Zoo worker get shots of anti-venom

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Zoo worker Ronaldo “Ronron” Aventurado’s condition has improved after he was given shots of anti-venom drug by doctors yesterday.

But Dr. Vincent Robles of Cebu City Medical Center, where Aventurado is confined, said through ABS-CBN TV Patrol newscast that the victim’s body has been paralyzed from the deadly venom.

Not remitted

A reliable source told The Freeman that this move was made after reports reached the key people from the various committees that there are those who are soliciting funds, but have not endorsed them to the church.

Such people have written authorizations by Vidal and Palma, but they have not been true to their commitment.

The church is raising P60 million to cover the cost for the beatification of Blessed Pedro Calungsod.“Out of trust, the Church has expected that these people will solicit and give the money they had raised to the Church, but it did not happen,” the source said.

This forced the committee on finance to issue so the people would know who to give their donations to.

At the same time, the committee has initiated steps to investigate the people responsible.

Public notice

 The notice reads, “In preparation for the canonization of Beato Pedro Calungsod in Rome, Italy this October 21 and for the National Thanksgiving Mass in Cebu City on November 30, 2012, the Archdiocese of Cebu, through the Committee on Finance, is soliciting or accepting donations from generous benefactors and donors.

“The members of the sub-Committee on special events are Marlinda Angbetic Tan, Carmel de Pio-Salvador and Robby Alugar.

“For safeguard and proper recognition and appreciation of donations from our generous donors, the public is advised not to give to anyone whose name is not listed above and to report to the committee.”

The notice was signed by Vidal and Palma.

The committee can be reached through these contact numbers, 032-5207625 and 032-5207626.

“Any prior solicitations made by anyone, including those persons purportedly equipped with written authorizations from us, the undersigned (Vidal and Palma), previous to this public notice, needs verification or validation,” the notice further read.

All are welcome

Earlier, Vidal said that they will welcome all donations regardless of who the donor is as long as it comes from the heart.

Even donations from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation are welcome and even from people of dubious character.

Vidal is also thankful that Cebuanos have always been generous to the church.

He is optimistic that they can come up with the funds before October 21. He was also happy that the date given was enough for them to prepare.

Preparations

Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, co-chairperson of the activities for the canonization of Calungsod, earlier said that P30 million will be spent for the preparations in Rome. The remaining P30 million will be used to cover the expenses for the local celebrations.

Meanwhile, the national thanksgiving mass to celebrate the canonization of the Cebuano martyr will take place at the “templete” located at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The site can accommodate at least one million people. The site development is expected to be finished in three months.

Based on fact sheets released to the media, there will be 50 church dignitaries who will attend the festivities.

There would also be 100 government and civil society leaders, 300 archbishops and bishops, 700 clergy, 2,000 choir members and 200 orchestra members.

Aside from the approximately 1,500-square-meter-templete, the venue will have a vesting area, operation center, press center, police and security center, power lines, media stand, Blessed Sacrament chapels, souvenir stores, first aid stations, water stations, food stalls, and portable toilets.

Off-site, a parking area will be provided for vehicles of church dignitaries, vehicles for elderly and persons with disability, buses for out of town and Cebu pilgrims and emergency vehicles.

It can be recalled that Pedro Calungsod, who died in 1672, was a young Catholic Filipino sacristan and missionary catechist, who along with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, was persecuted and killed while doing missionary work in Guam.

He was beatified on March 5, 2000 by Blessed Pope John Paul II. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)