Cardinal Vidal recalls acts of kindness by Felicidad Sy
All roads led to Cebu’s largest reclaimed area for the blessing of the much-awaited SM Seaside City — a 94,000-square-meters circular structure grandly lording over the South Road Properties, making it the third in the province which already includes the ever-so-popular SM City within the busy metropolis and the pride of the north, SM City Consolation.
With Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the celebration of the Mass was officiated by Jose Cardinal Palma and concelebrated with Bishop Antonio Rañola, Monsignor Roberto Alesna and Monsignor Jonie Tupas, the parish priest of the archdiocese’s most-sought after venue for weddings, the chapel of San Pedro Calungsod in the company of 40 priests and deacons.
The University of Cebu chorus led the singing of the hymns.
The brief sharing by Cardinal Vidal was heartwarming. He confessed that when he was still a young seminarian during the Shoemart in Quiapo days, he was a grateful recipient of the generosity of the Sy family matriarch Felicidad Sy — that act of kindness continues to this day.
The Sy children present were Tessie Sy-Coson, Hans Sy, Elizabeth Sy and Herbert Sy.
After the blessing and the throwing of coins to adhere to tradition, they proceeded to several stores for individual blessings with a member of the Sy family and the management team for the ribbon cutting.
