Binay to represent Aquino in Calungsod canonization

MANILA -- Vice President Jejomar Binay will lead the Philippine delegation to the canonization of the country’s second Filipino saint, Blessed Pedro Calungsod, on October 21 at the Vatican City.

He will be representing President Benigno Aquino III as Pope Benedict XVI is set to name Calungsod a saint after Lorenzo Ruiz, who was canonized by now Blessed Pope John Paul II on October 1981.

“It is an honor to lead my fellow Filipino Catholics in witnessing this historic event. Blessed Pedro Calungsod’s life was one of service and I pray that his dedication and sacrifice will inspire the Filipino youth to live their lives in service of their fellowmen,” Binay said.

Calungsod was a teenage Cebuano catechist who accompanied Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in Tumhon village in Guan, Marianas, where they were killed on April 2, 1672.

He was beatified in March 2000 by John Paul II.

Calungsod’s three-foot tall statue will leave for Rome, Italy on October 16 (Tuesday) as over a thousand Filipinos will reportedly fly to the European city to witness the canonization rites.

Prior to the trip, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said masses will be held in Cebu City on October 15 and October 16 before sending off the image from the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to take a Cathay Pacific flight at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

The canonization rites for Blessed Calungsod and six others will begin with a holy mass at Saint Peter’s Square. Vespers and a procession of the new saints’ icons will be held at the Chiesa di Santa Pudenziana later in the evening.

After the canonization, Binay will meet members of the Filipino community in Italy at the Pontifico Collegio Filippino. A thanksgiving mass will also be held at 8 a.m. October 22.

Processions in all parishes of Cebu City and a fluvial procession of Calungsod’s statue along the Mactan Channel are being set, plus a film festival.

The town of Ginatilan in Cebu, the hometown of Calungsod, has also created a committee to trace the Calungsod family tree.

President Aquino earlier issued Proclamation No. 481, declaring October 21 as a national day of celebration on the canonization of Calungsod. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)