Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma led the Pontifical Mass during the 450th anniversary of the “Kaplag,” the fiesta that commemorates the finding by the Miguel Lopez de Legazpi expedition in 1565 of the Santo Niño icon that had been given by Ferdinand Magellan to the Cebu natives who converted to Christianity in 1520.
The 1565 finding effectively started the evangelization of the Philippines led by the Augustinian friars, the first missionaries in the country.
Providential
“Today is a special day as we come for the Eucharistic celebration, we reflect precisely on God’s gift of Kaplag,” Palma told the thousands of faithful last April 28.
“That providential April 28, 1565, when the group of Legazpi and soldier Juan Camus discovered the miraculous image of Señor Santo Niño, and that’s why we are here … because it is part of God’s plan that the image given to Queen Juana 44 years before would be preserved, and will become the icon and the symbol of Filipino faith, something we are thankful to the Lord for. Something maingon kita garbo sa Cebu, garbo sa Pilipinas. We can only thank the Lord for that miraculous event,” added Palma.
He noted that Filipinos lapsed back to paganism after the Magellan expedition left in 1521, but they reconciled with the faith in 1565.
“And even historically, we know there was the first baptism, but after that they were not really living the baptismal promises. But with the Señor Santo Niño, with the Kaplag, with the Augustinians catechizing, evangelizing, then that’s the beginning of the faith of the Filipinos,” he said.
Vatican official
Earlier, on April 26, Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee of the International Eucharistic Congress, presided over the Mass at the jam-packed Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu.
About 30 bishops from various countries, as well as Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo and Archbishop Palma, concelebrated the Mass.
Marini, longtime liturgist of St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, said the image of the Santo Niño “beautifully portrays” Jesus whose good news was received by Cebuano natives 450 years ago.
“The Lord continues to guide us in every time and place. He is the good shepherd. He speaks to us. We have to listen to Him, not just with our ears but also with our hearts,” he said.
Marini and several foreign delegates of the International Eucharistic Congress and the 450 Kaplag International Conference waved their hands and joined hundreds of devotees as the prayer hymn “Bato Balani sa Gugma” was sung.
Marian seminar
A whole-day Marian Encounter Seminar will be held on May 17 at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center of the University of Santo Tomas.
Theme is “Imitating the Immaculate and Compassionate Heart of Mary.”
Topics include “Mary, Cause of our Joy and the ‘Evangelii Gaudium,’” “True Devotion to Mary” and “The Secrets of Mary According to St. Louis Marie de Montfort.”
Resource persons are Fr. Orlando Aceron, OP, acting rector of Colegio de San Juan de Letran; Fr. Richard Magararo, SMM, parish priest of Santa Teresita Parish, West Rembo, Makati City; and Fr. Aloysius Aliño, parish priest of the Santo Niño Shrine, Bago Bantay, Quezon City. Fr. Arturo Pestin, OP, will be main celebrant of the closing Mass.
The Missionaries of Mary, a lay Marian community with Father Alino as spiritual director, is organizing the seminar in partnership with Radio Veritas (846 AM).
Seminar fee of P150 includes lunch and snacks. For more information, call 7438729 and 7412830.
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