying that the rod inside my shifter looked the same as his.
And guess what?
It did.
I was finally able to shift gears and park — although I had to find another parking space since I had already given up the first one earlier. But the Lord provided another slot right away. Amazing talaga si Lord!
First thing I did after parking?
Straight to the toilet.
Then I ran to the chapel.
I may have joined the Feast during the last 15 minutes, but I was still blessed because of the community we have. That day, I truly felt His presence and love.
I learned two things that day:
1. Trust God, the Holy Spirit, and your Guardian Angel.
If I had entertained the feelings of defeat, helplessness, and panic, I’m pretty sure I would’ve turned into someone you wouldn’t want to be in a car with.
2. Trust yourself.
I was warned by that nagging feeling earlier. It wasn’t the ominous kind that fills you with dread — it was simply a warning. Sometimes God nudges us quietly, and we just have to trust that we can do something if we listen.
Maraming salamat sa mahigpit na yakap, Panginoon.
Sometimes God lets the problem happen… so you can discover the strength He already placed in you.
That day I asked Him, “Lord, bakit mo ko pinagbigyan sa parking pero di ako makapark?”
Now I think I know the answer.
He wasn’t just giving me parking.
He was giving me a lesson in trust.
Has God ever taught you a lesson in the most unexpected place?
(Credits to the owner of the photo)