Estrada to tap PCSO funds for beatification

CEBU - President Estrada may tap the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to help the Archdiocese of Cebu fund its preparations for the beatification rites of Visayan catechist Pedro Calungsod in Vatican City on March 5.

Mr. Estrada himself hinted at this as he took part in the celebration of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal's 69th birthday last Sunday.

Mr. Estrada denied he visited Cebu to raise about P20 million for the beatification of Calungsod through his Cebuano businessman-friends.

But during a press conference at the Visayas Command, he said that he may ask the PCSO and voluntary sponsors to help fund the preparations for the beatification rites.

This contradicted an earlier statement from Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican who said the government could not financially support the Church activity.

What the government could do, Barican said, is to help facilitate the papers of the delegation and pilgrims who will attend the beatification rites, through the Philippine Embassy in Rome.

PCSO regional director William Medici said he has not yet received instructions from his superiors to donate funds to the Church activity.

Medici said giving financial aid will be decided at the level of the President and higher PCSO officials, but hinted that the assistance can be withdrawn from the PCSO's discretionary or promotional funds.

According to knowledgeable sources, the Church is trying to raise funds for expenses that include preparations for the solemnity of the Vatican Basilica and for paintings representing the newly beatified, which will be presented to the Pope, the cardinals, officials and consultors of the Congregation of Rites.

Each delegate, not the Church, will shoulder his or her own travel expenses. The number of delegates will be known by Feb. 15.

The delegation, which will be led by Vidal and possibly First Lady Luisa Ejercito, will leave Manila for Rome on March 3 and return on March 9.

The President earlier declined an invitation by Cardinal Vidal to join the beatification rites. However, he said he will be sending the First Lady in his stead.

"He (the President) cannot come with us. Because as head of state, it needs months of preparation for an official visit and we have only three weeks. So it is impossible. I requested instead that the First Lady come with us," Vidal told reporters.

The beatification, to be held at Saint Peter's Square, will be officiated by Pope John Paul II.

Calungsod was a young lay Catholic from the Visayas who served the Jesuit Mission in the Marianas as a catechist and helper from June 16, 1668 to April 2, 1672.

On the day of the beatification, all Cebu parishes will peal their bells to show that the entire Cebuano community is joining the rites.