For the first time, the grand Marian procession in Intramuros was marred by rains. On Dec. 4, rains fell on people setting up the “carrozas” inside Fort Santiago. Devotees who had brought their images as far as Isabela and Piat, Cagayan, covered their images with tarpaulins.

But the devout human spirit would not give up. The procession pushed through as scheduled at 4 p.m.

And so it was that I found myself kneeling with the members of the “Lingkod kay Maria” community of Pasig, headed by Frieda Legaspi, inside the Manila Cathedral, fervently praying l0 Hail Marys and asking the Immaculate Conception to stop the rain.

By the time the Hermanas Mayores’ Mass concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez with eight priests was finished, the heavy rain had stopped.

Our Lady of Guibang

Zenaida Zicarelli drove 11 hours on Dec. 1 from Ilagan, Isabela, to bring the pilgrim image of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang to Manila for the Marian procession.

I met her the following morning on Dec. 2 at the Coconut Palace where Dr. Elenita Binay welcomed the Virgin Mary on the second floor.

With Zeny were Emma Mirasol, Milagros Dancel, Mona Lisa Mirasol Cabalonga and Minelia Claassen, all from Ilagan.

Aurora Lazo, president of SM Lazo Medical Center, her brother Alberto Zingapan, and her children Marianne and Mariel were there to welcome Our Lady of Guibang, whose shrine is on the highway of Guibang in Gamu town. Our Lady of Guibang was canonically crowned by then Apostolic Nuncio Rocco in 1976. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines declared the church as the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation of Guibang. Her feast day is July 2.

Fr. Francisco Albano is the Rector of the shrine. Those who want novenas can write me c/o Phil. Daily Inquirer, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope for easier mailing. Pilgrims can check in at Zicarelli Hotel and Restaurant in Ilagan. For reservations, please text 0915-2067168 for info on rates.

Military escort

Archbishop Emeritus Diosdado Talamayan gave the invocation before the start of the Marian procession last Sunday that was organized by the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, in cooperation with the Intramuros Administration.

Brig. Gen. Edwin Remotigue of the Philippine Air Force, the Grand Marshall, gave the signal for the procession to start. Contingents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines marched out with their army bands preceding them. This is in keeping with tradition that the military of old escorted the Immaculate Conception during her processions in Intramuros.

Ambassadors of Light music school

Before the start of the concert of the Ambassadors of Light at the Philamlife Auditorium last Nov. 28, founder Anderson Go (visually-impaired Bachelor of Music graduate of the Philippine Women’s University) announced in an emotional speech that AOL Foundation will build a music school for visually-impaired children and young adults who have the talent to sing and want to continue with their studies.

SM Foundation builds pediatric hospice

There is a better chance for children stricken with cancer to have the best palliative care. The Felicidad T. Sy Hospice and Palliative Care Center was inaugurated last Nov. 29. Built through the initiative of SM Foundation, Lung Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Cancer Society, it is the first and only government-initiated pediatric hospice and palliative care center in the country. Hospice and palliative care is the dynamic care of patients with advanced, progressive and incurable disease. The family plays an active role in the care of the critically-ill patient, especially if the patient is a child. Connie Angeles, SM Foundation executive director for Health and Medical Programs who signed the Deed of Donation for and in behalf of the foundation, hopes that the “center will improve the quality of life of young patients and their families facing the problem of terminal disease through  prevention and relief of sufferings.”

“SM Foundation, through this humble donation, hopes to alleviate the pain of families while coping for the eventual loss of their loved ones,” she said.

Prayer for Jordan

Let us pray the Joyful Mysteries tomorrow for the intentions of Jordan for efforts to address honor killing and other human violations against women; for the government to address discrimination against minorities including Christians; for continued improvement in the treatment of refugees; for the King to continue efforts at reform and modernization; and for believers from a Muslim background to persevere in their faith.