CARDINAL GAUDENCIO Rosales candidly told guests attending the Friends of the Manila Cathedral launch that the cathedral?s roof was leaking and the walls were wasting away. He said: ?We need friends to help us, for the Manila Cathedral is the mother church of the archdiocese of Manila. But it is more than a place of worship.?

More than the story of a church, it is the story of Intramuros, the story of Manila, the story of the Philippines.

Rebuilt after World War II in 1958 through the order of then Rufino Cardinal Santos, and following the design of architect Fernando Ocampo, the Manila Cathedral Basilica is now falling apart and needs repair. Seeing the need for help, Letty Syquia and her friends formed the Friends of the Manila Cathedral and launched it on August 26 at the Forbes Park Pavillion.

Cardinal Rosales celebrated Mass with Monsignor Nestor Cerbo, rector and parish priest of the Manila Cathedral; Father Joel Sulse, parish priest of Santuario de San Antonio; Father Alvin Paras, his assistant; and Father Jay Lina of Bulacan.

The Coro de San Antonio sang during the Mass with Amelita Guevara as musical director.

Letty Syquia, president of the Friends, said that her group was helping and getting others to help because ?we need to preserve a spiritual, historical and cultural heritage.? It is hoped that the cathedral would be ready for the forthcoming Pipe Organ Festival gala concert on December 4. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the 150 voices singing on that day. Invited to conduct is Dr. Ernest Hoetzl from Austria.

To help, one can be a platinum member (a lifetime offering of P25,000 and above); gold member (P15,000); and silver member (P5,000). There are benefits for members. Please make checks payable to Friends of the Manila Cathedral.

You may submit your membership fee to the Manila Cathedral office or it can be picked up. Please call Monsignor Cerbo at 527-1796 or fax 536-0192 or e-mail mlacathedral@yahoo.com.

Other officers of the Friends are Danny Dolor and Cynthia Pastor, vice presidents; Ditas Posadas, secretary; Mercedes Diaz, treasurer; Patricia Soriano, assistant treasurer; lawyer Jose Luis Vera, auditor; and Concepcion ?Tata? Poblador, PRO. Msgr. Cerbo is executive director.

To help raise funds, baritone Jack Salud and soprano Jennifer Uy sang that night gratis et amore.

Peñafrancia Mass

The Metro Manila devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia will gather at the Manila Cathedral today at 6 p.m., to attend the Mass to be presided by Daet Bishop Emeritus Nestor Cariño with other Bicol clergy. Carmen Villafuerte Bernas told me that the book, ?Little Stories of Faith? will be launched November.

The coffeetable book edited by Minerva Fajardo also features the devotion to ?Ina? of Mariano ?Titoy? Villafuerte, who never fails to join the ?fluvial procession? of the Virgin de Peñafrancia in Naga as capitan del barco. Titoy is 80 years old and he believes that walking barefoot during the traslacion is a wish of ?Ina,? because all the pain from gout disappears when he is walking. The layout and design is by Eva Peñamora. Carmen Bernas is overall project coordinator.

Feast of the Holy Cross

All roads will lead up the mountain of San Jose, Tarlac, Sunday, when pilgrims will attend the Mass celebrating the feast of the Holy Cross at the Monasterio de Tarlac.

Run by the Servants of the Risen Christ (SRC), the monastery monks are the guardians of the Holy Relic of the True Cross of Jesus.

Father Archie Cortez, SRC, rector of the monastery, will assist Bishop Teodoro Bacani and other priests during the Mass at 9:30 a.m.

The Marian exhibit at the Museo de Tarlac is running until September 30. Father Elmer Gonzales, parish priest of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, coordinated with the provincial government headed by Goernor Victor Yap and hermana mayor Alma Twaño. Domingo ?Kuya D.? Tolentino is curator.

Spiritual journey

Father Mario Bije, SVD, will lead pilgrims to the Holy Land on November 10. It will be a spiritual journey with healing. Some of the pilgrims belong to the Bethesda Healing Center of which Father Bije is spiritual director.

Call Sonia Garcia at 772-1737 or e-mail spgtrvl@yahoo.com.