CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma announced yesterday that the Duaw Nasud will continue this year as many dioceses requested to be visited by the pilgrim image of the second Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod.
Palma, who heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that Fr. Charles Jayme will still be the official custodian of the pilgrim image once the Duaw Nasud will resume.
“However, we may adopt a new theme like after the canonization, what are the values that Calungsod has shared that served as an inspiration to the youth and the devotees,†Palma said.
Jayme earlier expressed optimism that Duaw Nasud will resume as the objectives of the activity includes the integration of the image of St. Pedro Calungsod to the entire nation, at the same time propagate more the devotion to San Pedro Calungsod among the Filipino Catholics.
Jayme added that the activity also aims to share with the whole nation, the honor and joy of having another Filipino whose name is being inscribed by the Universal Church in the catalogue of saints.
There are 16 archdioceses, 57 dioceses, six prelatures, six apostolic vicariates and one military ordinariate in the entire country.
Jayme said that they were only able to cater to six archdioceses, 29 dioceses, and one military ordinariate in the country during the Duaw Nasud activity after the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod in October 21 last year and prior to the National Thanksgiving Mass last November 30.
As another way of spreading the devotion to San Pedro Calungsod, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will soon circulate P50 bills with the image of Calungsod.
“We hope that the effect is more of treasuring something that is significant, it will be more of a collector’s item and not like the other denomination that has only face value but has no significant historical or religious value,†said Palma.
Henrietta de Villa, secretary-general of the National Commission on the Canonization of Calungsod, said yesterday that the bills would promote awareness about Calungsod.
De Villa, who once served as Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican, said the bills are expected to come out before April. —/MBG (FREEMAN)