Two Filipino saints

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Yesterday, Christendom marked the first Friday of the month after Ash Wednesday on Feb. 22, which means that we will be commemorating the Lenten Season not too long from now.

It is significant to note that on Monday, the Catholic Church reminded the faithful that we are celebrating the last day when Blessed Pedro Calungsod will be addressed as such. This is primarily because on October 21 this year, the beatified being will be canonized as a saint, making him the second Filipino saint after St. Lorenzo Ruiz.

That Blessed Calungsod hails from Cebu is a fact that is met with much jubilation among his fellow Cebuanos. After all, Cebu is the bastion of Christianity and became the bulwark of the practice of one’s faith soon after Ferdinand Magellan set foot on the island, bringing a giant cross at the exact spot where it is now, making it part of the pilgrimage of any visitor going to Cebu. The place, aptly called Magellan’s Cross, is right at the heart of the city.

With the canonization of Blessed Calungsod, many are wont to say that, perhaps, this is a good indication that we have been called once more to put our faith in God, most especially in these times when anything can just happen. It is said that if there are disasters and calamities, people turn fatalistic or just surrender everything to the Lord.

These two Filipino saints, before reaching their stature today, manifested several miraculous deeds documented and validated by the Catholic Church. In situations where faith may be the only thing holding everyone together, it is important to appeal to these two Filipinos, well known for their spirituality, to look upon us and guide us.

We certainly owe it to the Filipinos’ act of putting premium on our unwavering faith as we in Negros Oriental buckle down to rebuilding our lives after the twin disasters – typhoon Sendong and the 6.9 magnitude earthquake – hit our island one after the other in this yet early part of the year.

When all else fails, it is God’s omnipotence that will spell the difference.*