MANILA, Philippines?For the first time, the parishioners of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pasig witnessed the changing of the ?manto,? halo and crown of their patroness in the evening of Sept. 4, four days before her birthday. Pasig Bishop Francisco San Diego officiated the blessing. Fr. Roy Rosales, cathedral rector and parish priest, assisted him together with Fr. Poly Ty and Fr. Randy Vergara of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers.

According to Bro. Antonio Miguel, curator of the Diocesano Museo de Pasig, the raiment of a canonically crowned image shows the intimacy between Our Lady and her people. The revered image, patroness of Pasig since l587, was ceremonially garbed with a vesture of intricately crafted halo, an aureate crown replete with precious stones and a richly ornamented ?manto? of exquisite gold needlework. The solemn rites were never experienced before by young Pasig residents.

Neither have I ever witnessed them, so much so that when the curtain covering her during the changing of raiment was removed, I knelt and cried. The others in the church knelt, too, emotionally touched. Baritone Aristene Casañas sang ?Ave Maria,? and soprano Jenny Garcia sang with him. The Bernie Pasamba Strong Ensemble played the music.

Making of the ?manto?

Bobby Bonifacio who lived and worked in Málaga, Spain for 30 years, designed the ?manto.? He told me he and Frieda Legaspi, camarera mayor of the ?Abang Lingkod ni Maria? that organized the event, were guided to Ferdinand Mopon in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to make the ?manto.? Ferdinand?s workers belong to the same barangay. You would think that Mopon was just an ordinary laborer.

But painstakingly embroidering the ?manto? for six months was indeed a labor of love. A member of the Eucharistic Adorers? League donated the ?manto,? while the Raymundo Legaspi family gave the halo and crown. Bro. Peter Reyes emceed the affair.

?Abang Lingkod ni Maria?

Members of the ?Abang Lingkod ni Maria? (humble servant of Mary) are: Wilfrieda R. Legaspi, camarera mayor; Keisha M. Legaspi, camarera infantile; Rebecca R. Caruncho, Myrna D. Legaspi, Virginia C. Yambao, assistant camareras; Bro. Antonio S. Miguel, history and heritage consultant; Bro. Jose ?Bobby? Bonifacio, designer and physical arrangement consultant; Bro. Wilfredo Caruncho, actualizer and stylist; Bro. Danilo de Leon, interior designer; Bro. Ariel J. Villarete, maintenance; and Leonora V. de Vicente, secretary and coordinator.

?Sambuklod?

Emily Galang-Sequeira writes from San Jose del Monte saying that ?Sambuklod? will honor San Lorenzo Ruiz on his feast day today. ?Sambuklod? is an acronym which stands for ?Sambayanang Buhay at Umuunlad Kasama si Lorenzong Dakila.?

The annual festivity is held at San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan under the guidance of its parish priest, Fr. Mario Jose C. Ladra (author of the best-selling prayer book, ?Straight From the Heart: A Prayer Companion?). It started with a nine-day Novena of Masses (Sept. l9-27). Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros will officiate the concelebrated Mass today.

Mural paintings

Mural paintings inside the church will be blessed by Malolos Bishop Oliveros today. Visit www.sanlorenzoruizparish.catholicweb.com. The Sambuklod Festival is now on flickr! Join the group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/sambuklod.

San Lorenzo Ruiz in New York

Bishop Oscar Solis of the Diocese of Los Angeles was the main celebrant and homilist of the Mass held at St. Patrick?s Cathedral last Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.

Organized by the Filipino Apostolate in New York, the event gathered Filipino devotees of San Lorenzo Ruiz in the city. The new archbishop Timothy Dolan attended. The chapel on Broome St. in lower Manhattan holds Mass every Sunday.

PWU Triduum

The Philippine Women?s University held a Triduum of Masses on Sept. 23-25, l2 noon at the University Chapel. Fr. Artemio Fabros, chaplain, will say the Mass and the fiesta Mass on Sept. 28.

The Ambassador of Light, choir of ?unsighted singers,? will sing at the l2 noon Mass at the Balik Gawa Processing Center of the POEA in Ortigas.

Free roses at the Carmelite Monastery

The Carmelite Monastery on No. 4 Gilmore St., New Manila, is inviting devotees to Masses on Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. l, 6 p.m. Free roses will be given away.

Building a bigger church

The Sta. Cruz Chaplaincy in Mansasa Heights in Tagbilaran City has always wanted to build a bigger church. Dedicated to St. Jude, the church sits on a lot donated by Lina and Pepe Ong. Fr. Sinforiano Monton, priest-in-charge, is asking kind-hearted readers to please help. Sol Alturas-Yu, who runs the Villa del Sol Resort, told me that construction began with the roofing and upper ground floor, but this has stopped due to insufficient funds. Please help. Call Fr. Sinforiano or Azon Botos at (00-6338) 235-6937.