Vidal: Mary saved us

CEBU, Philippines – In celebration of the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary yesterday, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal celebrated Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Lindogon in Simala, Sibonga town.

During his homily, he called the Virgin Mother the instrument for the salvation of the faithful.

“There are two important days in our lives - the day we were born and the day we realize the reason why,” he said in telling those gathered that Mary was aware of such reason and obeyed.

He said that Mary was created by God to become the mother of Jesus Christ, and her body becomes the instrument for the forgiveness of our sins and of our salvation.

“Mao kini mga igsuon ang sukaran sa misteryo sa mahal nga Birhen. Ang lawas ni Maria nahimong instrumento sa atong kaluwasan nga gihimo ni Kristo. Bisan tuod ang iyang lawas ginama sa Diyos aron makahatag og lawas sa iyang Anak, si Maria lawasnon usab nga mituman sa kabubut-on sa Diyos,” the retired prelate said.

Throngs of devotees joined the 10 a.m. Mass to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her assistance especially in times of need.

They were among the hundreds of devotees and pilgrims from many parts of the country who flocked to the Simala Shrine and offered flowers.

Vidal ended his homily by saying that the entire existence of Mary, her body and her soul, became the instrument for the fulfillment of the will of God. Like at the start of the celebration, the congregation also sang a birthday song for the Blessed Virgin Mother at the end of the Mass.

A few hours later, a vendor outside the Shrine played savior to a storeowner whom a thief victimized at 1:13 p.m. after he called for help and caused the arrest of Argen Clifford Terogo, 22.

Terogo, a resident of Cogon, Carcar City, had to make a stop at the Carcar City, Cebu Provincial Hospital for treatment of his bruises before going to the Sibonga Police Station detention cell after bystanders and habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) drivers ganged up on him while he was attempting to flee.

Senior Inspector Rolando Antipolo, Sibonga Police Station chief, said Terogo victimized Vidal Rabanez by taking the 65-year-old’s wallet that reportedly contained P45,000 while he (Rabanez) was busy attending to customers.

Rabanez, a resident of Lindogon, Sibonga, owns a store of local delicacies such as ampao and torta outside the Simala Shrine.

It was another vendor beside Rabanez’s store who noticed that Terogo reportedly took the wallet from inside the victim’s drawer.

After he was discovered, Terogo managed to ran around 300 meters before he got caught and mauled.

Antipolo said that when barangay tanods Rolando Jimenez and Rulito Navia arrived, Terogo was already bloodied and bruised in different parts of his body.

Antipolo also said that what got returned to Rabanez was only P16,050. He theorized that part of the contents of the wallet likely fell while Terogo was trying to escape and that the money may have been taken by people who were among those who gave chase.

“Basin natagak ang mga kwarta. Posible gikuha sa mga tawo nga nigukod sa iya,” Antipolo said, adding that their investigation into the incident is ongoing.

He also said that a vendor who lost a phone identified as his a cellphone the police discovered hidden under Terogo’s briefs after they frisked him at the police station.

Antipolo said Terogo’s mother visited the young man at the station and informed the police that the suspect got jailed once already in Carcar City also for theft. —/RHM (FREEMAN)