CEBU, Philippines - "I feel renewed, I feel blessed," said 16-year-old student Michelle Monica, one of the 107 individuals who received the sacrament of confirmation sponsored by the Jose R. Gullas Halad Foundation at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday morning.
The mass confirmation was attended by elementary and high school students from three campuses of the University of the Visayas - Main, Pardo, and Mandaue.
Also present were the family of the students and the teaching staff of the university. The internationally acclaimed UV Chorale joined the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Msgr. Esteban Binghay.
The mass confirmation is one of the annual activities sponsored by the JRG Halad Foundation.
Aside from the university students, there were two couples who received confirmation. The couples are among the beneficiaries of the mass wedding on Thursday, which is also sponsored by the foundation.
"Dili igo ang sacramento sa bunyag, aron motambok atong kalag, nagkinahanglan ta magpakonpirma. Aron kini paglig-on sa atong kabubut-on nga tumanon ang atong saad sa bunyag nga isalikway ang sala ug dawaton ang Ginoo sa atong kinabuhi," Binghay said during the homily.
Binghay anointed with oil those who received the sacrament as a "feasible sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit."
Nena Gullas, co-founder of JRG Halad Foundation, said it is their third year of giving support to the event.
"We came up with this, since instead of making parties, we'd like to give back the blessings we have; we'd like to share it with those who need it," she said. — (FREEMAN)