Toledo City marks Calungsod fiesta

Months after the canonization, the parishioners of the San Pedro Calungsod Church in barangay Cantabaco, Toledo City were finally able to celebrate its fiesta yesterday.

Hundreds of Calungsod devotees attended Mass to celebrate the first fiesta after the Visayan martyr was canonized in October last year.

In his homily, Bishop Emilio Bataclan told parishioners to educate their children at home, the Church and in school so they can emulate the values of Calungsod rather than allowing them to spend their time in Internet cafes or watching TV.

The church of San Pedro Calungsod in Cantabaco which used to be nearly bare experienced a surge in attendance after the canonization.

Vertical foundations of the altar were rebuilt in granite and stone decors now cover the altar wall.

Parish priest Fr. Russel Sungcad said they have yet to finish renovating the church financed mostly by local devotees.

He hopes that the renovation will be finished this October in time for the first anniversary of Calungsod’s canonization.

Sungcad also said they are still lobbying to re-schedule their fiesta from March 5 to Calungsod’s canonization on Oct. 21.

He said the chapel in SM SRP is claiming to have their feast on Oct. 21.

The Shrine of Calungsod in the Archbishop’s Palace wants to claim March 23 as their feast day.

Sungcad said he’s hopeful the Cebu Archdiocese will grant their request.

For the past six years, the fiesta celebration was named Tinubdan Festival in thanksgiving for the abundance of water.

This year the parish church decided to name the barangays’ fiesta the Martyrdom Festival for Calungsod.