BALANGA CITY- Archbishop Socrates “Soc” Villegas on Sunday revealed his secret prayer for Bataan less than two weeks before he leaves the peninsula and assumes as vicar of the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan.
“My secret prayer to God is that this province be known not only as a place of heroism, courage and valor but of holiness and that when people arrive here, they will be coming to holy ground,” the former bishop said.
“Sana matuklasan ang lalawigan sa buong mundo hindi lamang dahil sa Mt. Samat kundi dahil sa kabanalan at pag-uwi ng mga bisita ay may dala silang karanasan tungkol sa Diyos,” Villegas said.
He explained that tourists come when the surroundings are beautiful and the mountains fresh that will remind us of God. “Kapag may kabayanihan lalo na’t may kabanalan, tiyak pabalik-balik ang mga turista. He said that the province was made holy by the blood shed on its soil from north to south during World War II.
Villegas officiated in the blessing of the still unfinished multi-million-peso Bataan Tourism Center in Balanga City. Gov. Enrique Garcia said that they requested the new archbishop to bless the new building before leaving for Dagupan on November 2.
“May ‘Midas touch’ si bishop dahil lahat ng nabasbsan niya ay nagtatagumpay kaya kahit hindi pa tapos ay ginanap na ang blessing,” the governor said.
Archbishop Soc explained that when he first arrived in Bataan, he saw something that he said was not given much attention – that of Bataan being not only a place of heroes but of holiness.
The former spokesman of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin took over as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga on May 3, 2004.
He explained that it was clear that Bataan is a ground of heroism because presidents come during the celebration of the “Fall of Bataan” observed as “Araw ng Kagitingan” every April 9. He said that by merely looking at Mt.Samat and the “Death March” markers, it was evident that Bataan is a hero.
But he emphasized that tourists visit not only places of heroes but holy lands. “Ang Lourdes, Fatima, Rome, Jerusalem ay dinadayo ng mga tao buhat sa iba’t-ibang bansa sapagka’t may kabanalan sa mga lugal na iyon kahit na walang kabayanihan,” Villegas said.
Vicky Garcia, chair of the Bataan Tourism Council, expressed the hope that through the new center, Bataan will be placed in the tourism map of the country “for God and country.” “We will be missing you,” she told Archbishop Soc.
Although Villegas said it was still not be bye-bye time, Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III presented the archbishop with a drawing of the St. Joseph Cathedral by Robert Alejandro.
Alejandro was in Balanga during the 5th Philippine Bird Festival to draw birds but while seated at the city plaza, the artist made the sketch of the stunning cathedral. “Tuwing makikita po ninyo ang larawang ito, maaalaala ninyo na libo-libong taga-Bataan ang nananalangin para sa inyo,” the mayor told Villegas.
Aeta children belonging to the Bangkal Choir rendered song numbers while wives of town mayors presented a dance number.
“My secret prayer to God is that this province be known not only as a place of heroism, courage and valor but of holiness and that when people arrive here, they will be coming to holy ground,” the former bishop said.
“Sana matuklasan ang lalawigan sa buong mundo hindi lamang dahil sa Mt. Samat kundi dahil sa kabanalan at pag-uwi ng mga bisita ay may dala silang karanasan tungkol sa Diyos,” Villegas said.
He explained that tourists come when the surroundings are beautiful and the mountains fresh that will remind us of God. “Kapag may kabayanihan lalo na’t may kabanalan, tiyak pabalik-balik ang mga turista. He said that the province was made holy by the blood shed on its soil from north to south during World War II.
Villegas officiated in the blessing of the still unfinished multi-million-peso Bataan Tourism Center in Balanga City. Gov. Enrique Garcia said that they requested the new archbishop to bless the new building before leaving for Dagupan on November 2.
“May ‘Midas touch’ si bishop dahil lahat ng nabasbsan niya ay nagtatagumpay kaya kahit hindi pa tapos ay ginanap na ang blessing,” the governor said.
Archbishop Soc explained that when he first arrived in Bataan, he saw something that he said was not given much attention – that of Bataan being not only a place of heroes but of holiness.
The former spokesman of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin took over as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga on May 3, 2004.
He explained that it was clear that Bataan is a ground of heroism because presidents come during the celebration of the “Fall of Bataan” observed as “Araw ng Kagitingan” every April 9. He said that by merely looking at Mt.Samat and the “Death March” markers, it was evident that Bataan is a hero.
But he emphasized that tourists visit not only places of heroes but holy lands. “Ang Lourdes, Fatima, Rome, Jerusalem ay dinadayo ng mga tao buhat sa iba’t-ibang bansa sapagka’t may kabanalan sa mga lugal na iyon kahit na walang kabayanihan,” Villegas said.
Vicky Garcia, chair of the Bataan Tourism Council, expressed the hope that through the new center, Bataan will be placed in the tourism map of the country “for God and country.” “We will be missing you,” she told Archbishop Soc.
Although Villegas said it was still not be bye-bye time, Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III presented the archbishop with a drawing of the St. Joseph Cathedral by Robert Alejandro.
Alejandro was in Balanga during the 5th Philippine Bird Festival to draw birds but while seated at the city plaza, the artist made the sketch of the stunning cathedral. “Tuwing makikita po ninyo ang larawang ito, maaalaala ninyo na libo-libong taga-Bataan ang nananalangin para sa inyo,” the mayor told Villegas.
Aeta children belonging to the Bangkal Choir rendered song numbers while wives of town mayors presented a dance number.
