2 Cebu judges to join Pedro pilgrims

HE was diagnosed with colon cancer three years ago.

Instead of giving up, Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Simeon Dumdum Jr. sought medical treatment and turned to prayer for healing.

As he underwent chemotheraphy until Sept. 2009, he invoked the help of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, among other divine intercessors.

The 64-year-old judge eventually got what he longed for when the physician told him he was cleared of cancer.

“I pray for complete healing and I’ll have to continue praying as I go to the canonization of Blessed Pedro,” Dumdum said..

Dumdum and another Cebu City judge will be travelling with their wives to Rome, Italy to witness the Oct. 21 canonization of the teenage, Visayan martyr.

Executive Judge Francisco Seville of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities said Calungsod  is a very good model for today’s youth and the people of the Visayas.

“He (Calungsod) could have escaped, run away and saved himself. But he did not. That is a rare characteristic,” said Seville.

Seville, 62, and his wife will leave for Rome on Oct. 16.

Dumdum and his wife Gingging  will leave for Rome the day after.

The couple, both accomplished writers, planned for the trip upon learning that Calungsod will be canonized.

Dumdum writes Cebu Daily News’ weekly Sunday essay, a reflection piece on the Gospel reading.

“Blessed Pedro Calungsod is someone who came, if not from Cebu, from the Visayas. So he is really our saint,” he said.

What Judge Dumdum says about Pedro:

“His message is applicable and relevant to us now. Although he was young, he offered his life to the Lord. The youth should learn from Blessed Pedro and offer their God-given lives to serve the Lord and one another.”

Judge Seville, law professor and former Talisay City councilor:

“There are many distractions today like computers, the Internet. These things compete with one’s attention to God. Talking about God is awkward. God seems to  be placed in the backseat. People remember God only when they are ill or are about to breathe their last. That should not be the case.”

“Anybody can become a saint. Although we do not expect all Cebuanos to get hit by a spear in the chest, maybe we can imitate the lives of saints who offered their best for the Lord. One does not necessarily have to be martyred. But we just have to make sure that we dedicate everything we do to our Creator.” /Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter