Street renamed Pope John Paul II Ave.

Juan Luna Avenue (formerly known as San Jose dela Montana Avenue) is now Pope John Paul II Avenue.

This developed after the Cebu City Council approved the resolution to rename the street during last Wednesday’s session.

A grateful Fr. Dan Delos Angeles said Pope John Paul II Avenue would close the loop of roads bearing the names of sacred personalities such as the Gorordo Avenue and the Archbishop Reyes Avenue.

The Gorordo in Gorordo Avenue refers to the first Filipino Bishop, Juan Gorordo, while Archbishop Gabriel Reyes was the first appointed Filipino archbishop of Cebu.

Delos Angeles called the loop of roads the sacred loop, which he said also would also cover Cebu’s business district.

Delos Angeles said the renaming of the avenue would be like three religious personalities looking over the district’s well-being.

Earlier Councilor Edgardo Labella, who sponsored the ordinance, said the renaming of the street would give recognition to the late Pope who passed by the area during his visit in Cebu in Feb. 19, 1991.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmena suggested that the launching of the newly renamed Pope John Paul II Avenue be done simultaneously with the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod this year.

Delos Angeles said Osmena’s idea was a good one because Pope John Paul II pushed for the beatification of the Cebuano martyr when the Pope was still alive in March 5, 2000.

The City Council also took note of Msgr. Achilles Dakay’s suggestion to make the “sacred loop” be free from bars and indecent establishments.

The sacred loop is home to three diocesan seminaries – the Blessed John XXIII Minor Seminary, the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos and the San Carlos Seminary college.

The Carmelite Monastery is also along the avenue.

The avenue starts at the M.J. Cuenco Avenue near the Mabolo church to the intersection of Archbishop Reyes Avenue near the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority

(Tesda) office. /Correspondent Katreena Bisnar