Emilio Aguinaldo College opens San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel Josephine Darang Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 17, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—It was a beautiful sunny day of Oct. 8 when the San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel was blessed by Fr. Joseph Siu, chaplain of Medical Center Manila. An old audio-visual room in the International Language building that can seat a hundred was turned into a chapel, and the beautiful statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz enthroned at the right side of the altar.
With Sr. Flordeliza and the nuns of the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (MCST) making up the choir, Fr. Joseph concelebrated Mass with two Indian priests, Martin and Fidelis. Campus minister, Bro. Jim Caelda, was commentator.
The enthronement of San Lorenzo Ruiz came a week before the 22nd anniversary of his canonization in Rome (Oct. l8, l987). At that time Cardinal Jaime Sin encouraged Filipinos to seek the intercession of our first Filipino saint.
Danny Dolor, chair of the school board; Dr. Jose Paulo Campos, president; dean Nelida Lares of the College of Arts and Sciences, faculty members and students welcomed the saint in the new chapel.
It was a dream come true for Dolor to put up a chapel dedicated to him. Masses are held Saturdays, 3:30 p.m.
Philippine Leprosy Mission
With the canonization of St. Damien de Veuster last Oct. 11 in Rome, the Philippine Leprosy Mission (PLM) is more encouraged to inform people that there is cure for leprosy through the proper multi-drug therapy.
PLM needs help to augment its resources for free medicine and to continue the PLM educational assistance program for children of leprosy patients. High school cost per school year is P7,540, while a vocational or technical course is Pl6,500. Please make checks payable to the Philippine Leprosy Mission or deposit donations at the BPI West Triangle branch, peso account number 3053-45l8-36.
Call tel 332-l735 or telefax 376-6l42 (Dra. Gemma Cabanos or Rachel); e-mail plm@leprosy.org.ph.
Ina Poon Bato miracle
Rosellyn Magsaysay called from the Camara Evacuation Center in Botolan, Zambales, to say that no one drowned when the dam broke. Water lilies were floating and people clung to the wood attached to the water lilies. She said that it was Ina Poon Bato who saved them. As thanksgiving, a special Mass will be celebrated at Manila Cathedral, Oct. 28, l2 noon. We will also ask the Lord to spare the nation from another typhoon.
Shelter tents
It came as a surprise when Lyne Abanilla, past governor of District 38l0 (covering Manila, Pasay, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro), told me that 300 shelter tents were put up in Botolan, Zambales in the aftermath of Typhoon “Morakot” (Kiko) that hit the province on Aug. 5. The tents were in boxes from the Rotary Clubs in Australia and England. Thus, Rotary District 3790 was able to put up 300 tents that served as shelters for displaced villagers.
The weakening of the Bucao dike which protected Botolan and nearby areas caused the release of muddy waters that quickly submerged the homes. The floodwaters rose more than 1.5 meters, forcing residents to seek refuge in Porac and Bucao.
‘Ondoy’
Then, “Ondoy” struck Sept. 26. Abanilla told me there are already 225 shelter boxes in transit for flood victims in Marikina who lost their homes.
As a result of this devastation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headed by Secretary Lito Atienza and the l0 districts of Rotary International in the Philippines will work together to plant one million trees nationwide, especially in places where there are Rotarians.
Fashion for a cause
Ben Farrales, founding chair of the Congregacion del Santissimo Nombre del Niño Jesus, is spearheading “Fashion for a Cause” for typhoon victims on Oct. 28, 6 p.m. at PICC Plenary Hall. With the help of Congregacion members and Mellie Ablaza as chair, it will feature the clothes of l80 fashion designers, mostly from the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP).
Fashion directors and designers are giving their services for free.
Cash donations are welcome for the relief efforts of the Philippine National Red Cross. Everybody is invited.
Zonta bazaar
Zonta Club Manila Foundation holds a Christmas bazaar as one of its fundraisers on Oct. 25, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Hotel Intercontinental Manila. Call Cathy at 928-05l2 or text 0920-542-9559.
