Oh my God… Janina San Miguel won lately the controversial 2008 Binibining Pilipinas World title… LOL (laughing out loud)!

Sorry… I was just entertained by this current center of national buzz. Of course! I needed to be in sync with the whole Filipino people with their antagonizing and self-righteous criticisms, you know...

However, without their knowledge, a multitude of people flocked to the Lung Center of the Philippines. National dailies did not carry this news bit on their columns. It’s only here in the Camillian Update! So you’re privileged to read this one!   

By the way, what was the occasion? Well, it was just a simple visitation. And definitely not by Janina San Miguel nor by Piolo Pascual but by the Miraculous Pilgrim Relic of St. Therese of the Child Jesus! See, that’s how precious Lung Center is!

Despite the land transportation strike that day, and having come tired from different cathedrals and parishes all over the Philippine archipelago, the relic quietly made its last stop before flying back to France.    

Twelve noon of March 11, 2008, while public transport drivers were busy shouting out their demand for a fare increase, while students and employees were struggling for a ride under the scorching heat of the sun, the relic came; fetched from Payatas by some of the Lung Center employees together with the relic’s guardians and Fr. John Brilliantes of the Military Ordinariate.  

It was indeed a blessed visit. You could see doctors, nurses, medical personnel, administrative staff, janitors, patients, watchers, employees from the neighboring institutions, touching the relic and bowing down in veneration. The hours were holy. The Lung Center lobby where the relic was displayed was filled with prayers.

The Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva, MI at exactly 1:30 PM. Concelebrants were Fr. Boy Guinit, MI (the Lung Center’s very own hospital chaplain), Fr. Efren Balistoy, MI, Fr. Charly Ricafort, MI, Fr. Francis Zhang, MI, and Fr. John. Of course, the Camillian Scholastics were there! Sila pa, pahuhuli? LOL! They indeed played a very important role as servers and choir of the magnificent celebration. Thanks, guys!  

Guess what? A significant occurrence happened during the celebration! Just after the blessing of roses and religious items, heavy rains fell from the sky unexpectedly! (As I mentioned above, the sun was merciless early on.) A symbol of blessing, huh! Well, that’s how great God is through St. Therese!

Rain had fallen, roses had been given away, but the real miracle happened in the hearts of the faithful who made the celebration a big success.  

To the Lung Center pastoral care committee who spearheaded the event, to the engineering department that gave their best to arrange everything, to those people who gave their time and effort arranging the flowers and making tokens, to those who gave their all out support morally and financially, a million thanks to all of YOU!

To St. Therese of Lisieux who became the sacrament of unity and zeal for the Lung Center of the Philippines, thanks for your visit that made us feel the sense of sanctity that emanates from God. And to God who is the sole reason of the entire celebration, thank you Lord!  We have indeed seen roses falling from the sky…