‘Rename street after John Paul II’

A name change for Juan Luna Avenue in Cebu City is being proposed  to honor the late Pope John Paul II.

In last Wednesday’s session of the City Council, Councilor Edgardo  Labella proposed an ordinance renaming the tree-lined street, formerly known as San Jose dela Montaña, to give recognition to the late pope’s historical presence in the area.

He said the road is now home to important “spiritual shelters,” which include three diocesan seminaries: the Blessed John XXIII Minor Seminary, the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos and the San Carlos Seminary college.

The Carmelite monastery where former president Corazon Aquino took shelter on the eve of the 1986 People Power revolt is also along the avenue.

The avenue starts at the intersection of 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.

Labella said Pope John Paul II  boosted Cebuano morale when he  approved the beatification of  Visayan martyr Pedro Calungsod.

Renaming the street  would also acknowledge  “his timeless essence as the uniting pope who inspired people even (those) from different religions,” the councilor said.

Pope John Paul II also used the road when he visited Cebu in February 1981 as part of  his Apostolic Voyage that placed Cebu in the “global limelight.”

A change of name would  make  Juan Luna Avenue part of a loop of nearby streets named after religious leaders—Gorordo Avenue (named after the first Filipino bishop of Cebu Juan Gorordo),  Archbishop Reyes Avenue and Cardinal Rosales Avenue.

The draft ordinance  was referred to the committee on laws for review.

The name change won’t dishonor Filipino painter Juan Luna, said Labella, since another  street in downtown Cebu City street is already named  after him.

The ordinance stated that John Paul II, who was beatified on May 2011, was  an exemplary religious leader during his lifetime./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac