Vidal still in hospital, banters with visitors

Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was sitting up and laughing yesterday in his hospital room where he has been confined since Tuesday for a mini-stroke.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, who visited him, said there was nothing to worry about .

“It’s not serious. He can move. The slur in his speech was gone. I was told that he has become stronger three days after he was brought to the hospital,” Dakay told reporters.

Vidal had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a mini-stroke.

“The problem is with a blockage in part of his brain where there was lack of oxygen,” said Dakay.

An episode of TIA happens when the blood supply to a part of the brain briefly stops.

Vidal was rushed to the Perpetual Succour Hospital on Tuesday from his residence in Sto. Nino Village in Banilad, Cebu City.

“When I visited him yesterday, the cardinal was strong. He was seated. He was laughing. His lunch was being prepared. I saw on the food tray rice, vegetables, and fish,” he said.

Dakay said he has no idea yet when the 82-year-old cardinal will be discharged.

Dakay said that when he asked the cardinal how was he doing, Vidal replied “tiguwang na (I’m already old)” which he usually tells people with a smile and a chuckle.

According to Dakay, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma also visited Vidal yesterday.

Vidal was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Cebu in 1981 and was installed archbishop on August 24, 1982.

On October 15, 2010, his resignation as Archbishop of Cebu was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI. Vidal was replaced by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma on January 13, 2011. Since his retirement, Vidal has been staying in his retirement house in Banilad, Cebu City. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol