Many still want to own Pedrito doll

CEBU, Philippines -  The canonization of San Pedro Calungsod and the National Thanksgiving Mass in his honor are over, but orders keep on coming from those who want to own a Pedrito doll.

Aaron James Veloso of the New Media Team of the National Commission on the Canonization of Pedro Calungsod, one of the creators of Pedrito, said they have sold over 2,000 Pedrito dolls since they started producing them during the preparation for Calungsod’s canonization.

During the thanksgiving mass last Friday, they sold 300 dolls and got 100 instant orders apart from orders made online.

The New Media Team, however reminded that Pedrito is a catechetical tool meant to be used to teach children about Calungsod and not something to be venerated on altars.

Veloso said that Pedrito was originally not for sale. But the reception of the public made them realize it could be a good catechetical tool for the children.

There were originally 40 Pedrito dolls produced to aid the online geo-tagging scheme they created to track the itinerary of Calungsod’s official image in Rome and back here in the country.

The reproduction of more Pedrito dolls is not for purposes of reaching to the children, teach them the life of Pedro Calungsod and inspire them to become Saints.

“It is more on bringing Sainthood to the level that children will understand. We encourage parents to buy Pedrito to teach their children about San Pedro Calungsod,” Veloso said.

He said that having Pedrito blessed by the priest is not advised because once it is blessed, children can no longer play with it. 

The New Media Team is coming up with a new version, which will be a package of the Pedrito doll and a catechetical primer.

Veloso said the primer shall provide more information about Calungsod, how the latter was portrayed in the official image and a guide to teach Pedro Calungsod to the children. –FPL (FREEMAN)