MANILA, Philippines - The people of Barangay San Roque in the town of San Rafael, Bulacan, has reason to celebrate more joyously the feast of their patron saint this year. Although the feast day falls on Aug. 18, the blessing of the new chapel of San Roque by Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros took place on Aug. 16 at 9 a.m. What used to be a ?visita? since Japanese times is now an imposing edifice done in Baroque style by Architect Jovi Pancho with a ceiling of 25 meters high.
The miracle of how the new chapel came about began in 1984 when former Barangay Captain Cipriano ?Goto? Viologo Jr., a businessman, came to settle in San Rafael with his wife Maria Isabel Inoncillo, who is a native of the town. Capt. Goto, as he is fondly called, was the barangay captain of San Roque for 13 years. He was also president of the Association of Barangay Captains during that period. Now his son Mark Cholo Viologo is the barangay captain.
Whenever Viologo would pass by the chapel on his way home, he would always feel sad looking at the disrepair of the chapel. Although he is more a devotee of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, he promised San Roque that he would build him a new chapel.
Saving P700,000 from his own money, he commissioned Architect Pancho to do the design. First, he built the convento where the priest could rest when he came to say Mass. Eventually, the chapel grew with the old image of San Roque enthroned at the left side of the altar, the statue of the Mother of Perpetual Help on the right and an imposing Crucified Christ in the main altar. The Stations of the Cross are on the walls and a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the courtyard.
The chapel sitting on a 2,000 square meter area is so massive that it looks more like a parish church than a chapel. The old women in the barangay told Viologo that the ?visita? of San Roque was the first parish church during Japanese times. Perhaps, San Roque wanted his chapel to be bigger, so he used Viologo as the instrument to build it.
The miracle of God through the intercession of the saint was already felt during the construction of the chapel. Architect Jovi told Viologo that since he undertook the project, he received more commissions to design other projects.
I saw the chapel last Aug. 4 in the company of Engr. Paul Cruz and Dindo Viudez and we were amazed at the immensity of the chapel in size and grandeur. Viologo is happy that he was able to build the chapel using his own resources. He says that surely San Roque helped him raise the money. Now there is more space to accommodate people who attend regular Saturday Masses at 5:30 p.m.
Viologo also built a room that would serve as a mortuary where a decent wake could be held. There?s also a room for chapel meetings. The Chapel of San Roque has great possibilities to be a quasi parish.
Lyceum of Aparri
When Most Rev. Diosdado Talamayan became Archbishop of Tuguegarao, his dream was to put up a premier Catholic educational institution in Northern Luzon. The Lyceum of Aparri is a dream come true. With Fr. Joel Reyes as executive vice president, the university grew to include the recently built three-story Lyceum of Aparri Central Library.
Making this possible were Henry and Felicidad Sy of the SM Foundation. Now the school can offer comprehensive technology and research-based information. The library was blessed on July 25, feast day of St. James the Apostle. SM Foundation donated books to the library. It was a great help to Fr. Joel Reyes in the administration and Fr. Ferdinand Maguigad, Fr. Adrian Baculi and Fr. Prudencio Edralin.
Archbishop Talamayan gifted Mrs. Sy with his pectoral cross to express his appreciation and a plaque from the Lyceum of Aparri.
Divine Mercy
The Divine Mercy Foundation Mindanao Philippines, represented by Atty. Gerry Adaza, will turn the 50-foot Divine Mercy statue in the world on the 20-ft. Divine Mercy statue to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro on Sept. 8, 4:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Hills in PSB Ulaliman in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ and Archbishop Emeritus Jesus Tuguib will receive the statue in behalf of the archdiocese. The statue is believed to be the tallest in the world. Pilgrims are already beginning to arrive to pray to the Divine Mercy.
Administrator and curator of the statue are the Immaculate Conception priests who arrived from Stockbridge, Massachusetts. They are Polish and are devotees of the Divine Mercy and St. Faustina Kawolska. Adam?s Travel is organizing a pilgrimage (Sept. 5-8) to the Divine Mercy Hills and be part of the Marian Symposium. Call Pinky at 5211651/38.
Paco fiesta
The people of Paco will celebrate the 409th fiesta honoring The Lord of the Holy Sepulcher on Aug. 24, with the fiesta Mass at 7 a.m. and Bishop Broderick Pabillo as main celebrant. Msgr. Domingo Cirilos, Jr., parish priest, started the novena last Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Fiesta schedule includes the following celebrants: Msgr. Bobby Canlas (Aug. l7, 6 p.m.); Fr. Roderick Castro (Aug. l8, 6:30 p.m.); Fr. Alvin Fullon ( Aug. l9, 6:30 p.m.); Fr. Gerry Santos (Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m.); Fr. Anton Pascual (Aug. 2l, 6:30 p.m.); Fr. Alexander Thomas (Aug. 22, 6:30 p.m.); and Bishop Teodoro Bacani (Aug. 23, 6:30 p.m.).
The 2008 fiesta committee members belong to the Catholic Women?s League (Paco chapter). They are are Betty Azcarraga-Villa, chairperson.; for finance and ways and means: Sol Alturas-Yu, Mila Llorin, Ofelia Quiambao, Chel Alemany, Gloria del Rosario and Letty Cruz.
Isabela bishop
Fr. Joseph Nacua , OFMCap, will be ordained bishop on Aug. 19, 9 a.m. at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Zamboanga Sibugay province and will be installed new bishop of Isabela on Sept. 9. Tuguegarao Archbishop Diosdado A. Tamalayan, together with Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, and Ipil Bishop Julius S. Tonel will ordain him bishop. The homily will be given by Papal Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams.
St. Expeditus radio program
Listen to ?San Expedito, Ang santong madaling lapitan? tonight at 7-8 over Radio Veritas at 846 AM band. Fr. Diwane Cacao will do ?healing on the air.?
The 40th day of our friend Gilbert Perez of Philippine Graphic falls on Aug. 30. Friends will gather at Malate Church for the 6 p.m. Mass.
Saving a marriage
Retrouvaille Manila, an international ministry whose program is designed to help troubled couples overcome the stumbling blocks in their failing relationship, will have its last weekend seminar for 2008 on Aug. 22, 6 p.m. to Aug. 24, 4 p.m. The program addresses the breakdown of meaningful communication between husband and wife and the erosion of love, trust and respect.
Call Fr. Dave Clay at 0918-9020511 and 5250308; or Inday at 9389719 and 09164438346; or Zeny at 0917 8220115; or Neomi at 6815746 and 09163954642; or Merit at 0917 7950682. All calls are held in strict confidence.
