Thanksgiving Mass area to become historical site?

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Council is set to discuss on Wednesday the proposal to declare as a historical site the place at the South Road Properties where the national thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod was held last Nov. 30.

Calungsod, reportedly a native from a southern Cebu town, was canonized in Rome last Oct. 21 as the Philippines’ second saint, after he was murdered in Guam on Apr. 2, 1672 while together with the Jesuit priest Diego Luis de San Vitores.

The Jesuits traveled from Cebu to the Ladrones Islands in Guam to baptize the natives there into Christianity.  After they baptized a boy without his father’s permission San Vitores and Calungsod were  killed by the boy’s father.

According to councilor Edgardo Labella the national thanksgiving Mass is an event of historical significance for the entire country, particularly because it was attended by President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

It was also reported that over a million devotees from different parts of Visayas and Mindanao attended the Mass.

Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma have requested that the place where the templete is located will be declared a historical site.

Labella said declaring the place as a historical site will always remind the people of the significance of the thanksgiving activity to which they can look back and remember “with gratitude and grace”.

It is expected that the proposal of Labella will be referred first to the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission for comment and further study.

If CHAC will give its favorable endorsement, the city council will then hold a public hearing where the religious leaders and other concerned sectors of society will be invited to give their sentiments.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)