CALUBIAN, LEYTE, Philippines – Businesswoman Marilou “Malot” Galenzoga shared a miraculous story about her sister who felt gravely ill that doctors acknowledged that only divine intervention maybe needed for the patient to recover.
Galenzoga, a mayoralty hopeful in Baybay City, was one of two hermanos of this year’s feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, celebrated last Sunday in this town. The other one was Cebu City congressional candidate Dr. Marlo Maamo.
“My sister did not lose hope and eventually asked St. Therese for a sign,” said Galenzoga, quoting her sister praying: “If somebody gives me three white roses ‘I will be healed.’”
Before her sister can finish her prayer, a woman-stranger approached and said to her: “Can you offer these white roses to St. Therese?” Galenzoga’s sister did gladly as told.
“What moved me was the fact that at that time, roses were scarce, much more the white ones, because of typhoon and flooding,” Galenzoga narrated in near tears gesturing to her sister inside the St. Therese Shrine above the hill.
The St. Therese feast proved anew to be a crowd drawer in this northern part of the island. The hermanos brought with them the Mandaue Singing Sons Choir and Cebu entertainers, including the legendary Julian Daan, as the devotees and local folks gathered in the socio-religious gathering.
Shrine founders Hilongos, Leyte Mayor Jose Emery Roble and Rey Martinez led the fluvial procession participated by locals and visitors.
The pilgrims, including Mayor Roble, were amazed of the Galenzoga story. The mayor told The Freeman: “I myself knew of the several miracle stories, including the apparition of St. Therese in this area, but I can’t help to wonder how many more people can be touched by the story especially that the sister of Malot Galenzoga is with us now, physically fit after miraculously surviving a death threatening experience.” (FREEMAN)