Fray Julian Bermejo, OSA “El Padre Capitan” of Boljoon In surveying the Augustinian contributions in Cebu and in the Philippines, we cannot forget the tireless efforts of Fray Julian Bermejo, OSA in the town of Boljoon and its neighboring settlements. He was hailed by the old natives as “El Padre […]
The Life of Fray Diego de Herrera and his martyrdom in the Philippines Actual text translated into English from the “Conquistas de las Islas de Filipinas” by Fray Gaspar de San Agustin, OSA, pp. 749-759 The Life of the venerable Fray Diego de Herrera, and the unfortunate failure of the mission he […]
San Agustin notes that Magellan’s expedition “discovered the mouth of the cove of Cebu called Mandaue on 7 April at noon in 1521.” The fluvial parade, a civic celebration started in the early 1980’s re-enacts the arrival of Magellan’s galleons bringing the image of the Santo Niño to Cebu, with […]
1699 Map of Cebu showing the church of the Santo Niño de Cebu Cebu was decreed “Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesus” only after Philippine II of Spain had ordered Legazpi to take formal possession of the islands in his name in 1571. Legazpi was already in Panay when he […]
Banawa, the Kingdom of King Humabon, bordered the sea. During the months of November and December, as was always his custom, he reminded his people to be wary of eating a certain kind of poisonous fish locally called boriring (globe fish). He had to do it because during those two […]
INTRODUCTION Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, (Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,) First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to the officers and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for inviting me, through Fr. Melvin Mejia, CBCP Secretary, to share some reflections on the topic […]
1521 Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival; planting of the Cross of Catholicism on the shore of ancient Cebu. The cross of Magellan is enshrined on the present kiosk on Plaza Sugbo which was formerly the starting point of Magallanes Street. In 1834, then bishop of Cebu (1829-1840), Santos gomez Marañon, OSA renovated […]
Ecce Homo means “Here is the man!” or “Behold the man!” (John 19:5). It is the exclamatory statement of Pilate in a mock trial when Jesus was presented to the people “wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe” as derision to the “King of the Jews.” The fearful […]
As the carroza of Señor Santo Niño leaves the maingate of the Basilica for the foot procession, another carroza bearing another Santo Niño image enters the church compound. This is always the ritual that is being followed year after year during the Saturday Solemn Procession, the highlight of the Fiesta […]