Aboitiz Group gives P3 million for Calungsod

CEBU, Philippines - Just 20 days before the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in the Vatican City, donations continue to pour in from private entities with generous hearts.

Yesterday, the Aboitiz Group headed by its president, Jon Ramon Aboitiz, donated P3 million for the preparations and for the big day on October 21.

 Msgr. Roberto Alesna, chairman of the finance committee, said they are very grateful for the donation.

Alesna said close to P1 million of the P3 million has been set aside for the decorations for the National Thanksgiving Mass on November 30 at the South Road Properties.

The rest of the amount will be allocated for other expenses of the canonization.

The first 20 commemorative pieces were also turned over yesterday by world-renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue to the Cebu Archdiocese.

The commemorative pieces was received and blessed by Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal together with Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

They are the first batch of the 1,200 limited edition commemorative pieces that will be given to those who will buy a ticket at P25,000 as part of the fund-raising of the archdiocese. 

This would help the archdiocese raise P20 million from the P60 million of the overall budget needed.

Ticketholders will have a chance to win two BMW cars and a KIA Sorento SUV.

But Alesna said that he hopes ticket buyers would not have the cars in their minds but the spirits of being able to help celebrate the canonization of the second Filipino saint.

Alesna said that they are targeting to sell 800 of the 1,200 tickets that they have planned.

As of their last meeting last night, Alesna said they have sold 190 tickets and are hoping to have more buyers before they leave for Italy.

The first batch, led by Cebu Archbishop Palma, will leave on October 6 while the second batch will leave on Oct. 8. Alesna and 31 others will be last to leave on Oct.19.

Alesna said that aside from the 1,200 commemorative pieces, Cobonpue would be finishing a bigger work of art to be given as a gift to Pope Benedict XVI.

He added that Palma would issue a circular to inform all parishes that during the canonization, which will be around 10 a.m. in Rome, a Mass will also be held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. — /LPM (FREEMAN)