0 A Chapel for San Pedro Calungsod

Since it opened last May, SM Aura Premier has been synonymous with luxury and global brands. Yet it still believes in enriching the community’s spiritual needs with the recent launching of the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at the mall’s top level.

Surrounded by the Skypark with its lush greens and water features, the Chapel is the perfect place to stop, rest, and reflect. It is named in honor of San Pedro Calungsod, the first Visayan saint, who is considered a role model for the youth. Martyred in Guam for his missionary work in 1672, he was beatified by Blessed Pope John Paul II on March 5, 2000 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City on October 21, 2012.

Located at the mall’s top level, it gives worshippers a top of the world, closer-to-God feeling with its unorthodox yet highly aesthetic and tubular design. Shaped like an abstract cave, it has a semi-circular opening that evokes images of the cave of the Resurrection. Gracefully designed ribs lead to the backlit altar-front, inviting the faithful inside for reflection and prayer. The wood and marble finishes give the Chapel a simple natural feel. It also has 12 stations of the Cross, a statue of San Pedro Calungsod and the Virgin Mary.

The Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod’s dedication ceremony began with the unveiling of the marker took place, by   SM chairman Henry Sy Sr., Mrs. Felicidad T. Sy and their family with Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano. Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara, Dd. led the dedication ceremony and concelebrated Mass with members of the Sy family and their guests. The bishop later presided the chapel’s ceremonial turn over to its chaplain Fr.  Romy Samaniego.

Capping the event was a MOA signing by SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy and SM Hotels and Convention Corporations President Elizabeth T. Sy with Rev. Father Mariano Baranda, Chancellor of the Diocese of Pasig.

Quietly elegant, the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod can seat almost 300 people. Masses schedule are Mondays to Saturdays 12 noon and 5 p.m. and on Sundays, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. .

The Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod is located at the 7th level of SM Aura Premier, 26th Street Corner McKinley Parkway in Taguig City.

0 Pedro image to tour Cebu, Leyte parishes

To celebrate the first year since Pedro Calungsod became a saint, the Archdiocese of Cebu plans to bring his image to different parishes in Cebu and in Naval, Leyte starting tomorrow.

After a 10 a.m. mass at the St. Pedro Calungsod Parish in the South Road Properties today, the image of the young Cebuano saint will start its “Duaw Lungsod 2013” leg at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, then would proceed to the Sto. Tomas Villanueva Parish in Danao City tomorrow.

The mass at the chapel will be celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and would serve as formal kick-off for the Duaw Lungsod.

The Duaw Lungsod starts today until Nov. 30, said Margarita Matheu, a member of the Archdiocese’s Secretariat.

From Danao City, the Cebuano saint’s image will be brought to the parishes in the towns of Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Balamban, Barili, Ginatilan, Samboan, Boljoon, Dalaguete, and Argao.

Cities

The image of St. Pedro Calungsod will also be visiting the cities of Carcar, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu City, particularly the Sto. Rosario and San Nicolas parishes.

The image will also travel to its namesake parish in Barangay Cantabaco in Toledo City on Nov. 2.

While on Nov. 16 to 18, the image will be brought to the parishes belonging to the Diocese of Naval in Leyte.

On Nov. 30, the image will be brought to the Templete at the SRP for a pontifical mass.

On Oct. 21 last year, then Pope Benedict XVI formally canonized St. Pedro Calungsod along with six new saints at the Vatican City.

Postponement

While the Archdiocese of Cebu postponed the 9th Visayas Pastoral Assembly in Consolacion, Cebu today due to the effects of the earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol last week.

Matheu told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that due to earthquake and the series of aftershocks that had rocked Cebu and Bohol, Palma decided to postponed the event with respect to the Diocese of Talibon and Tagbilaran in Bohol.

Both dioceses were severely hit by the earthquake, Matheu said.

Attending bishops and clerics from the dioceses of Tagbilaran, Talibon, Dumaguete and Maasin were supposed to join Palma in celebrating the first feast anniversary of St. Pedro Calungsod.

This year’s assembly was supposed to tackle the pastoral plans set by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the PhilipP) for next year.

By Justin K. Vestil
SunStar Cebu

0 ‘Pedrito’ dolls relaunched to help rebuild Bohol churches

Emely Lingat, 20-year-old, a staff of the New Media
committee of the National Commission for Calungsod
canonization shows some of their Pedrito dolls in honor
to patron Saint Pedro Calungsod. Some priests suggest that
 instead of robots, Pedrito dolls is a perfect gift for children
this christmas. The doll is worth 650php at CBCP.
INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines – Buy a stuffed doll fashioned after Pedro Calungsod, the country’s second Filipino saint, and help the victims of the Central Visayas killer quake.

The Catholic group YouthPinoy has relaunched Pedrito, the Calungsod doll, to raise funds for the restoration of the churches damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu provinces as well as to help bring the calamity victims’ lives back to normal.

For every Pedrito doll sold, P100 will be donated to Church-led relief and restoration operations in Bohol and Cebu.

Each doll still costs P650, the same price at which it was sold a year ago for the October 21 canonization of Pedro Calungsod.

LOBOC CHURCH (Bohol)
Located on the banks of the Loboc River,
the Parish Church of San Pedro and San Pablo was built
in the 17th and 18th centuries by the Jesuits.
It was enlarged in the 18th and 19th centuries by
the Augustinian Recollects. The 19th-century additions
included a bell tower, porticoes in the façade and the
funeral chapel. Paintings were added in the 20th century.
The church was converted into a major part
of a three-story convent

According to YouthPinoy officer in charge April Frances Ortigas, it is just fitting for Calungsod, considered a native son of the Visayas, to “help” in the restoration of the Church in his hometown after the loss of lives and properties, including that of centuries-old churches, due to the powerful earthquake.

“We are relaunching the Pedrito dolls, with the proceeds of the sale to go to the victims of the earthquake in Cebu and Bohol. We in YouthPinoy believe that St. Pedro Calungsod is telling us to help his kababayan rebuild the Church there, by which we mean not only the structures but the hearts of the people and their faith in God,” Ortigas said in a statement.

She added that the Pedrito dolls would also remind Filipinos that they could be “little saints” themselves by helping the needy, especially those who are displaced and left homeless by the calamity.

“We can be little saints in our own ways. Through these Pedrito dolls, we are helping propagate the life and example of St. Pedro and also helping rebuild the Church in the Visayas,” Ortigas said.

The 15-inch Pedrito doll, conceptualized by the New Media Committee under the National Commission of the Canonization of Pedro Calungsod, was brought to Rome as a way of sharing updates about Calungsod’s sainthood.

The doll, which carries a “missionary” sling bag and an iPad cum Doctrina Christiana, was said to be the personification of a missionary youth or “lakwatserong misyonaryo.”

The “traveling and embraceable” image of the martyr has already been to the Vatican City during the canonization of Calungsod and to Rio de Janeiro for the recent World Youth Day in Brazil.

LOAY CHURCH (BOHOL)
The Church of Santisima Trinidad was built in 1882.
It was declared a national historical landmark
on Aug. 18 2003.

In an interview with YouthPinoy, New Media Committee head Eilleen Esteban explained how Pedrito was meant to adopt the very Pinoy culture of “picture-picture” by having Pedrito meet pilgrims, have his picture taken with them and post them on social media as part of a geotagging tracking of his whereabouts.

More Pedritos became available to the general public due to a high interest generated by the doll.

Esteban cautioned that the dolls should not be mistaken for religious images to be venerated on altars.

Calungsod, born in the Visayas, was a lay catechist who died while conducting missionary work in the Ladrones Islands, later named Marianas Islands, on April 2, 1672. He was struck by a spear and his skull split by a machete blow. His body was later thrown into the sea.

BACLAYON CHURCH (Bohol)
The Baclayon Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate
Conception is one of the oldest churches
in the Philippines. The church, made from coral stone
cut from the sea, was completed in 1727.
It was declared a national historical landmark in 1994.

He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 5, 2000, and was canonized on Oct. 21, 2012.

Those interested to buy Pedrito dolls may visit www.youthpinoy.com/home/order-your-own-pedrito-doll to make a reservation.

Ortigas said buyers would receive instructions regarding payment and pick-up or shipment in an e-mail confirmation of their reservation.



By Tina G. Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

0 St. Pedrito Dolls for quake-ruined churches

Pedrito Dolls! This iconic toy is great for gifts to your siblings,
children and godchildren OR even to yourself!
Place your orders now because this is for a limited time only!
Each doll costs P650/each and are only available in the Philippines.

The public will again have a chance to own a limited edition of the “Pedrito Doll” of San Pedro Calungsod.

Youth Pinoy is relaunching the Pedrito Dolls in a bid to raise funds to help restore the churches ruined by the recent earthquake in Bohol and Cebu as well as help aid victims of the calamity.

YouthPinoy officer-in-charge April Frances “Sky” Ortigas said it is just fitting for Calungsod, who is considered a native son of the Visayas, to “help” in the restoration of the centuries-old churches damanged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

“We are relaunching the Pedrito Dolls as proceeds of the sale will go to the victims of the earthquake in Cebu and Bohol. We in YouthPinoy believe that St. Pedro Calungsod is telling us to help his ‘kababayans’ by helping rebuild the Church there, by which we mean not only the structures but the hearts of the people and their faith in God,” she said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phippines (CBCP) website.

Ortigas added that the Pedrito Dolls also remind Filipinos that they can be “little saints” themselves by helping the needy, especially those who are displaced and left homeless by the calamity.

“We can be little saints in our own ways. Through these Pedrito Dolls, we are helping propagate the life and example of St. Pedro and also help rebuild the Church in the Visayas,” she said.

For every Pedrito Doll sold, Ortigas said, P100 will be donated to Church-led relief and restoration operations in Bohol and Cebu.

Each doll costs P650, the same price it was sold for a year ago during the October 21 canonization of Pedro Calungsod.

Those who are interested to buy Pedrito Dolls, log on to http://youthpinoy.com/home/order-your-own-pedrito-doll/ to make a reservation. Buyers will receive further instructions regarding payment and pick up or shipment in an email confirming receipt of their reservation.

The Pedrito Dolls were originally launched in 2012 to help promote awareness about the second Filipino saint. The “travelling and embraceable” image of the martyr has already been to the Vatican City during the canonization of Pedro Calungsod and in Rio de Janeiro for the recent World Youth Day in Brazil.

by Leslie Ann Aquino
Manila Bulletin

0 Pope Francis to bless Calungsod Image

Pope Francis will bless a mosaic image of San Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint, at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy on November 21, said Cebu Archbishop and outgoing Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Jose Palma.

The blessing of the image of the Visayan martyr will be followed by a mass to be officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

“The Holy Father said he will just do the blessing and told the cardinal (Tagle) to say the mass,” the prelate said at the Philippine Conference on New Evangelization (PCNE) held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila from October 16 to 18.

Palma said he and some other bishops will fly to Rome for the occasion Calungsod’s image will be placed permanently inside the basilica alongside the image of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, whose image has been there for the last 25 years.

Palma said it is an honor for the Philippine Church that another Filipino saint will have an image inside the basilica aside from San Lorenzo Ruiz.

“We should feel privileged that the image of our two saints will be seen when you go to the St. Peter’s Basilica.”

Christina I. Hermoso
Manila Bulletin

0 Sevilleno, Largo shine in St. Pedro Calungsod Run

CHRISTY Sevilleno and Michael Largo captured the 10-kilometer crowns in yesterday’s “Saint Pedro Calungsod Fun Run: Walk of Faith, A Run for Truth.”

Around 2,000 runners answered the starting gun for this running event that is held in line with the celebration of the feast of Saint Pedro Calungsod.

In the end, it was Sevilleno who stood out as she reached the finish line at the Ayala Center Cebu’s the Terraces in 47 minutes and 24 seconds to win the women’s crown.

Largo, on the other hand, crossed the finish line in 36 minutes and 36 seconds to top the men’s division.

The proceeds of the running event will be used for the scholarship program of the Saint Pedro Calungsod chapel administration for deserving altar boys and servers.

Meanwhile, Joel Delposo emerged victorious in 5k category, finishing the race in 17 minutes and 31 seconds for the men’s crown.

The Delechos siblings, Keisha Mae and Irish, finished first and second, respectively, in the distaff side. Keisha Mae topped the race with a time of 23:31 while Irish clocked 23:37 to finish second.

In the 3k race, Andog Mejares and Joy Postanes came out on top. Mejares topped the race in 10:41 while Postanes clocked 15:19 to win the female side.

The running event was handled by race director Joel Juarez and Cebu Ultra Runners Club president Tony Galon.

DALE G. ROSAL
Cebu Daily News

0 Church kicks off Pedro’s anniversary

Novena prayers marking the nine-day preparations for the first anniversary of the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod started last Saturday.

The church celebrations on Oct. 21 will focus on four sites – the new San Pedro Calungsod Chapel in SM Seaside City, the Calungsod Archdiocesan Shrine in D. Jakosalesm Street, the San Pedro Calungsod parish in barangay Cantabaco, Toledo City as well as the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Msgr. Vicente Tupas, rector of the Calungsod Chapel, whose modern design features 100 walls of different heights and widths, presided over the 6 p.m. Mass yesterday.

Oct. 21 is the day Calungsod, the teenage Visayan martyr, was officially declared a saint in Rome a year ago.

His feast day is celebrated on April 2, marking his death in Guam where he was part of a Jesuit mission and was killed by native Chamorro people in 1672.
On Oct. 21, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will lead a concelebrated Mass at 4 p.m. at the cathedral, seat of the Cebu Archdiocese.

Margie Mattheu, executive secretary of the Pastoral Planning Board, said three archbishops and 14 bishops are expected to attend the Mass which will also open the 9th Visayas Regional Pastoral Assembly in Cebu City.

The Mass will also kick off the Duaw Lungsud/Nasud where Calungsod’s image will be brought to different places in Cebu and in Naval, Leyte
Also on Oct. 21, a procession will be held inside the Archbishop’s Residence compound where the Calungsod shrine is located.

The Rosary will be prayed every 5 p.m. followed by daily novena Mass at the shrine presided by Msgr. Ildebrando Leyson.

The Cebu celebration is led by the Commission for the Promotion of the Devotion to San Pedro Calungsod headed by Msgr. Cayetano Gelbolinogo with Msgr. Marnel Mejia and Fr. Charles Louis Jayme.

By Ador Vincent S. Mayol
Cebu Daily News

0 Calungsod chapel bares fiesta activities

The Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod at the SM Seaside Complex in South Road Properties, Cebu City will celebrate its first fiesta celebration that coincides with the first anniversary of the canonization of the Visayan Saint on Oct. 21.

The theme for this celebration is “San Pedro Calungsod…A Man of Faith…A Man of Truth.”

The celebration will begin with a Mass at 6 p.m. on Oct. 12. Novena is set from Oct. 12 to 20 at 3 p.m., to be followed by a Holy Mass at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. There will be a 9 a.m. Mass on Oct. 13 and 20. Presentations from different choir groups happen is scheduled 5:30 p.m.

A solemn procession is on Oct. 20 at 6:45 p.m. from the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod going to the Mambaling flyover, and back to SM Seaside Complex. On the feast day on Oct. 21, a Holy Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. to be followed by the Pontifical Mass at 10 a.m. Masses will also be offered at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the same day.

There will be a Sky Lantern display on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. and a run-for-a-cause, Run for San Pedro Calungsod on Oct. 13 at 4 a.m. at the SM Seaside Complex. The run will feature 3K, 5K, and 10K distances.

Artist Mar Vidal will conduct a free art workshop for the acolytes from the different Cebu parishes on Oct. 19 at 8 a.m. at the chapel’s function hall. A poster-making contest will follow at noon. Winners of the contest will be announced during the 6 p.m. Mass. The winning entries will be displayed for public viewing in SM City Cebu on Oct. 20 and 21.

A fireworks display will be on Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. and on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Libera, a boys’ choir from England, will perform on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. at the chapel.

For ticket inquiries, call the Arts Council of Cebu at 233-0452.

Cebu Daily News

0 The Saint A Year After

For a young man with humble beginnings, Pedro Calungsod is now being accorded with a 10-day celebration for his deep devotion and fidelity to the Catholic faith.

From an acolyte to a saint. That's a career path the millions of us will never get to tread. I have no problem with that; I'm fine as an erring human with a hearty appetite. Just so you know, Calungsod's life was not anywhere near ours. His was full of drama, suspense, danger and lots of masses and hours of kneeling.

From what researchers have dug about him, Calungsod was not one who hogged attention.

He was not one who would take a selfie 10 times a day and post each selfie on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. He would have shied away from the limelight, which he will have much of this month.

We give special attention to Calungsod every October starting last year when he became what we would never ever become: a saint. He was canonized on Oct. 21, 2012 in Rome.

A modern chapel and a templete have been built in his honor at the SM Seaside Complex at the South Reclamation Properties (SRP). The chapel is an architectural delight with its 100 uneven walls and streamlined interiors. I was there for the first time yesterday for the press conference on the first year anniversary celebration of the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod.

The chapel seats 800 people but only about 50 attend the single mass at 6 p.m. every day except Sunday. There are two masses on Sunday, at 9 a.m. and at 6 p.m. The SPC Chapel is open the whole day for supplicants who wish to offer their intentions and take selfies, not necessarily in this order.

Msgr. Vicente Tupas Jr., rector of the SPC Chapel, says that since the sainthood of Calungsod, devotees have told him of the "graces and miracles" they have received through the intercession of San Pedro Calungsod.

On Oct. 12-20, the chapel will have daily activities to promote the feast of Saint Pedro Calungsod. Novena prayers and masses will be held every 3:45 p.m. and again at 5:45 p.m., and a chaplet of the Divine Mercy and Holy Rosary at 3 p.m.

It's not all prayers though. Not everyone has the focus and endurance to pray like the late Pedro Calungsod or the Pope. So there's a poster-making contest and a free art workshop, a medical outreach by the Sweet Alert Society, and a fun run.

The fun run on October 20, Sunday, is going to be held at the Cebu Business Park. The distances are 3K, 5K and 10K and finishers of each distance get a medal.

The medal, engraved with the face of San Pedro Calungsod, is blessed. A runner who cheated on the distance will be revealed when he starts to burn upon wearing the medal. (Joke only, Msgr. Tupas.) Calungsod was a man of truth so piyait must die.

Sorry, I meant, cheaters have no chance at sainthood.

Big day is on October 21, Monday. Expect traffic congestion at the SRP leading to the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel.

Pilgrims who travelled to Rome last year for the canonization of Calungsod have a special mass at 8 a.m., just before the pontifical mass at 10 a.m. Since they're pilgrims, they will not mind hearing another mass even if it's a longer one. They did this in Romehear two, three Calungsod masses a day. But it would really be a stretch if they wait for, and attend, another mass at 4 p.m.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has described Pedro Calungsod as "a very popular saint." Let's boost his popularity by taking part in the celebration of his first anniversary of his canonization.

Calungsod was Bisdak.

Michelle P. So
Caught in the Net

0 San Pedro Calungsod Movie

Francis O. Villacorta’s film “San Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir”

“Hopefully by mid-November we have a complete film. We will also have a shoot in Cebu,” Villacorta said.

Villacorta also said this is not the typical MMFF film because this will give the audience a glimpse at what and how far Christianity has gone since 1668 during the mission of San Pedro Calungsod.

Effect to the young

He believes that the film will have a positive effect on the youth citing that life doesn’t have to be long to be able to make something of it.

“Just like San Pedro Calungsod, it was a short life but a meaningful one. That’s why we are celebrating him in this film. There should be a celebration of Christianity which is our aim and hope of this film,” Villacorta added.

When asked how would they draw the attention of Filipinos to watch the movie, he stressed that the audience will appreciate the adventure, fears and tensions in the film.

“I hope the youngsters will watch the film because the story telling is great and they will realize that the saint had done something admirable that should be a model [for all]. We want to tell the youth to be like San Pedro Calungsod wherein the sacrifices he did in the name of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith was very admirable,” he added.

His advocacy as a film maker is to affect people’s lives thus doing works on the lives of saints in film and theater.

“Hopefully this will be a hit but if now, we will still be happy because what we really want is that this will have an effect in the lives of the audience in a small positive Christian way,” Villacorta furthered.

Meanwhile, Ina Tiongson from the HPI Synergy Group, the producer of the film emphasized they are doing the film not for the money.

“This is something different and not your typical commercial film. So we think that this is something that we should do,” she added.

The film is slated for a nationwide theatrical release on December 2013.