THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES: Feb. 17–23

Feb. 17, 2010

The Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) was created through Republic Act No. 9996, signed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to spur the socioeconomic growth of Mindanao.

According to the law, Minda is tasked to consolidate and integrate efforts that promote trade, tourism and investments as well as advance peace efforts in Mindanao.

Minda, which replaced the Mindanao Economic Development Council, was first headed by Jesus Dureza, Arroyo’s former presidential assistant, and currently chaired by Abul Khayr Alonto, its first Muslim chair.

Feb. 17, 2015

Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag at the town of Manaoag in Pangasinan province was proclaimed a minor basilica, the highest title that a Catholic church outside Rome can earn, during a Mass concelebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, also the Manila archbishop, and Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales.

Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto, who represented Pope Francis, read the proclamation, which was written in Latin and signed by the Pope on Oct. 11, 2014, more than three months before he visited the country on Jan. 15, 2015.

The proclamation makes Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag a papal church and will be adorned with the papal seal, chair, umbrella and bell.

The church is the first and the only minor basilica in the province.

The church’s new status was also seen to increase tourist arrivals in Pangasinan, which draws millions of tourists and pilgrims in a year.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa