Ruiz or Calungsod? Check the feet

MANILA, Philippines - To tell apart which image represents the first Filipino saint, Lorenzo Ruiz, and that of soon-to-be saint Pedro Calungsod, a Catholic Church official tells the faithful to check the feet.

At first glance, an observer might encounter difficulty in differentiating the two saints since both are wearing camisa de chino and short black pants. However, a closer look would show three distinguishing marks of Calungsod.

“(First) the face, he does not look Chinese. While Lorenzo (facial features) is with Chinese distinction,” said Fr. Marvin Mejia, assistant secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Calungsod would also be carrying a palm that symbolizes his martyrdom and a book – the Doctrina Christiana – that shows he is a catechist. Saint Ruiz’s hands, meanwhile, are clasped in prayer and holding a rosary.

Lastly, Calungsod’s feet are not positioned firmly on the ground as his right foot is placed forward.

“This was (retired) Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s idea and some priests (that) Pedro Calungsod should be presented as somebody who is dynamic... He is on the move because he is a missionary,” Mejia said.

The CBCP has been trying to gather information on Calungsod, who is to be canonized on Oct. 21 at the Vatican.

But up until yesterday, they have not yet traced his exact roots or from which province he hails nor did they find a birth certificate or baptismal certificate. The only thing certain was that he was Visayan.

There is also no definite description about him and whether or not his now famous painting was a product of the artist’s imagination.