MANILA, Philippines - American actor Soren Fulton started donating money to the American Leprosy Mission (ALM) since he started a career in the movies when he was 9 years old. He heard about a child suffering from leprosy when he attended a concert in their church. He decided to help right then and there.

Now 17, Soren continues to help the projects of ALM and also Philippine Leprosy Mission. He is scheduled to arrive in Manila on July 21 and will go to Cebu afterward. Christopher Doyle, ALM president, will accompany Soren to the Philippines.

In Cebu, Soren will also visit ALM and PLM project partners for research such as the Leonard Wood Memorial Research Lab, Eversley Child?s Sanitarium (ECS) and community development projects like daycare centers and scholars within ECS. These organizations are comprised of people with leprosy.

Leprosy curable

Dr. Gemma Cabanos, PLM executive director, says leprosy is now curable with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT). Cabanos used to work with World Health Organization in Switzerland from 1997 to 2003 as a medical officer for leprosy.

PLM?s vision, she says, is to make people aware that we can work for God?s glory. We should stop discriminating against people afflicted with leprosy. PLM supports the education of the children of leprosy patients through scholarships.

In addition, PLM takes care of community development projects in Zamboanga, Bicol and PLM-initiated leprosy activities in Ilocos Norte to make people aware of the importance of skin health and early detection of leprosy.

Those who wish to help PLM can deposit their donations to BPI (West Triangle branch) peso account #3053-4518-36. Donations are tax-exempted. For more info, click www.leprosy.prg.ph.

Glorious celebration

The glorious celebration of Nuestra Señora de Guia?s fiesta last May 19 affirms her devotees? love for her. During the Holy Mass celebrated by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, three bishops and 30 priests, the people joined the Marian Choir of St. Pius X Parish in singing praises to God and proclaiming filial love for the Virgin Mary. Kundirana, a group of young male singers from La Salle, sang before the final blessing.

Fr. Sanny de Claro, parish priest and rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia, told the faithful that May 19 is also his mother?s birthday. Hermana Mayor Vicky Amalingan-Sales assured us in her speech that Nuestra Señora de Guia will always be there for us, as she was with Vicky all her life.

Cristina Ponce-Enrile, who was present at the event, said she has been devoted to the Virgin since 1938. She grew up in Ermita in a house across the church.

For 437 years, Nuestra Señora de Guia (One Lady of Guidance) has been venerated since her image was discovered by a Spanish soldier when Adelantado Miguel de Legazpi entered Manila in 1571. The soldier found her atop a pandan bush on the place where the church is now. The natives dressed in tribal attire were praying to her. It makes her the oldest Marian image in the Philippines.

Capitanas during the bota flores Maria Guia Nazareno and cousin Francesca Nazareno Rivilla showered the Virgin with flowers. Both 16 years old, the young girls are now beginning to be devoted to her.

Breakfast with monks

Three years ago on the second Sunday of the month, the Benedictine monks in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, began serving breakfast to churchgoers after the 8 a.m. Mass.

Don Martin de Jesus Gomez of the Monastery of the Transfiguration told me there were only 30 people then. Now, there are 250 coming all the way from Cagayan de Oro and Davao to hear Mass and later have breakfast ?al fresco? in the garden.

People visit Our Lady of Montserrat, who is enthroned in the main altar of the monastery chapel. Our Lady of Montserrat is the patroness of the monastery. Once a month, the monks serve buffet breakfast after the 8 a.m. Mass every second Sunday. It?s a coming together in fellowship to help the monastery.

Museum

Don Martin de Jesus told me that the monastery is building a two-story museum that would be the home of liturgical vestments made of indigenous materials, which were exhibited at Ayala Museum years ago and also in Los Angeles.

Photographs telling the history of the monastery founded in 1983 by Abbott Eduardo Africa, OSB, will be mounted by well-known photographer George Tapan on the first floor. Its opening on Aug. 5 will mark 25 years of the monastery?s existence. Dom Martin says this is one way of keeping sacred the things entrusted to them, as stated in a chapter in the Benedictine Rule.

Camarin of the Virgin

Dr. Jaime Laya, former chairman of the Intramuros Administration, has initiated the restoration of the Camarin de La Virgen in Sta. Ana Parish, in cooperation with Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion.

A concert, ?Ave Maria,? will be held May 27, 4 p.m., inside the church. The camarin is behind the main altar. People line up to touch or kiss her veil and pray.

Months before I left for New York last Feb. 25, I asked her that US visas be granted to the two artists going with me.

Tito Estrada had a very successful exhibit opening at the Philippine Center. Ali Garcia and his best friend Muriel Monserate helped set up the exhibit. Thank you, Mama.

St. Padre Pio

Cardinal Rosales will celebrate Mass today at 10 a.m. at the Philippine Center of St. Padre Pio on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the saint (May 25).