The face behind Saint Pedro Calungsod

A Cebuano will officially be canonized as the second Filipino Saint this coming October 21 in Rome.

Catholic cardinals have approved in Rome the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod of Cebu, that will make him the second Filipino to be recognized a saint by the Catholic Church after San Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila.

Here's some info I found via Wikepedia:  very little is known about Calungsod except that he was an Ilonggo and was born and raised in Iloilo City. In the register for the process of beatification, he was born in Molo, a Chinese district in Iloilo City. He just came to Cebu to preach Christianity then move to Guam.

It is known that he was just one of the boy catechists who went with some Spanish Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines to the to evangelize the Chamorros in the Ladrones Islands in the western Pacific in 1668.

Pope John Paul II beatified both Father Diego Luis de San Vitores (October 6, 1985) and Pedro Calungsod (March 5, 2000) at Saint Peter's Square in Rome.

Pedro was beatified along with other 43 servants of God. About Pedro, the Pope said:

    (...) From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and responded generously to his call. Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a lay catechist. Leaving family and friends behind, Pedro willingly accepted the challenge put to him by Fr Diego de San Vitores to join him on the Mission to the Chamorros. In a spirit of faith, marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion, Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him and bravely faced the many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger, Pedro would not forsake Fr Diego, but as a "good soldier of Christ" preferred to die at the missionary's side (...)

Now, here's some trivia so we won't get confused which one is San Pedro Calungsod and San Lorenzo Ruiz when their holy images are place beside each other. Calungsod doesn’t look Chinese, while Lorenzo Ruiz has Chinese distinction. Second, he is holding the ‘Doctrina Christiana’ and palm leaves while Ruiz holds a rosary.  Lastly, notice that Calungsod’s feet are not positioned firmly on the ground. One foot is slightly raised because it shows his being a missionary, a young man on the move. It shows his dynamism.

Astig316 meets Mr. Fearless

Now, do you want to know about the man who was tapped to be the face of Pedro Calungsod, here's the post The Legend of the Saint that I have written two years ago about my favorite athlete Ronald Tubid, a PBA All-Star who once donned a Brgy Ginebra Kings jersey before he was traded to the Barako Bull Energy early this year. I am just delighted about this news because I'm sure my idol will be more popular in the coming days.

Read on and share your thoughts.

I can exceed my limitations!

I am never too old to play. I will forever be active.

When I was a kid, one of my dreams is to become a professional athlete someday.

I tried swimming and swore I will be better than Eric Buhain but my illusion was washed away after a traumatic experience in a creek near our place--- I almost drowned while racing with my friends.

I stayed away from the water and found joy in cycling. My father bought me a brand new BMX bike and I stepped on the pedal towards my goal of joining the Tour of Luzon until I got involved in a road accident.

Just when I thought of hitting the brakes on my dream, I fell in love with the game of basketball. I eat, breath and live the sport and wanted to have a career in it but soon I noticed that my height was stuck at 5’3” at age 21.

Then, I heard that a midget just became a world champion in WWE so I fantasized of being a pro wrestler. However, my effort of undergoing tedious workouts did not give my tummy a six pack abs but six bruises instead.

Today, I am a thirty something family guy who thinks he's a stud but is actually stout. I hate to admit it but am slow, out of shape and the only thing “athletic” about me is my athlete’s foot due to the recent flooding in our place.

Now, can somebody give me a bar of Safeguard? My wife bought a couple of whitening soap last week which she wanted me to try. I can let her get away with the indirect insult but to live without the brand of soap that I basically grew up with is something unbearable.

Speaking of Safeguard, I just find it cool that my favorite athletes can actually be compared with the brand in different aspects.  Below is the list of my sports idols and why I think they are super like Safeguard!


Manny Pacquiao: Pro-Family. I think I don't have to mention how Pacman is considered by many as arguably the best boxer who ever lived. Everyone has witnessed his exploits and know his rags to riches story. From being a cigarette vendor who watched fights of boxing legends like Larry Homes, George Foreman and others along the street, he dreamed and exceeded his limitations and became the first and only eight-division world champion in boxing history. He is a dedicated family man who was able to overcome intrigues and saved his relationship with wife Jinkee and their home. Safeguard is a family bath soap that is affordable and offers great savings from the household budget.


Ronald Tubid: All-around guard. Once known as “The Saint” in the local hoops circuit after being tapped to be the face of the second Filipino saint Pedro Calungsod, this energetic shooting guard from Barako Bull has emerged as one of most athletic players in the PBA because of his all-around game. He maybe just 6'1 but he can score, rebound and dish out assists in the offensive end as effective as guarding his bigger opponents in the defensive side. Because of his never-say-die attitude (something he embraced from former team Barangay Ginebra), he got a new moniker and is now known as Mr. Fearless. Safeguard gives an all-around protection and kills 99% of germs that cause skin infection, bad odor and illnesses.


Phil Younghusband: Fresh and clean. With a face that launches a thousand screams every time he kicks a football (and butts), Younghusband and the rest of the Azkals catapulted the game of soccer in becoming a popular sport among Filipinos. Even with issues of language barrier because some of the players came from different countries,  the Philippine team has proven that there is another team sport in the country worth-watching other than basketball after some upset wins over stronger soccer-crazy nations. With this babyface fresh-looking striker leading the way, expect fans of all ages to continue to troop the arenas for some fast-paced action. Safeguard has a fresh and clean smell that many Filipinos have grown accustomed to. Even if you blindfold me, I can still tell which is Safeguard among soaps.


Paeng Nepomuceno: Certified and recognized greatness. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for three amazing feats: (1) for most Bowling World cup wins, 4, in three different decades; (2) for being the youngest ever to win the Bowling World Cup (at 19 years of age), and (3) for having won the most number of bowling tournaments (124 career titles). All of these milestones were accomplished by Nepomuceno despite of little support from the government. He still actively competes up to this day and is the only bowler to have won titles in Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Safeguard is accepted and recognized by the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) and it is proven effective in removing skin germs.

Coach Rio Dela Cruz: Trusted name. When you talk about local running, it’s impossible not to mention the name Coach Rio in the conversation. His name has become synonymous to the sports. But before he became the running demigod that he is, Coach Rio has gone through a tough life. At 12 years old, he beat everyone in the tryout while running barefoot on his first attempt at joining his school’s track team. A neighbor took pity on this barefoot runner and gave him a pair of sneakers. From then on, he never stopped running and has become an icon and inspiration to many runners in the country. Safeguard has been the trusted germicidal soap in the Philippines for many generation since it was first introduced in the country in 1966.

Today, Safeguard continues to evolve into a more effective soap as we enter a more active and fast-paced lifestyle. Personally, I may have given up with my dream of becoming an athlete but I still play the sports that I love. I still try to exceed my limitations and prove that age is just a state of mind, that I can still be competitive in every game I enter.  

Good thing, there’s the new Safeguard Active that gives me a 12-hour odor protection every time I engage in sports and fitness activities. Safeguard Active won't let bad hygiene distract you from exceeding your athletic limitations and in beating your personal best.

Here's an inspiring video that you should watch with an invitation to  be one of the many voices in the field shouting, “I can exceed my limitations!”  

Image credits: Pacquaio (latinorebels.com); Tubid (inquirer.net); Younghusband (allstarpics.net); Nepomuceno (jatps.hubpages.com) and Dela Cruz (running.journeyingjames.com).    
 

The World Will End on October 21... Magkita naman tayo!

Cartoon by Bob Englehart from The Hartford Courant

Whenever I hear news about soothsayers predicting about the end of the world on a certain date, I would just smile and say to my self, “Who the heck are these people to know when our planet will stop rotating.”

The last individual who boldly predicted rapture was evangelist Harold Camping who said in a special broadcast on his radio program Open Forum that May 21, 2011 is THE DAY.  Of course, it did not happen.  After five months, guess who’s back with a new prophecy--- Mr. Camping.

Now he’s saying that October 21, 2011 is the REAL DEAL.  Well, that’s just a few days from now and I bet this 90-year old wannabe fortune teller will again eat his words and hopefully will be fed up with it and just spent his remaining years on Earth drafting his will and testament, or why not make a bucket list instead.

Hmmm… which kinda inspire to come up with my own bucket list for the spirit of fun if indeed, October 21 is the end of the world.

I’ve been known to my friends as a person who easily got stars trucked whenever I meet celebrities specially when I least expect them.  More than likely, I will never leave the venue until I have a photo with the celeb.  So, here are the five local personalities I’d like to have a picture with before October 21:

Vic Sotto.  I am arguably his biggest fan.  I have watched his TV shows and movies ever since.  I even have clippings of news, features and interviews on newspapers and magazines and video copies of his films when I was a kid only to loose a lot of them during a nasty flood that hit our home in Pasig more than a decade ago.  I have watched Eat Bulaga live at Broadway Centrum for a number of times but never had the chance to get near him.  My best Vic Sotto experience happened when he greeted me and my wife on air in an episode of Eat Bulaga on December 2006, a week before our wedding, after he read an article I wrote about him for The Philippine Star.  With Vic Sotto mentioning my name… priceless!

Vina Morales.  I am not ashamed to admit that I have a crush on Vina--- with all her muscles and sometime kinda OA way of singing.  I don’t care what other people say but the moment I heard her sing “Perslab” during the Wednesday edition of That’s Entertainment, I was just swept away and still a fan until today.  I had so many chances of meeting her since I worked for three years with the VIVA Entertainment Group, his mother studio then, but it never not happen.  My best Vina Morales experience was on my 25th birthday.  I was in the shooting of our company's TV commercial when I got a call from a well-wisher.  My office mates who were left in the office manage to ask Vina to call and greet me on that special day.  I still keep the autograph picture of Vina which she left on my office table with the note, “Hope to meet you someday”

Ronald Tubid. I am a certified Ginebra fan ever since I learned to love the game of basketball.  When I was young, I sometimes end up in a fight with other kids who would say bad words about my all-time basketball idol, former Senator Robert Jaworski (who I also want to meet).  When the Big J left the PBA, I looked for another cager to follow and I found Tubid--- a former school mate at the University of the East Manila.  He was known as “The Saint” in the early years of his career after being tapped as the face of the next Filipino saint Pedro Calungsod.  But because of his rugged plays and dare-devil attitude towards the game, he was christened as Mr. Fearless.  My wife knows this, I have skipped countless dinners and some important occasions just to watch Tubid and the Gin Kings play. Uber but true.

Ely Buendia.  I don’t know if I would ever enjoy college life that same way I did if Ely and the Eraserheads were not able to penetrate the local music scene in the 90's.  Thank God, it did not happen.  Eheads’s music was my anthem during the time I was looking for inspiration as a working student who has only enough money in my pocket for the cheapest meal and jeepney fare to go home on a day-to-day basis.  On my first year in college, the band scored a hit with “Ligaya” from their first studio album and the rest is history.  They are the only artists, local and foreign, whose songs I will never get tired of listening to.  Until now, I still can’t believe how I manage to buy all their albums since the cost of the tape then (a little over Php 150) was already my one week allowance.  Huwag mo nang itanong sa akin.

Ricky Lo.  If only I have the look of Piolo Pascual, height of say, Dingdong Dantes and the voice of Martin Nievera… I could have been a movie star.  Well, I thought then that being a movie fan is the nearest thing I can be until Ricky Lo, Editor of the Entertainment section of The Philippine Star opened the doors to writers who wants to contribute articles and movie reviews.  I don’t know if Ricky knows how people like me feels seeing our names going side by side with the newspaper regular columnists like Boy Abunda, Joey de Leon, Venus Raj and other veteran writers.  Feeling celebrity na rin ako for a day.  I have a dozen of my articles Ricky has allowed to be published in the newspaper which I will forever be thankful.  Thank you so much, Sir Ricky!

I really have a long list of the people I want to meet but since October 21 is just within the week, I'll have a short list for now.  Oh well, I can make another list after the said date. That is if the prediction is wrong.

The Legend of the Saint

I was inspired to blog about my PBA idol after his back-to-back 30-point games vs. Coca Cola and Barako Bull recently.

Did you know why Tubid was known as "The Saint" during his college, PBL and pre-Ginebra days?

Well, it was long story but I will make it short. During a game in his first year as a UE Warrior in the UAAP, Tubid was on the charity line for couple of freethrows. A high-ranked CBCP official was watching the game. This official was actually commissioned to look for "the face" for Pedro Calungsod, the Filipino who lives centuries ago who was ordained to be the second Filipino saint next to San Lorenzo Ruiz

After seeing Tubid on TV, the church official said to himself, "This is the face of Pedro Calungsod!"

And the rest is history!

Today, Tubid is known as "Mr. Fearless" --- 1/3 of Ginebra' "The Fast, the Furious and the Fearless" along with Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark "The Spark Caguiao".
There was also a time Tubid was referred as "The Rocket" by PBA commentators

Let's give the "Rocket" monicker to JC Intal who has been using in the amateur league. I've been a fan of Tubid since his college years. I followed his career to his PBL stint with Welcoat to PBA teams Shell and Air 21 and of course in Ginebra. One thing has never change, his flair and intensity as soon as he steps on the hardwood is still there. Not to mention his remarkable athleticism.

The last time I really got hooked to a basketball player was to the Living Legend Sen. Robert Jaworski (also a UE Alumnus) and NBA's Charles Barkley.

Going back to the monicker thing. I really prefer "The Saint" for Tubid. Since he glides in the air as if he has wings and has been the savior of the Gin Kings when Caguioa and Helterbrand are not available. But the "Fearless" is also a fit.

Hmmm.. how about St. Fearless... parang St. Elmo's Fire and dating :-)