Pedro “intercession” saved Cebu from Pablo

CEBU, Philippines - The whole Cebu Province was already prepared for the worst as alerts on super typhoon Pablo’s possible damage were earlier released.

But Cebuanos were relieved upon knowing that Pablo would not be felt in most parts of Cebu although it caused destruction in the southern towns like Boljoon.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), Pablo was expected to deliver heavy rains and strong winds by late afternoon until evening in Cebu.

But it was forced out by the high pressure area, causing only moderate to heavy rains for a short period of time in Cebu City.

But some believe that Pablo spared Cebu with the help of the newly-canonized Visayan saint, San Pedro Calungsod.

Upon the announcement of PAG-ASA that Cebu would not be directly hit anymore by the typhoon, social networking sites immediately showed status updates from Cebuanos praising God and San Pedro Calungsod for saving Cebu from disaster.

Fr. Charles Jayme, the official custodian of the pilgrim image of San Pedro Calungsod, said that Cebu was saved from the havoc of the typhoon with the intercession of San Pedro Calungsod and Sto Niño.

Jayme believes that the fervent prayers offered by the Cebuanos have greatly helped and would continue to be a good shield against natural calamities like typhoons.

Further, Jayme said that they will be evaluating letters from different dioceses in the country requesting for the pilgrim image of San Pedro Calungsod to be brought to their parishes.

After the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod in Rome last October 21, the pilgrim image was brought back to the country and it traveled around Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as part of the Duaw Nasud activity.

As much as they would want to, Jayme said that they were not able to bring the image to a lot of areas.

In effect, there were a lot of requests from dioceses for the Duaw Nasud to continue.

Coincidentally, the dioceses that have sent requests are from Mindanao. Typhoon Pablo entered the country through Mindanao last Monday, a region which is rarely hit by typhoons.

Jayme said that they would be evaluating the success of the Duaw Nasud activity and how they can bring the image of the second Filipino saint to more provinces.

He said it would be a good way to help uplift those devastated by the typhoon where millions worth of properties were damaged and close to 100 people died.

Jayme said they are awaiting the confirmation of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma on the matter. 

— /MBG (FREEMAN)