Inspiration from Pedro

Finally today at about 3:30 p.m Philippine time the world will witness the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod as the first Visayan saint together with six others in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI.

Indeed it’s a proud moment for  Cebuanos as we celebrate the canonization of our own Pedro Calungsod. The Church prepared so much for this great event, painstakingly raising funds through donations to finance the many activities related to the canonization that will be capped by a national Thanksgiving Mass at the South Road Properties (SRP) on Nov. 30.

President Aquino declared today a “national day of celebration”, noting that the life and martyrdom of Blessed Pedro should  serve as an inspiration to Filipinos, especially the youth “to live a life anchored on values and principles.”

Blessed Pedro was a young catechist who served the Church and sacrificed his life for his faith.

His life story is a a very good example for the  youth today, many of whom are busy with worthless things  like drug abuse.

I  think the great challenge of the Church  is how to make the story of  Blessed Pedro live in the hearts and minds of our youth.

I  urge our readers to practice  devotion to Blessed Pedro Calungsod because I believe he will help Cebu and the country.  San Pedro Calungsod,  I beseech thee to be with our people and country and be with every one of us to gives us good health and peaceful lives.

Don’t be distracted by  moneymaking activities related to the canonization and just concentrate on  prayers for him and for us. The commercial enterprises are consequences of the great and momentous event.

* * *

Today the Rotaplast International Medical Mission finally capped  10 years of medical missions by giving free assistance to  persons with facial deformities,  specifically cleft lip and palate.

I am so proud of the Rotary Club of Cebu Port Center, especially Past District Governor Anton Florendo for his unwavering efforts in bringing the Rotaplast Medical Mission to Cebu for a decade and the club members for consistently finding resources to make the mission possible.

Thank you also to Gov. Gwen Garcia for supporting the project throughout her term as governor, about  ten years starting when she was still consultant to her father, Gov. Pablo Garcia.

To Mayor Mike Rama for  supporting this humanitarian service for indigent patients in the Visayas and Mindanao. To Ate Eve Abad, registered nurse and member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco,  who exerted all efforts to bring the medical mission to Cebu. To the Vicente Sotto Medical Center for the venue of the medical surgery.

And finally to all the volunteers from the US who spent their own money and showed  untiring effort in making the mission possible, thank you so much. I can say  the Rotaplast is indeed a noble  project of the Rotary Club of Cebu Port Center and has made us proud of sustaining it  for 10  years.

We are also so proud to see hope in  the faces of many children who were operated on by the Rotoplast International Medical Mission.  The kids can  can now live a normal life after being made fun of by peers due to their facial deformities.

Thank you Rotaplast International Medical Mission especially to all the medical and non-medical volunteers.