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 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 Philconstruct Industry Run set June 9

Three organizations joined forces to stage the first ever Philconstruct Industry Run this June 9 at the San Pedro Calungsod Templete at the South Road Properties.

Organized by the Cebu Contractors Association (CCA), the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) and the Philippine Institution of Civil Engineers (PICE), the running event aims to raise funds to continue the groups’ community projects of building classrooms made up of environment friendly materials.

The beneficiary school for this run will be the urban poor community school in Paknaan, Mandaue City. It is the second green building school in Cebu. The first was the Ocana National School in Carcar City, southern Cebu.

The race, which will have 21-kilometer, 12k, 6k and 3k distances, was launched last May 16, 2013 at the Ting Gow restaurant at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Registration can be done at the RUNNR Ayala Center Cebu and at the Cebu Runners Circle at the Raintree Mall.



Dale G. Rosal
Cebu Daily News