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.
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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.