THE late Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was a champion of peace, a generous and humble person, and an inspiring leader.
That’s how Msgr. Boy Alesna remembers Vidal, with whom he had the privilege of working closely since the latter was installed as Cebu archbishop on Aug. 24, 1982.
In his homily during a mass at the St. Pedro Calungsod Shrine yesterday, Alesna said that Cardinal Vidal first appointed him as chairman of the Commission Service for Social Action.
“Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that we do not appreciate our friends until they leave us,” the monsignor said.
Vidal also inspired the idea behind Kontra Gutom Movement Operation Samaritan (Kogus), a program that aims to feed street children.
According to Paul Hubahib, a former executive assistant of the Cebu City Government, Vidal came up with the idea during the canonization of Pedro Calungsod.
He said that Vidal instructed him to set up a house where street children could be fed and trained to improve their prospects in life.
With the support of Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, the program also teaches street children skills to help them find future jobs.
Kogus now deals with schools with a list of malnourished students.