For many of us, at the turn of the millennium and before the internet came to dominate the media, watching Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments on television was an annual Holy Week ritual.

I always found the scenes of the wonders God wrought through Moses and Aaron fascinating, but the scene that impressed me the most was of Moses singing over the Passover meal while the plague claimed the lives of first-borns throughout Egypt. I especially remembered the scene whenever elders would stop me (I sometimes unselfconsciously break into song), from singing at our own dining tables. Doing so was rude, they said. I guess it depends on context—what song is being sung, what one’s disposition is toward the meal.

I remembered the movie scene again while reflecting about the start of the year-long celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. Just as in the Jewish Passover, Moses and the Israelites shared a meal and sang at table while death and devastation surrounded them, we in the Archdiocese of Cebu have been celebrating the quincentenary while the plague that is the covid-19 pandemic rages on. In fact, we have been celebrating with a capital “C,” with exhibitions of Christian art in two waterfront malls, at least four nights of musical shows, and four days of celebrations of high Mass. People are dying yet we have been having a fiesta—singing, dancing, acting in plays. Are we heartless?

Moses could not have celebrated the Passover while rejoicing over or denying the grief that gripped Egypt. He had, after all, at least felt imperfect contrition after having killed an Egyptian who had beaten a Jew. Moses did celebrate, however, because the Passover ceremony was commanded by God himself and He orchestrated his people’s liberation to the point that the Israelites left Egypt with gold, silver, and clothing generously given to them by the Egyptians when they asked for them.

To celebrate as we are doing when there is no longer Gentile or Jew, slave or freeman (as there was in the time of Moses), to celebrate while we mourn and weep amid a pandemic is not to be heartless, denying or shallowly rejoicing in the face of suffering. It is rather to testify to what matters most—that in a world where everything and everyone can be taken from us any time, God is always with us, is taking care of us, and holds all reality in his loving hands.

In the Passover, the Jews saw themselves saved from the angel of death by the blood of lambs that they painted on the doorposts of their homes. The Exodus was a journey in which God continually saved his people from death through his bountiful gifts—freedom from slavery, riches from the Egyptians, coveys of quail, manna from heaven, water from the rock, healing through the bronze serpent, the Decalogue. But the Exodus was also an exchange of gifts. The Israelites who were faithful gave back to God in their commitment to the commandments, obedience to Moses, and worship of the Lord in many ways, including through the Canticle of Moses that we still sing especially during the Easter Vigil.

On Wednesday of the second week of Easter, before the shrine that commemorates the planting of Magellan’s Cross in Cebu City, seven children received from the Church that is the Body of Christ gifts that are far greater than the ones the Israelites received in the Exodus, gifts that all of us, too, have received—Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, by which we and the children have become one with the Lord and with one another. In the preceding days, these sacraments and Confirmation, by which we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit were also administered to hundreds of men, women, and children in Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu cities.

That these celebrations happened in the time of covid-19 makes them similar to the Passover in the time of the angel of death. This time, however, we are being kept safe from eternal death by One who is infinitely more precious than lambs—the Lamb of God himself, the One who by dying for us turned death from a dead end into a door—“I am the door,” He said—so that while we do our best to protect one another or weep just as “Jesus wept,” we neither need to fear dying nor despair about the loved ones we have parted from for now (John 10:9; 11:35).

So like Moses who sang over supper to the God who freed the Israelites, we, too, out of gratitude, offer our celebrations to the One who gave us faith and himself. Above all, we thank God with prayer and song at the Last Supper, in the Holy Eucharist. We also thank him through art exhibits in the malls, concerts like Musika Sacra dances like Chronos et Kairos, and plays like Credo in Unum Deum and the reenactment of the Philippines’ first baptism with presentation of the image of the Child Jesus. We further thank him by—among other actions—joining our Commission on Youth and its partners in giving helpful equipment to persons with disabilities, helping communities like Five Loaves and Two Fish distribute provisions to families that were badly affected by the pandemic, working for justice and peace with our Commission on Social Advocacies, and caring for the earth through projects like the planting of trees by parishioners of Santo Niño in Santa Fe town.

Inspired by the sacraments and our faith that are more real than any adversity, we celebrate through the arts. At the same time, as God’s works of art, we live Christian lives, in secret as salt of the earth or publicly as light of the world, demonstrating the faith that works through love.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Chairman Manuel “Manny” V. Pangilinan, in video message, said the blessing and lighting of these 40-meter-high crosses is an achievement and a source of pride.

“We add a deeper and loftier meaning to CCLEX by adding eight 40-meter crosses that celebrate the coming of Christ 500 years ago. These crosses will illuminate the skyline of Metro Cebu—beacons of hope and progress, symbols of achievement, and everything Cebuanos are proud of,” he said.

Pangilinan thanked MPTC’s partners—the local government units of Cebu City and Cordova, contractors and sub-contractors, and the workers—for working on the CCLEX, a project he described as a modern engineering marvel.

“In many ways, we at Metro Pacific Tollways are the Magellan’s of today—building ways for people to make discoveries, to travel, and to bring gifts of life and faith, anywhere in this country and even beyond our shores,” he said.

The crosses attached on top of the CCLEX’s main bridge pylons are inspired by the cross planted by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago in Cebu and a tribute to Cebu being a cradle of Christianity in the region.

Despite the heavy downpour, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma led the blessing of the CCLEX crosses on board a yacht in the middle of the Mactan Channel.

Palma, in his message, said the bridge linking Cebu City to the Municipality of Cordova is a dream of the community that is now becoming a reality.

“The bridge is not just a bridge. The bridge connects and makes people closer together. A beautiful expression of what life should be,” he said.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, for his part, said the Cebuanos are excited to see the CCLEX completed soon.

As of March 2021, the overall Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract of the 8.5-kilometer toll expressway is at 72.73 percent while construction progress is at 66.89 percent.

“With each passing day, we see this landmark project slowly taking shape. I look forward to the day when people from Cebu City and the south can easily go to Mactan Island through CCLEX,” the mayor said.

Cordova Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho, on the other hand, said the blessing and the lighting of the crosses signals the start of the completion of the CCLEX.

“The lighting of the crosses are symbols of our hope and faith in His divine providence,” she added.

The CCLEX is targeted to be substantially completed by the end of the year.

CCLEX is a P30-billion, 8.5-kilometer toll bridge that will link Cebu City through the South Road Properties to the Municipality of Cordova in Mactan Island.

The Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) will maintain and operate the facility under a joint venture agreement with the LGUs of Cebu City and Cordova.

Set to be a new landmark in the country, CCLEX will have two lanes in each direction that will provide a safe, quick and scenic passage to an estimated 50,000 vehicles daily, easing the traffic in the existing Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

CCLEX has a design speed of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) and a navigational clearance or height of 51 meters so as to allow large vessels to pass underneath the bridge.

Not only is CCLEX seen to reduce traffic and make traveling more convenient but also spur trade activities and open greater economic opportunities for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region.

CCLEC is a subsidiary company of MPTC, the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a publicly listed infrastructure holding company and a member of the MVP Group of Companies.

MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines, which expansion goals include establishing toll operations in the Visayas, other parts of the Philippines, and in neighboring countries notably Vietnam, and Indonesia. (By Princess Dawn Felicitas)

A program was held where a short talk was given to the recipients about the importance of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines celebration. Fr. Mhar Balili, the parish priest, stressed out the challenge of the 500 YOC celebration: Gifted to Give. “We are called to share the blessings that we receive to others,” he said. “All our gifts come from God.”

Afterwards, 100 residents received the Bags of Hope and Quincentennial Crosses.

One of the major sponsors for this distribution is Mr. Eric Mendoza, the first COVID positive from Mandaue City and a COVID survivor. He shared his blessings with others in thanksgiving for the healing he received.

“This [donation] is a form of thanksgiving for the gift of life that I received from God,” he said in his message for the recipients. “We cannot doubt what God has plans for us. For He has greater plans. I felt gifted to give today. I am very thankful for the opportunity to share my blessings to others.” The distribution was conducted by volunteers blessed by Archbishop Jose Palma during the send-off Mass on the morning of the same day, for the safety of the volunteers and the success of the project.

“How beautiful it is that today we celebrate what happened 500 years ago by doing exactly the same thing that Father Pedro de Valderrama did. We will baptize,” Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines said at Mass on 14 April 2021.

The date marked five centuries since Father Valderrama, chaplain of Magellan’s expedition conducted the first baptisms in Cebu. Back then, around 800 natives had joined the Catholic Church, led by their king and queen—Humabon and Humahay—who respectively took the Christian names Carlos and Juana. Catholics from the Philippines the world over celebrate the quincentenary of the introduction of Christianity to the country from 4 April 2021 to 22 April 2022.

At Plaza Sugbo (Cebu) on Wednesday, before the shrine that commemorates the planting of the cross on Philippine soil, Archbishop Brown christened and later gave holy communion to David Villagracia, John Michael Dragon, Milby Illocendo, April Suan, Billy Connie Pal, French Cedric Sison, and Jolito Abaquita Jr.

Baptism, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes a human being a member of the mystical Body of Christ. “Having become a member of the Church,” the Catechism states, “the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us.”

Standing by a specially-made altar with a reredos housing images of the crucified Christ and the first canonized Filipinos—Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod—he reminded the faithful that they have been enlightened by Christ.

“Walk always as children of the light and keep the flame of faith alive in your hearts,” he said, quoting the Catholic rite of baptism. “When the Lord comes, may you go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.”

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Cotabato Archbishop Emeritus Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, six other bishops and many more clerics concelebrated the Mass with the nuncio.

They wore vestments bearing symbolic embroidery that called to mind the celebrated 500 years, the oceans crossed by the evangelizers of the Philippines, the Santo Niño, and the Holy Trinity. The design was conceptualized by Jesuit Fr. Jose Quilongquilong.

A chorale and an orchestra rendered most liturgical songs Cebuano and in Latin, the Catholic Church’s official language. Readers offered the prayers of the faithful in Philippine languages including Cebuano, English, Tagalog, Waray-waray, and Hiligaynon.

The nuncio underscored Philippine culture’s impact on worldwide Catholicism in expressions of piety such as Misas de Gallo (celebrations of Mass at dawn on the nine days before Christmas) and veneration of the Santo Niño, a statue of the Child Jesus.

“The Catholic faith cannot be identified with any single culture; it is rather the life-giving truth of God,” he said, “that can be embraced by any culture and, with time, will transform that culture so that—as here in the Philippines—that culture will give its own particular expression to the Catholic faith.”

In 1521, Antonio Pigafetta, the Magellanic expedition’s Venetian chronicler had given the Santo Niño to Queen Juana as a baptismal present. It is kept in a marble chapel in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in this city by friars of the Order of Saint Augustine.

Archbishop Brown noted that in the tradition of Queen Juana’s joyful dance upon accepting the Holy Child, Filipinos migrants today spread the Catholic faith and devotion to the Santo Niño around the world.

Echoing Pigafetta’s act of gift-giving, he gave each newly baptized child a small image of the Santo Niño.

He also incensed the Cross in the kiosk and the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title “Our Lady of Guadalupe of Cebu,” Saint Joseph, and Santo Niño. The congregation sang the devotional “Gozos (Joys)” for the Holy Child, better known as “Batobalani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love),” waving their arms as they did so.

“The Santo Niño reminds us ‘of the hidden life of the Holy Family in Nazareth. Mary and Joseph raised the Child Jesus with love. By opening the doors of your families to the Holy Child, you too will be able to transmit to your children the faith that you received from your parents,’” Archbishop Brown had said in his homily, quoting Pope Francis.

Cardinal Quevedo encouraged Cebuanos, as citizens of what he called “point zero” of the Christian faith in the Philippines to share it with others, not by preaching in the streets but by living their lives well.

With his final benediction, Archbishop Brown imparted a plenary indulgence to everyone who attended the Mass. The plenary indulgence cancels all temporal punishment attached to forgiven sins. It is gained through completion of the indulgenced act, detachment from all sin including venial ones, sacramental confession, reception of the Holy Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Pope.

As the crowd shouted the salutation “Viva! Pit Señor” after Mass, the award-winning Sandiego Dance Company that reenacted the first baptism and the presentation of the Santo Niño performed another Sinulog or prayer dance to the Holy Child.

The number of Mass attendees was limited to 700 to ensure physical distancing in the plaza amid the covid-19 pandemic, the end of which Archbishop Palma exhorted the faithful to pray for as he welcomed Catholics, other Christians, and people from other religions to the celebration.

Wednesday’s Mass was the culmination of a triduum or three days during which Mass was celebrated with baptism, confirmation, and first communion in various churches including the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Cebu in Cebu City, National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City, and National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rule in Lapu-Lapu City.

*Jason A. Baguia is a member of the Digital Communications Program of the Archdiocese of Cebu. An editor who has covered Church affairs since 2002, he heads the faculty of the baccalaureate degree program in Communication at the University of the Philippines Cebu

The last day of the Triduum was held at the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Regla and was presided over by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones who also led the Baptism of 100 Adults During the same celebration, they also received the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament Holy Eucharist.  Among them are the Magpantay family whose all members were altogether baptized.

At 1pm, a motorcade followed around Cebu City (North). Lapulapu City, Mandaue City and Cordova together with the Pilgrim image of Sñr. Sto. Niño and the 2021 Jubilee Cross.

The day was culminated with a Cultural Concert at the Liberty Shrine, Lapulapu City. The concert was entitled “Musica Sacra in 500 voices” – God’s voice in the Filipino Soul. People were serenaded with timeless songs and melodies. The songs that people love and the songs which have become a part of people’s journey especially in their spiritual life as Christians. (By Carmelle Ferrater)

As we celebrates the 2^nd Day Triduum, 100 candidates from 12 different parishes received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the National Shrine of St Joseph-Mandaue. The mass was presided over by Palo Archbishop John Du.

One of the candidates was Niño Sean Bensi from Tipolo Mandaue, 12 years old who was the youngest. The oldest was Analyn Formentera, 37 years old from Camotes Island. Both of them attested that they would surely remember such unforgettable moment for the rest of their lives.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the full acceptance into God’s family and the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

At around 1pm, a motorcade happened around the City of Cebu and Talisay with the Pilgrim image of the Sñr. Sto Niño de Cebu and the  Jubilee Cross.

The day was wrapped up with a cultural show entitled “Chronos et Kairos” – God’s time in Philippine Liturgical Seasons. The show conveyed in creative dance and drama. It was a creative reminder of the rich meaning and symbolism of the Church’s liturgical seasons which is always a time of life, a time of light, and a time of hope.

On that night, Archbishop Jose Palma announced the declaration of our President Rodrigo Duterte as a Special Non-Working Holiday on April 14, 2021 which is the commemoration of the First Baptism 500 years ago, the reason for the celebration. At the end of the show, everyone was reminded: “Let us be generous with our time with God and for others. And as a baptized Christians, we are gifted to give.”

The Archdiocese of Cebu celebrated the First-Day Triduum towards the commemoration of the First Baptism which is the significant part of the 500YoC in Cebu. The celebration started with a Holy Mass with Baptism of 100 children at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 9:00 in the morning.

The mass was presided over by the Archbishop of Cebu Jose S. Palma together with Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Rañola, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones, and Palo Archbishop John Du.

Archbishop Palma in his homily said, “One hundred infants were being brought to our Christian Community. They can have something great to look back when they grow old, a once in a lifetime privilege that they are part of. Something to inspire and to motivate them. A strong foundation of their Christian faith. Parents can’t express how grateful they are for this momentum event.”

At around 1pm, motorcade was held within the Cebu City together with the Pilgrim Image of Sñr. Sto. Niño de Cebu and the Jubilee Cross.

In partnership with Smart Communication, Inc., InnoPub and SM City Cebu, the Archdiocese of Cebu launched the 500YoCCebu Exhibit: Mga Hulagway sa Pagtuo. The Rites of Blessing and Grand Launching was led by the Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma

The exhibit showcased well-kept and cherished relics of the saints, images, arts and paintings. Archbishop Jose Palma shared how these exhibits help in our journey to the past and appreciate how our faith has grown, how it gives joy to see that, despite the pandemic. “All of this beauty serves only one purpose – to encounter the beauty himself”, Rev Fr. Brian Brigoli, Chair of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Cultural Heritage.

The day was ended with a Cultural Event held at the grounds of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 7:30pm. The show was entitled, “EL CAMINO A LAS FILIPINAS” – a journey of faith, a journey through our history, and a journey as a people of God.

It was a way of revisiting the past, how the faith was planted in Cebu and how it also spread throughout the country, how it progressed, develop  and reached even until the present generation. (By Carmel Ferrater)

March 16, 1521 – arrival of Magellan in the Philippines

The Armada de Maluco, the Spanish naval expedition led by Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan in search of the westerly route to the Spice Islands, reached the island later known as the Philippines.

March 31, 1521 – First Easter Sunday Mass

The Spaniards gained foothold in Limasawa where they celebrated the First Easter Sunday Mass and planted a cross on top of the highest mountain in the area.

April 7, 1521 (Sunday) – Port of Cebu

The three ships of Magellan: Trinidad, Concepcion and Victoria dropped anchor at the port of Cebu to obtain food provision for their continued journey to the Moluccas and to visit the king. On approaching the town, Magellan had the ships hang all their flags and the artillery fired, which greatly frightened the people of the place.

April 9, 1521 (Tuesday) – On the Ship of Magellan

The nephew of the king, who was the prince, and other principal men came to the ship of Magellan to make peace with the Spaniards, and received a short introduction of the Christian faith, especially on honoring one’s father and mother even in their advanced years. The representatives of the king seemed to be very interested in knowing about and converting to the faith.

April 10, 1521 (Wednesday) – A Burial Place in Town

Pigafetta and the interpreter went to the king to ask for a place where they might bury their dead. They were given an open space in the town. They consecrated the grave and placed a cross on it. Two men were buried in the space of the same day.

April 13, 1521 (Saturday) – The Platform

Since the king was to be baptized on the coming Sunday, a platform was made in the open space, fitted with tapestry and palm branches. The captain advised the king that the cannons would be fired on that day although without firing stones or other balls.

April 14, 1521 (Sunday) – The First Baptism

In the morning, as Magellan and forty men when ashore, the ships discharged all their artillery. The party then proceeded to march following the standard of the Spanish king towards the platform. The captain and the king embraced one another, and then they sat on two chairs while the principal men sat on cushions and the others on mats. A large cross was set up in the square.

The captain gave a catechesis. The king was then baptized and given the name of Carlos. Fifty men were baptized in the morning. After lunch, the queen came together with forty ladies. A wooden image of Our Lady, holding her little Child, as well as a wooden cross were shown to her. After baptism, she was given the name Juana. After baptism, she begged the Spaniards to give her the image of a little wooded boy to put in the place of the idols. That day eight hundred men, women and children were baptized.

April 15-22, 1521 – The Days After

In the succeeding eight days, more natives were baptized, some from the neighboring islands. In one of these, the Spaniards burned a village and a cross was planted because the inhabitants would not obey either the native king or the Spaniards. Magellan went ashore every day to hear mass; many of the new Christians joined to whom he continued to catechize.

One day the queen came and the captain approved of the gift which Pigafetta had made earlier. Magellan once again instructed the king and his people who had been baptized to burn their idols. This on account of a sick brother of a prince who was severely ill for four days and was unable to speak. The captain had the sick man and his family members baptized and burned their idols. On the fifth day, he rose from his bed and could walk.

April 27, 1521 – Battle of Mactan

Magellan and some of his members attempted to subdue the natives of Mactan by force, and in the ensuing battle, the Spaniards were overpowered and Magellan was killed.

The encounter between the natives and the Spaniards resulted in the incipience of a religious consciousness: Kristohanon. And now, after all these five hundred years of Christianity in the country, a people have become more conscious of the wonderful gift of faith to be shared with others—they are gifted to give!

(From the Original text by Fr. Marvin Mejia and adapted and summarized by Ms. Haide Palapar)

Attended by a number of concelebrating priests, deacons and lay faithful, the Rite of the Opening Holy Door marked the start of the celebration. Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma who led the celebration said, “As we launch the 500 Years of Christianity celebrations, as we celebrate this Easter mass 500 years later, we remember and we celebrate. When we celebrate, we make present the love of God, particularly today, the time of the pandemic. We know COVID brings fear. But we know deep in our hearts that the love of Christ strengthens our faith. The Risen Lord promises life.”

The opening of the Holy Door also signaled the Year of Jubilee from this year’s opening to the closing in 2022 in which all the faithful have the graced opportunity to receive plenary indulgence as long as conditions are met each time they visit and enter through the Holy Door. Simultaneous with the opening of the Holy Door at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, is also the opening of other Holy Doors in other 12 designated Pilgrim Churches in the whole Archdiocese. Also, since it was an archdiocesan event, all parishes had their own participation by simultaneously celebrating the Holy Mass, the Unveiling and Blessing of the Jubilee Cross. (The Cebu Archdiocesan Digital Communications Team)

What made the celebration also more meaningful was the gift giving of 275 Bundles of Joy to 275 porters and 80 food packs to street dwellers.

Quoting the words of one of the porters, “Salamat Padre, wala gyud mi nimo talikdi” (Thank you Father, you have never left us!). To recall, since the start of the pandemic last year, the porters in the maritime community were first affected by the pandemic due to the closure of seaports. The Stella Maris-Cebu has been in the front line in extending practical helps to the displaced porters. To date, many of the porters have not been able to return to their jobs at the port. One leader of the porters group CAPHA, Genevieve, said that in order to survive she’s currently working as a housemaid.

Archbishop Jose S. Palma in his homily at the Metropolitan Cathedral had said, “There are many who are hungry, homeless, lonely and afraid. Many who long for companions. Yes, we are gifted so that we can bring comfort, forgiveness and love to others. So that the hungry may have some food and the lonely may have some friends. So that those who hunger for God and for His mercy, may know that through us, indeed, Jesus is risen and is present in our midst, to bring His mercy and hope. and consolation and joy.” end quote. Surely, the ministry of the Apostleship of the Sea/Stella Maris-Cebu has already been doing what the Archbishop has said. (From the Stella Maris-Cebu FB Page)