Aquino to speak at St. Pedro rites

CEBU, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III will deliver a speech during the National Thanksgiving Day for San Pedro Calungsod on November 30 at the South Road Properties.

Fr. Raul Gallego, head of the committee on venues of the Cebu Archdiocese, confirmed that Aquino will be present during the event.

He said Aquino will speak before millions of devotees attending the event from all over the country.

Stricter security will be imposed because of the presence of the president and other dignitaries.

Members of the local media covering the event were briefed yesterday by a team from the Radio TV Malacañang (RTVM) headed by William Mensenares Jr.

The RTVM, which will head the broadcast pool, will provide a center for the media.

But Mensenares said there will be no reporters allowed at the VIP area only one photographer or cameraman from every media outlet.

Gallego said aside from Aquino, Vice President Jejomar Binay and some senators will also attend the event.

Bishop Anthony Aporro of Guam and Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle also confirmed their presence in the event.

Image now in Mindanao

The official image of San Pedro Calungsod, which is now in Mindanao for the Duaw Nasud, is expected to arrive in Cebu City on November 27.

Fr. Charles Jayme had said the image will then be brought to the San Pedro Calungsod Shrine at the Archbishops’ Palace.

At 4 p.m., the image will be brought to Guadalupe Church for the first Triduum Mass, and the succeeding masses will be at the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at SM at the SRP.

The last Triduum Mass will be held at the St. Joseph’s Shrine in Mandaue City.

DVD copies

The archdiocese has already produced DVD copies of the movie on Calungsod’s life to be distributed to all parishes in Cebu.

The content of the movie includes the martyrdom of San Pedro Calungsod, the miracle that happened because of the prayer and the message of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

The film was realized through Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN), whose talents portray the different characters.

Venue for pilgrims

Fr. Jake Reyes, the chairman for the committee on local pilgrims, said they had allotted an area at the venue for pilgrims from other provinces.

Reyes added that the city, through Councilor Bob Cabarrubias, is asking shipping owners if they can lend container vans for those who could not go home after the event.

 The Cebu City Government will also put up a temporary holding area for devotees who will attend the National Thanksgiving Mass.

Mayor Michael Rama said the “Pilgrim Shelter” will push through, but it will not be like the devotee city that the city government  puts up every year for the Sinulog.

Cabarrubias, chairman of the devotee city committee, said the holding center will only provide chairs and tents to the devotees and not sleeping areas.

He said it has been agreed that they do not have to set up a devotee city since the pilgrims are unlikely to stay long because the thanksgiving  mass is a one-day event.

The pilgrim shelter will have tents with chairs, showers and comfort rooms.

Cabarrubias said 50 shower rooms and 50 portable toilets will be installed in the area.

The pilgrim shelter will be set up in the Compania Maritima where the city usually sets up its devotee city.

Cabarrubias said the city government has no enough tents for the activity so it has asked the help of neighboring towns and cities.

He said they also need assistance in the installation of shower rooms because the city has no enough pipes in stock.

The city government will also conduct a massive cleanup today and on November 24 in preparation for the Thanksgiving Mass, which is expected to draw thousands from other areas across the country.

In the City Council, Councilor Michael Ralota proposed an ordinance renaming the Mambaling Access Road in the SRP after San Pedro Calungsod.

Mayor Michael Rama is in favor of the proposal.

“Nag-rename man gani ta after Pope John Paul, kana na ba kaha na Saint na,” Rama said.

Free rides, car passes

From free bus rides to car passes, all’s set by the CITOM for the Thanksgiving Day.

“Andam na ang CITOM sa tanan including our traffic enforcers, parking aides, engineering personnel, and maintenance personnel,” said Joy Tumulak, CITOM Chief of Operations.

Tumulak said the city government has agreed to send 20 Kaohsiung buses that will bring the devotees to and from the venue.

Tumulak said some mini-bus operators have pledged to help in the preparations by deploying their buses which will be free of charge for the public.

Passenger jeepneys, meanwhile, will ply on certain limits as some roads will be closed on that day, he said.

He said the SRP will be closed to the public at 12 midnight on Nov. 30 and will be reopened at 7 am.

Monsignor Dennis Villarojo, Cebu Celebration Coordinator for the National Thanksgiving Mass, said the parking area in SRP can only accommodate up to 10,000 cars.

Villarojo said they will issue 40 car passes for four-wheeled vehicles and four car passes for six-wheeled vehicles in every parish. In Cebu, there are 150 parishes, he said.

Both Tumulak and Villarojo attended yesterday’s second coordinating meeting for the event. The final meeting will be held a week before the big day.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said they are ready for the event.

An estimated 1,000 personnel from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force are expected to augment the Philippine National Police in securing the area.

Additional manpower of 1,500 from the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps will also be deployed. — With Niña G. Sumacot and Ria Mae Y. Booc/LPM