By Boy Ryan Zabal
Picture above shows the very important persons who graced the unveiling and blessing of the 13.5 feet tall bronze statue of Jaime Cardinal L. Sin in New Washington, Aklan. They are Senate Pres. Manuel Villar, House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Aklan Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Mnsgr. Adolfo Depra, Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, Mr. Tito Garcia, Mr. Ambet Ocampo, Sec. Esperanza Cabral, Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo, Sec. Cerge Remonde among others.
Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua was officially declared an adopted son of New Washington, Aklan just recently. Cabangon Chua financed the construction of the 13.5-feet bronze statue of the late Jaime Cardinal L. Sin which was unveiled and blessed in a grand and fitting ceremonies on August 31, 2007.
Vice Mayor Jean Velarde said, Chua remains an approachable and down-to-earth business leader and a true friend of the Catholic Church.
Chua is a close friend of the late Roman Catholic prince who was a key figure in the 1986 and 2001 people power revolts.
August 31 was declared by Malacañang a special non-working holiday in Aklan in Executive Order No. 1370. Former Kalibo mayor Johnny Dayang said Chua showed his great love for Aklan for his unconquerable spirit in bestowing a larger-than-life symbol of Cardinal Sin’s greatness and holiness in New Washington, the hometown of the influential Roman Catholic leader.
Chua graduated from Sta. Ana Elementary School in 1950. He completed his secondary education from the University of the East (UE) in 1953 where he also finished a degree in Business Administration in 1956. He cross-enrolled at Feati University for his engineering, and at the Guzman Institute of Technology, where he completed Automotive and Diesel Mechanic courses.
He gave birth to an expanding business conglomerate - the Philippine Graphic Publishing Inc., Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Fortune Insurance Group of Companies, Citystate Savings Bank, Citystate Group of Companies, Eternal Group of Companies, Isuzu Gencars, Inc., Citystate Properties and Management Corporation and ALC Industrial and Development Corporation.
CARDINAL SIN’S BIRTHDAY
Presidential Proclamation No. 1370 duly signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on August 29, 2007 lauded Cardinal Sin as a true-blooded Aklanon that contributed to the nation’s political history and social transformation which left a lasting impact on the lives of the Filipino people.
"It is fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Aklan be given full opportunity to celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies," Ermita wrote.
It was on August 10, 2007 when Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez and Aklan Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores requested the President to declare every August 31 a non-working holiday in observance of the birth anniversary of the Cardinal.
"As a prime mover of the first EDSA Revolution and a highly respected religious leader whose ideals can be a continuing inspiration to our youth," they urged the President to declare August 31 a non-working holiday in their letter.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) also unveiled a marker as part of the installation rites in New Washington, after the blessing of Cardinal Sin’s statue in the public plaza in front of the Roman Catholic Church.
Congress Lauds Cardinal Sin
In the House of Representatives, its members commended the most influential Roman Catholic leader Jaime Cardinal L. Sin for his lifetime dedication and spiritual guidance to the Catholic Church. They approved House Resolution No. 149 authored by Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores and Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor expressing their admiration to Cardinal Sin’s salutary spiritual guidance to the Filipino people.
Speaker Jose de Venecia, presented the resolution to Dr. Ramon L. Sin, brother of Cardinal Sin during the ceremonies on August 31. "Cardinal Sin is not only of New Washington, not of Aklan, not of the Philippines, but he is of the World," De Venecia pointed out.
Miraflores said, "Cardinal Sin is an Outstanding Prince of the Church who from the time he was ordained to priesthood rendered unparalleled service to the Filipino people, dispensing extensive social services to the poor and needy parishioners. Sin served as Archbishop of Manila for 25 years after which His Holiness, Pope Pius IV, named him Cardinal, which paramount mission he served with distinction until his retirement."
"It is fitting and proper that the 14th Congress provides an eloquent contribution to honor Cardinal Sin by commending and giving due recognition to him for his exemplary spiritual services to the Filipino people and his patriotic contributions to the good governance of the country," Miraflores added.
Cardinal Sin, the solon added, "was not only a leader of the Church but also of democratic institutions, with patriotic fervor served at the forefront of people’s struggle to preserve human rights and promote representative democracy as our way of life."
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez, Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde, League of Municipalities of the Philippines national president Dr. Ramon Guico, Jr., Ambassador to Italy Henrietta de Villa, Roxas City mayor Vicente Bermejo, Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo, New Washington mayor Edgar Peralta, Antipolo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, Kalibo Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo who concelebrated the holy mass, Social Welfare secretary Esperanza Cabral and Manila City mayor Alfredo Lim graced the blessing of the larger-than-life Cardinal Sin monument. /MP
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