BY JUAN P. DAYANG
FILIPINOS will pay a great homage when a towering monument of Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, the late Archbishop of Manila, will be unveiled here on August 31, at public plaza of his birthplace, a coastal town called New Washington, in the province of Aklan.
Measuring 13.5 feet high with about 10-feet base, the statue was sculpted by the famous Castrillo brothers.
Commissioned by businessman-philanthropist Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, a long-time friend of Cardinal Sin, the statue will be fitting tribute to a man of cloth whose courage help restore democracy in the country.
Filipinos will recall that fateful day on February 22, 1986 when Cardinal Sin called for ‘people power’ that drove out then president Ferdinand E. Marcos, ending two decades of authoritarian rule and regaining a cherished freedom.
Inspired by the historic event, similar "people power" movements occurred in other countries, overthrowing unpopular regimes and enabling the people to reclaim their human rights.
It was that courage, which came not from bravery but from deep faith in God, that gained for Cardinal Sin the world’s admiration, Bishop Socrates B. Villegas of the Diocese of Balanga, Bataan, in his recent homily pointed out.
Earning plaudits, other religious leaders described Cardinal Sin as the contemporary "Prince of Peace," a "passionate protector" and the "inspiration to the fearful and tearful."
He was called The Cardinal, a giant figure in the history of the land, true champion of the poor, godfather of democracy, Fr. Sid Marinay noted in his book, The Happy Life of Sin, Seen From the Window of a Sinful Priest.
In recognition of Cardinal Sin’s role in the "people power" revolution, he was conferred prestigious awards.
Among these are: Human Rights and Law Award, International Human Rights Law Group, Washington, D.C., USA, May 13, 1986; The Bishop Carroll Dozier and Justice Award, Christian Brother’s College, Memphis, Tennessee, May 24, 1987; Outstanding Manilan, June 24, 1987; Philippine Legion of Honor, Degree of Chief Command, Republic of the Philippines, Mala-cañang Palace, President Corazon C. Aquino, April 3, 1992 and the Award from Gonzaga University highest award, Fr. Peter Desmet, S.J., Medal Spokane, Washington, USA.
Unknown to many, red is the late Cardinal’s favorite color and this explains the courage, the heroic gallant stand he showed in resisting the continued stay in power of the late strongman,
Like that of the Philippine flag, red is also the color of martyrs, says Villegas who worked closely with Cardinal Sin.
He stayed faithful to the red of his cardinalate with his courage. He was a courageous man and he inspired us to be courageous as well.
Cardinal Sin served the Archdiocese of Manila for 29 years, almost two generations. For many students, they have only known one cardinal, Cardinal Sin.
Villegas said that aside from courage, Cardinal Sin’s legacy was his compassion for the poor, the marginalized, the least, the last and the lost.
He recalled that in the last years of his life, Cardinal Sin experienced sufferings due to a debilitation ailment.
Villegas said, "I had advised him many times to stay at home because it was getting for me personally a very humiliating experience to go out in public, for him to be carried around, to be pushed in a chair and to be unable to stand."
But, Cardinal Sin always found his way into the events, into the Eucharist, into every celebration, even to rallies, Villegas noted.
He added "Why? Because for somebody who loves much, nothing is impossible. For somebody who loves much, there is no limit to what you can do because the greatest measure of love is to be loved without measure.
Composing the National Advisory Committee of the Jaime L. Cardinal Sin Monument Project are Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, honorary chairman; Antipolo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, Kalibo Bishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo, Dr. Ramon L. Sin, Atty. Edmund R. Peralta and Aklan Gov. Carlito S. Marquez.
With this writer, the members of the steering committee are: New Washington town mayor Edgar R. Peralta, vice mayor Jean T. Velarde, former Aklan Rep. Allen Salas Quimpo; Msgr. Adolfo P. Depra and Kalibo mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo, president of League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Aklan.
The municipality of New Washington and the people of Aklan led by the newly-elected mayor Edgar R. Peralta, his brother former mayor Edmund R. Peralta, vice mayor Jean T. Tejada are spearheading the preparations for the unveiling and blessings.
The leadership of the provincial government of Aklan led by Gov. Carlito S. Marquez and Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo with the support of Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores are also on top to ensure the success of the event. /MP
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