ANGELES CITY- Vice President Jejomar Binay has expressed hope that Blessed Pedro Calungsod will become the patron saint of all Filipino migrant workers.
Binay, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns said Calungsod’s heroism “could serve as a great inspiration to millions of our migrant Filipinos who face daily challenges in their places of work abroad.”
“I would like to hope that after his canonization, Saint Pedro Calungsod would become not only an exemplary role model for our youth but also the patron saint of all Filipino migrants,” he said.
The Vice President issued the statement before leaving for Europe to represent President Benigno S. Aquino III in Calung sod’s canonization rites.
Binay added that Calungsod’s canonization will be his second meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in less than five months.
“Last June 27, on the occasion of our 40th wedding anniversary, my wife and I were privileged to receive his apostolic blessings at the Vatican,” he said.
Aside from Calungsod’s canonization, the Vice President will also represent President Aquino at the 2012 European Development Days (EDD) in Brussels, Belgium.
“In Brussels, I shall be joining the company of so many presidents and prime ministers of various countries who have been invited to participate in this important European dialogue on economic and social development,” the Vice President said.
Binay is set to present the framework agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation at the EDD, marking the first time that the framework agreement will be presented in a global forum.
“Umaasa ako na sa pagtitipong ito, makaka-kalap tayo ng ibayong suporta sa ating mga hakbangin tungo sa kapayapaan, na siyang magdudulot ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya at pagganda ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa Mindanao,” he said.
The Vice President said he will also hold talks with European officials on investment, transport, and trade.
Binay left for Belgium late Sunday night via Etihad Airways 421 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I.
