CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archishop Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal yesterday conferred the Cross of Honor for service to the Church and the Pontiff (Cross Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice) to 32 Cebuano papal awardees who have rendered valuable service and contributions to the Roman Catholic Church.
The pontifical medal is the highest honor that Pope Benedict XVI gives to the laity and religious groups.
Vidal said that awardees have been nominated by the different dioceses and have been serving the Church in their own way for at least 20 years now.
Among the awardees are The FREEMAN chairman Dr. Jose R. Gullas and his brother Cebu 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, Cebu 2nd district Rep. Pablo Garcia and former Cebu City congressmen Raul del Mar and Antonio Cuenco.
Dr. Gullas has been a long-time supporter of Church causes, including the ongoing restoration of the Oslob church which was destroyed by a fire.
Cebu legislators Gullas, Garcia, Del Mar and Cuenco were awarded due to their steadfastness in blocking the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill during the previous Congress.
Garcia and Cuenco in an interview after the ceremony said that they will continue to go against the bill which promotes values that are against the Catholic Church.
The rest of the awardees were Atty. Paterno Acabodillo; Marimel Bautista; Natividad Bondoc; Dr. Recaredo Borgonia; Archt. Jose Mari Canizares; Engr. Celestino Condor; former representative Antonio Cuenco; Engr. Pericles Dakay; former representative Raul Del Mar; Victoria Enriquez; Rep. Pablo Garcia; Amado Go; Fr. Giovanni Iacono; Belen Japson; Emerito Lumapas; Sr. Ma. Rosa Magapan, DST; Atty. Makilito Mahinay; Margarita Maria Matheu; Dr. Fe Lola Melgar; Atty. Juanita Montesclaros; Priscilo Orcullo; former Cebu City councilor Arsenio Pacaña; Fr. Robert Rice, SJ; Fr. Roderick Salazar Jr., SVD; Sabas Lee Suarez; Mary Sy; Sr. Ma. Florita Taylaran, RVM; Elvira Urpiana; Paz Wong and Archt. Joseph Yu.
Japson is the oldest among the awardees, she will be turning 100 years old on January 24 next year.
Japson has been serving the Church as a member of the Third Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. During her free time, she makes scapulars and rosaries she gives to people for free to keep them closer to God.
She is also serving at the Free Clinic of the Capitol Parish.
Japson was very honored to receive the award and has thanked God for her continuous existence.
Yesterday’s ceremony was part of the celebration of the 415th founding of Cebu as a diocese and 75th year as an archdiocese.
Awardees were given a medal that has a yellow and white strap with the images of the apostles Peter and Paul in the center of the square cross.
The Cross of Honor was instituted in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee, it was to be bestowed on women and men who have aided and promoted the jubilee and the Vatican Exposition. (THE FREEMAN)