CEBU, Philippines - The FREEMAN chairman Dr. Jose R. Gullas and his brother Cebu 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas will be among 32 Cebuanos to be conferred the prestigious Papal Award Cross of Honor from Pope Benedict XVI, to be presented by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in special rites 4 p.m. today at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Officially known as the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (literally “for the Church and the Pontiff) medal, it is the highest honor that can be given to the laity and religious by the Papacy for distinguished service to the Roman Catholic Church.
“It is the recognition of outstanding people or the faithful in dioceses who have been working in favor of the Church and society for at least 20 years. These people are outstanding not only on a diocesan level, but you can also say on a national level,” Cardinal Vidal told The FREEMAN.
The awarding also forms part of the series of activities commemorating the 75th founding anniversary of Cebu as an archdiocese.
Dr. Gullas has been a long-time supporter of church causes, including the ongoing restoration of the gutted-down historical church of Oslob. He also spearheaded the first fundraiser for the said parish.
The rest of the awardees are, in alphabetical order, Atty. Paterno Acabodillo; Marimel Bautista; Natividad Bondoc; Dr. Recaredo Borgonia; Archt. Jose Mari Canizares; Engr. Celestino Condor; former representative Antonio Cuenco; Engr. Pericles Dakay; former representative Raul Del Mar; Victoria Enriquez; Rep. Pablo Garcia; Amado Go; Fr. Giovanni Iacono; Belen Japson; Emerito Lumapas; Sr. Ma. Rosa Magapan, DST; Atty. Makilito Mahinay; Margarita Maria Matheu; Dr. Fe Lola Melgar; Atty. Juanita Montesclaros; Priscilo Orcullo; former Cebu City councilor Arsenio Pacaña; Fr. Robert Rice, SJ; Fr. Roderick Salazar Jr., SVD; Sabas Lee Suarez; Mary Sy; Sr. Ma. Florita Taylaran, RVM; Elvira Urpiana; Paz Wong and Archt. Joseph Yu.
Vidal said that a number of the awardees, particularly the lawmakers, were recognized for their pro-life stance and their opposition to the Reproductive Health Bill in Congress.
“They have been fighting with us against the RH Bill and it is only meritorious that they be recommended to the Holy Father. The [Vatican] didn’t already ask questions about our choices when usually they do,” he said.
The Cross of Honor was instituted in the year 1888 by Pope Leo XIII to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee, and was originally bestowed on women and men who have aided and promoted the jubilee and the Vatican Exposition. (THE FREEMAN)