WHEN I FIRST heard about Holy Guardian Angels Parish in Tuao, Cagayan Valley, from lawyer Amy Callueng years ago, I wanted to write about it right then because I am devoted to the angels. It was only when Fr. Eman Quintos was assigned to Tuao as assistant to Msgr. Gerry Perez, parish priest, did I have a chance to do so. My writing about the Tuao church comes at a time when the church needs restoration in time for the centennial anniversary of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao on April 10.

The parish has been chosen a Jubilee Church where the Christian people of the Itawes vicariate can go to pray and receive plenary indulgence.

The church will also celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2012, so there is need to restore the façade. Msgr. Gerry Perez, parish priest, has asked priest-architect, Fr. Alex Bautista to design the façade basing it on the look of the original Spanish church.

How to help

A minimum donation of P1,000 will go a long way, and as a way of thanking donors, their names will be inscribed in the Jubilee Wall of Remembrance. You may course your donation through Marlene Baligod, Grace Aggabao or Beth Manauis, or send checks (payable to the church) c/o Msgr. Gerry Perez, parish priest, Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Tuao, Cagayan. One can also deposit directly at the PNB parish, Account No. l98235600020. Thank you for your kindness. Text Fr. Eman at 0917-5783329.

Fair trade center

In Baguio, Mayor Peter Rey Bautista met with Gabriel Ma. J. Lopez, trustee-chairman of the Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc. (APFTI, Inc.) to discuss the setting up of a fair trade center in the Cordilleras located in Baguio. Lopez, who was recently appointed by President Macapagal-Arroyo as trustee of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, took his oath of office before Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in Malacañang.

APFTI is committed to the creation of an empowered community of socially responsible entrepreneurs who can put up a vibrant local chain of fair trade shops that can contribute to sustainable development.

In need of partners

Partnering with APFTI are Cordaid through the Catholic Charities of the Netherlands and ECCO (Ecumenical Development Fund of Christian Churches). Lopez said: ?Fair trade, as a movement, is a solution to poverty. It is a trading partnership which secures the rights of the marginalized producers and workers, especially in the South.? APFTI opened in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro in October 2009.

Soon to open in Baguio and Manila. Interested? Text 0917-505946l or call 4544744.

?Cuaresma? exhibit

?Cuaresma,? Spanish for 40 days of Lent, has unfolded into an exhibit ongoing at the Clamshell Pavilion along Gen. Luna St. in Intramuros until March 14.

The members of the Hermandad de la Sagrada Pasion de Jesus, a lay organization of devotees from the various parts of the country, brought the collection of Lenten processional images and displayed them in narrative style to convey the characters who were involved in the public life, passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The public is invited to view them and contemplate on Jesus? suffering and death.

Marian shrines? pilgrimage

Cofradia de la Soledad de Porta Vaga is organizing a pilgrimage to the Marian shrines up North on March 13, starting with Manaoag shrine in Pangasinan, then they drive up to Agoo to the shrine of Our Lady of Charity; Our Lady of the Sea in Sto. Tomas; Our Lady of Caysasay in the Ma-Chu Temple in San Fernando; and ?Namacpacan? in Luna. To join, text Ryan Enriquez at 0927-8564321.