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Friday, September 08, 2006
Arroyo to grace coronation of Virgen delos Remedios
By Albert B. Lacanlale and Raymond C.Garcia
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will attend Friday afternoon’s coronation rites of the Virgen Delos Remedios at the Villa Del Sol subdivision, Olongapo-Gapan Road here.
Arroyo will be among thousands of Catholic devotees to honor the patron saint on the 50th anniversary of her canonical coronation.
Earlier, Malacañang, by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation, declared September 8 as a holiday in the whole province of Pampanga to give the Catholic community a chance to attend the religious activity.
The coronation rite is organized by the Archdiocese of San Fernando Pampanga and the executive committee of the 50th Anniversary of the Canonical Coronation of the Virgen delos Remedios.
With the theme "Indu ning Capaldanan, Tula ning Capampangan" (Our Lady of Remedies, Joy of the Kapampangans), the coronation is the second of such kind that the President would attend for this year in Pampanga.
Arroyo earlier joined Pampanga Governor Mark T. Lapid and Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca Jr. in the ceremonial coronation of the Our Lady of Lourdes in Cabetican, Bacolor.
Fifty years ago, in 1952, Cesar Ma. Guerrero, Bishop of the then Diocese of San Fernando, established the Crusade for Penance and Charity with the images of the Virgen delos Remedios and Sto. Cristo del Perdon being brought in procession to the different towns and barrios of Pampanga.
The procession proved to be a powerful instrument for the attainment of peace and unity in the province. Kapampangans from all walks of life prayed the rosary together round the clock, walked hand-in-hand in processions and shared whatever they have as "lamac" or offerings, which is an important part of the Crusade that reflects the generosity and kindness of the people of Pampanga.
The tender devotion and reverence of the people of Pampanga showed to the image of the Virgen delos Remedios led to the approval of her Canonical Coronation by Pope Pius XII which was held at the Provincial Capitol grounds on September 8, 1956.
San Fernando Archbishop Most Rev. Paciano Aniceto and Governor Lapid inaugurated on Thursday the VDLR marker followed by a "Harana Cang Maria" at the Metropolitan Cathedral.
For his part, Rev. Fr. Ramon V. Torres, chairperson of the 50th Canonical Coronation of the Virgen delos Remedios said the crusade "was born in the context of an imbalance in the social community of Pampanga such as militarization, gap between the rich and the poor and agrarian unrest."
"The presence of the President of the Philippines must be a clear and sincere signal to our people of her resolve to address the same social imbalance in our nation," Torres said.
He also said the golden anniversary is happening right in the very year that the church in the Philippines has declared a year of social concerns.
"VDLR is asking us to look more deeply into the roots and respond with renewed commitment to the plight of the poor and the social imbalance that afflict our times. The challenge of this golden anniversary celebration is for us to become a more serving church," Torres said.
(September 8, 2006 issue)
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