Noy leads Calungsod national celebration rites

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Thousands of Catholics joined yesterday’s national celebration and thanksgiving Mass for last month’s canonization of San Pedro Calungsod.

President Aquino led the ceremonies, along with leaders of the Catholic Church, including Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Guiseppe Pinto.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II also attended the event. Vice President Jejomar Binay also arrived.

Organizers estimated that between 500,000 to one million people were in attendance at the San Pedro Calungsod Templete in the reclaimed South Road Property in Barangay Mambaling.

Before the Mass, a procession was held and the image of Calungsod was taken to the Templete.

Aquino said he had promised Vidal that if he could not make it to Rome for the canonization, he would join Catholics in another celebration.

Aquino came to Cebu with Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Liberal Party senatorial candidates Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Ramon Magsaysay Jr.

Aquino said Filipinos should emulate the life of San Pedro Calungsod and be “wellsprings of hope” and “remain ardent in our pursuit of the true Catholic way of life.”

“Through his canonization by the Pope, we have only added to those who will definitely watch over us Filipinos from Heaven. Truly, Saint Pedro reflects the kindness of the Visayans; he proves how a single individual can bring about widespread change,” he said.

“This gathering also stands as testament not only to the divinity of Saint Pedro Calungsod, but even more so, to the ideals that he has etched into our national consciousness: A sense of selfless sacrifice for faith and principle; an outward offering of oneself for the greater good.”

Aquino said these were the same principles that the people were called to uphold in this era.

“Much like Pedro, every day, we are faced with our own temptations – our own crossroads,” he said.

“Centuries after his time, many of our fellowmen still thirst for warmth and compassion.”

“And now, even more than before, the challenge is to be wellsprings of hope – to pull together and play our part in bettering the lives of others. 

“We now stand before the image of a young Filipino, a fellow Catholic, and now, a full-fledged Saint of the Church.

“May the life of Saint Pedro Calungsod continue to be both guide and inspiration to our nation, and to the entire human race.”

Aquino, the Papal Nuncio and Vidal said San Pedro Calungsod decided to fight for his faith, although he was young.

“Our gathering today embodies the Filipino people’s pride and gratitude for the sacred contributions of Saint Pedro Calungsod, our country’s second saint,” he said.

“Centuries have come and gone, and still, we see today how the light of his faith in our Lord burns brighter than ever before.”

Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and his predecessor Gaudencio Rosales were present during the event and took part in a concelebrated Mass.

In his homily, Vidal paid tribute to San Pedro Calungsod, who he said must be emulated.

Vidal reminded the faithful that they could not be “dual citizens” –  being good Christians but not being good citizens.

People must obey laws, be honest and uphold God’s will both in public and private life, he added.

Sy to donate chapel

The family of Henry Sy, SM owner, will donate the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at the SM Seaside City to the Archdiocese of Cebu.

It is estimated to have cost over a hundred million pesos. The chapel’s inauguration and consecration on Thursday started with a Mass that Cebu Archbishop Palma celebrated at 3 p.m.

San Pedro Calungsod’s official pilgrim image was brought to the chapel via a motorcade from the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

It will be placed at the San Pedro Calungsod Shrine at the Archbishop’s Palace.

However, the chapel will have a replica of the statue of the second Filipino saint and the first from the Visayas.

RJ Leduna of SM City Cebu said the archdiocese appointed Msgr. Vicente Tupas as rector of the SM Seaside’s Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod.

Construction of the chapel started on May 3 this year, according to structural engineer Edgardo Cruz.

They worked 24 hours a day to meet their target date of completion, he added.

The structure was finished on Sept. 30 and everything was completed yesterday morning, in time for the chapel’s inauguration.

Carlos Arnaiz, a New York-based architect who designed the chapel, said it was the first time that he had worked on a project in Cebu.

“Our design for the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod is meant as homage to Cebu’s dynamic spirit,” he said.

The building is grounded in the long history of ecclesiastical architecture wherein light and structure work together to inspire.

“The church stands as a sanctuary in stone, sand and glass from where we can meditate on the changes happening in the world and find strength in our encounter of the inexplicable mysteries of God.”

Arnaiz said they wanted to design a sacred space that embodies the contemporary search for meaning. – With Marigold Lebumfacil/Freeman