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.

0 Rocco Nacino replaces JM de Guzman in San Pedro Calungsod biopic

Ang Kapuso actor na si Rocco Nacino (kaliwa) ang napiling pumalit kay JM de Guzman (kanan)
upang gumanap bilang San Pedro Calungsod sa biopic ng Pilipinong santo.

Ang Kapuso actor na si Rocco Nacino ang kapalit ni JM de Guzman sa biofilm na San Pedro Calungsod, Batang Martir, official entry sa 39th Metro Manila Film Festival sa December 2013.

July 6, ay kinumpirma ito sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ng writer-director ng pelikula na si Francis Villacorta at ng Hubo Productions, ang producer ng pelikula headed by Ida Tiongson.

Sa nakaraang exclusive interview ng PEP kay Direk Francis, sinabi nitong si JM ang "ideal actor" upang gumanap sa much-coveted role ng bagong santong Pilipino mula sa Cebu.

Kung kaya't sa simula pa lang nang i-conceptualize ni Direk Francis ang proyekto more than two years ago ay si JM na ang kanyang nasa isip.

Pero lumipas ang mga buwan at marami nga ang nangyari, tulad ng hindi pagkakatuloy i-produce ng ibang indie producers ang pelikula, at may mga personal na "pinagdaanan" si JM sa kanyang buhay.

Hanggang sa ang ama na nitong si Ronniel de Guzman ang personal na tumawag kay Direk Francis na wini-withdraw na ang partisipasyon ng anak sa proyekto dahil sa "health reason."

Ayaw raw ng ama ni JM na mag-take ng risk ang production, sakaling magkaroon ng "aberya" sa daloy ng shooting nang dahil kay JM.

Kung kaya't kahit gustung-gusto nilang mag-ama gawin ang project, nag-sacrifice na lamang si Mr. de Guzman to withdraw his son from doing it.

Nirespeto naman ng production ang desisyong ito ng ama ni JM, at laking pasasalamat na rin nila sa kanya sa concern.

FINDING THE REPLACEMENT. Dahil sa pangyayaring ito ay ilang araw ring nagdiskusyon ang mga tao sa likod ng San Pedro Calungsod, Batang Martir kung sino bang aktor ang nararapat na kapalit ni JM.

Nakapag-contract signing na nga kasi ang producers with Direk Francis noong July 3 sa Makati office ng Hubo Productions, bukod pa sa naisumite na ng produksiyon ang P500,000 bond sa Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), ang organisasyon na namamahala sa taunang MMFF.

Ilan sa mga aktor na nakunsidera upang gumanap sa pangunahing tauhan ay sina Coco Martin, Dominic Roco, Paulo Avelino, Alden Richards, Kristoffer Martin, at Enchong Dee.

Nakapag-inquire ang production sa ilan sa mga managers/ handlers ng mga nabanggit na aktor. Pero yung iba'y hindi swak ang schedule at ang iba nama'y na-consider at hanggang deliberation pa lamang among the group at hindi na umabot sa formal inquiry.

Hanggang si Rocco Nacino na nga ang naging final choice to play Pedro Calungsod sa MMFF film.

Sabi ni Direk Francis, "Ilang araw rin kaming nag-usap sa production, with my executive producer and associate producer.

"Ipinagdasal ko rin siyempre kay San Pedro Calungsod to enlighten my mind to choose kung sino ang magpi-fit sa role.

"Aside from JM, si Rocco kasi, based on the physical traits, hindi nalalayo kay San Pedro among our actors sa generation nila.

"Pinoy looks, tama lang ang height, can act, and nakatulong din sa weight ng decision yung pag-portray niya ng Pedro Calungsod in television last year."

Last October 2012, sa "kainitan" ng historical canonization ni Calungsod—kasama ang iba pang bagong santo mula sa buong mundo—sa Saint Peter's Basilica sa Vatican City, Rome, Italy, naglabas ang GMA News TV ng mini-documentary program sa buhay at kamatayan ng nasabing martir. Si Rocco ang gumanap na bida rito.

Wala nang inaksaya pang panahon si Direk Francis in looking for his "final" Calungsod nang mag-withdraw si JM, kaya kinausap agad nito si David Fabros, ang head ng GMA Artist Center, ang talent management arm ng GMA-7 kunsaan contract artist si Rocco.

Kuwento ni Francis, "Hindi kami nahirapang kausap ang GMA Artist Center dahil siguro they believe in the project.

"Aayusin lang ang schedule ni Rocco dahil may regular taping days siya ng teleserye niya.

"I was informed na Rocco is excited about this good news, and he doesn't feel a bit uneasy for being a replacement only or dahil second choice siya.

"Naniniwala akong given the right motivation, passion, and understanding of the character of Calungsod, Rocco can play the role well, with justice.

"After all, baka it's God's will talaga na mapunta sa kanya ang role, through the intercession of San Pedro Calungsod."

WITH BLESSING. Kasalukuyan pang inaayos ang ibang detalye para sa formal contract signing ni Rocco para sa paggawa niya ng pelikula.

Pero officially ay may "basbas" na ito ng direktor, base sa pagsang-ayon na rin verbally ni Fabros sa komunikasyon nito kay Villacorta.

Sa pamamagitan naman ng text message na ipinadala ni Rocco sa PEP associate editor na si Erwin Santiago kaninang umaga, ipinarating ng aktor ang kanyang kasiyahan sa pagkakapili sa kanya upang gumanap bilang San Pedro Calungsod.

Aniya, "I feel honored to be considered for the role. I'm just happy to be part of the project."

Samantala, masaya rin ang producer ng pelikula na si Ida Tiongson sa naging takbo ng mga pangyayari, dahil naging healthy naman daw ang discussion ng production sa aktor na papalit kay JM.

Sabi ni Ida, "I am happy, at ease, and at peace now that we have a new actor to portray Pedro Calungsod.

"Hindi biro ang maghanap ng aktor to play the part 'coz after all, he's a new Filipino saint.

"For some reasons, I can see in Rocco's eyes that he can deliver the role of San Pedro Calungsod.

"Of course, I also trust the vision of our director, Francis, who created this material and he has researched to do the script for more than two years.

"I'm glad that you introduced me to him."

Si Ida ay isang bagong film producer, at isa sa mga na-produce na indie films ng kanilang Hubo Productions ay ang In Nomine Matris, nanalo ng Gender Sensitivity Award at Best Festival Actress for Liza Diño sa New Wave Section ng MMFF 2012.

A few days ago ay naisumite na ni Direk Francis ang formal letter nila informing the MMFF Executive Committee na si Rocco na ang kapalit ni JM. The letter was addressed to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, thru Jesse Ejercito na chairman naman ng MMFF.

Kasamang isinumite ni Francis ang formal waiver na pirmado ng ama ni JM na si Mr. Ronniel de Guzman, na pormal na pinuntahan ng una.

Kabilang pa rin sa original cast ng San Pedro Calungsod, Batang Martir sina Christian Vazquez, Ryan Eigenmann, Robert Correa, Carlo Gonzalez, Arthur Solinap, Mico Palanca, Geoff Taylor, Isadora Velasquez, BJ Forbes, Cholo Barretto, Johnron Tañada, at Kiko Matos.

Si San Pedro Calungsod ay isang Katoliko at tubong-Cebu.

Isa siyang migrant, sakristan, at missionary catechist.

Kasama ang Spanish Jesuit missionary na si Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, nakaranas siya ng matinding pagpapahirap mula sa mga Chamorro natives sa Marianas (old Guam) sa kanilang pagpapalaganap ng Salita ng Diyos noong 1672, hangggang sa naging martir sila't namatay sa ngalan ng Kristiyanismo.

Pormal na na-beatify si Calungsod noong March 2000, by Pope John Paul II, at na-canonize bilang ikalawang santong Pinoy, ni Pope Benedict XVI, at Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City noong October 2012.

0 Pilgrims to promote ‘Barkada ni Pedro’ at World Youth Day

Thirty-eight pilgrims from the Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese of Cebu will bring ‘Barkada ni Pedro’ (BNP) to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil during the World Youth Day celebration this month.

Marlito Cabigas, BNP administrator, said the delegation will promote San Pedro Calungsod to the participants of this international youth gathering through the facebook fan page.

If they ‘like’ the page, they will receive daily updates about San Pedro Calungsod and our Catholic faith.

0 Age not a bar for youngsters to pursue their civic duty

Young members of the San Pedro Calungsod Parish Church in Toledo City reported for election duties for C-Cimpel in the last elections.

A number of volunteers from the Parish Youth Coordinating Council (PYCC) of Toledo City brought Election Returns (ER) of Toledo City to the operations center of the Cebu Citizen’s Involvement and Maturation in People Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel) last Friday.

The youngsters, some even too young to vote, shared their experiences and motivation to go on election duty as poll watchers or C-Cimpel Voters Assistance Center volunteers.

Ruben Sucalit, an 18-year old Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education student, Gretchelle Famor, 17 and Rolando Nuezana, 15 were in the C-Cimpel main office in the San Carlos Seminary in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City to turn over ERs from Toledo City.

C-Cimpel fielded poll watchers in Cebu’s 3,169 polling precincts and also established Voting Assistance Centers in polling centers around Cebu.

C-Cimpel receives copies of the ERs in behalf of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Election (Namfrel).

Productive

Sucalit, said PYCC has 55 volunteers in C-Cimpel. He said they volunteered for election duties to do something productive this summer.

“We volunteered since we want to experience something that we have not yet done,” Sucalit said.

According to Sucalit, C-Cimpel poll watchers in Toledo City had a two-day training in April.

And young as they are, their were moments they became nervous during their election duty because of rumors circulating about troublemakers roaming around.

Sucalit, an ER collector and at the same time a poll watcher said: “Makuyawan ko sa kong experience as election returns collector kay ingon nila na kuyaw ang election karon kay although dili sya gubot, pero hilom kayo ang pamaagi.”

(I was afraid of my role as ER collector because some people said the election now is dangerous.)

These young men sacrificed their hours of sleep in order to be early during the election. Although you cannot see outward trouble, the election operators are doing their jobs silently.)

“We were already at the polling centers at 6 a.m. no matter how far the place would be, still we have to be there since it is our obligation,” Sucalit said.

No complaints

Sucalit and his other friends worked from 6 a.m. last Monday until 5 a.m. the next day.

These young men although they were up the whole election period, never complained. “Dungan mi ug uli atong higayona and we were so hyper. Wala mi doula ug kakapoy. Naanad nasad mi tungod sa among pagka PYCC nadala na lang sad ang training and our pastor and parish church also were there to support us,” Famor said.

(We went home together still very energitic. We are used to it, because we were trained in the PYCC, and our pastor and parish were there to support us.)

Although Famor and Nuezana, were not yet of voting age, they were assigned at the Volunteer Assistance Center and were tasked to guide voters to their assigned voting precincts. “We were the ones who assisted the people where their respective precincts are. And because we have to engage with people, we should not be shy in facing them,” Famor said.

“We assisted the oldies and the pregnant women and we were the ones who were confronted by people who had complaints in finding their precincts,” she added.

Nuezana, the youngest of the group said: “Kung unsay nakat-onan namo sa seminar, na di mo tubay sa makiglalis kay C-Cimpel mi, among gi apply among na learn.”   (We applied what we were taught, not to argue with voters.)

“Nakat-on ug pataas pasensya kay daghan lahi lahi ug batasan during election. Naay uban aborido kayo ang ulo during sa pag pangita sa names nila,” he said.

(We have learned to be patient because we dealt with people whose demeanors are different. There are those whose tempers are already high because of difficulty looking for their names.)

And still fresh from the challenging election duties, these youngsters are setting their sights on another task – serving in the Flores de Mayo.

“Kami nagdala sa Flores de Mayo. Naa pa mi trabaho sa church, pero gi sacrifice sa to namo para sa election. Gi-tunga namo among manpower para sa C-Cimpel and Flores de Mayo,” Nuezana said. (We were in charge of the Flores de Mayo. We just took off from that duty to serve the election.)

The youngsters said that they volunteered because they want to develop themselves in a way that they can be drawn near to God and become responsible citizens in our country.

The three said that as a volunteer, they had learned to be time-conscious since they were told to be early during the election.

People were already lining up in the precincts an hour before the election opened.

Christine Emily L. Pantaleon, Correspondent
Cebu Daily News

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

0 BO-PK, Team Rama bets hear Mass

It was unplanned, but supporters of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) filled the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel in the South Road Properties (SRP) to the brim for a thanksgiving mass yesterday afternoon.

Led by Cebu City mayoral candidate Tomas Osmeña, the BOPK slate, attended the Mass officiated by Msgr. Vicente Tupas, chaplain of the San Pedro Calungsod chapel.

Team Rama meanwhile heard Mass at 8:30 p.m. in the Rama compound in barangay Basak-Pardo.

According to Rama’s spokesman, the Mass was attended by about 300 people, mostly candidates and their families. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Jerome Cayetano, chaplain of the University of San Carlos.

After the mass, they will have an overnight vigil until voting opens at 7 a.m.

In his homily, Tupas likened the plight of candidates in general to the joys and sacrifices of Jesus Christ during his time.

He mentioned the joys of giving the best to the people, organizing the people, knowing what strategies to make and the support from the people.

“We pray for a favorable elections,” Tupas added. But to whose favor, nobody is sure.

BOPK north district congressional candidate Raul Del Mar came in late during the mass. He told Cebu Daily News that he had last minute meetings with leaders of various barangays in his house.

Right after the mass ended, Osmeña, went on stage.

“Lets pray for a peaceful election. And we’d like to greet also all the mothers. I think if all the mothers voted for BOPK, that’s enough,” he told the crowd who immediately applauded.

He then told the crowd to wait and then asked his candidates to go outside first so that they will be able to “greet the people as they leave.”

Some supporters wore “Type O” shirts, ballers and button pins. The candidates, though, wore their Sunday’s best with no trace of the colors blue and yellow which their party is known for.

Jose Santino S. Bunachita, Correspondent with reports from Doris C. Bongcac
Cebu Daily News