1. Cebu is the “cradle of Christianity” in the country. The seeds of the Catholic faith were planted in 1521 with Ferdinand Magellan’s gift of an image of the Santo Niño and a cross. A visit to the Philippines is not complete without touching base here.
2. Typhoon Yolanda survivors in north Cebu need comforting, too. The storm severely damaged 15 towns and Bogo City, affecting 610,000 people.
Young residents of Daanbantayan town after typhoon Yolanda made landfall there in Nov. 8, 2013.
(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
3. The original image of the Santo Niño is enthroned in a basilica where Mass attendance is phenomenal during the nine-day novena of the feast every January.
The Holy Father can experience why faith is very much alive and witness the sinulog as a prayer dance.
4. He can remind priests to lead simple lifestyles, to “smell like the sheep”, and to stop aspiring to have a new car.
5. The sainthood of the young Pedro Calungsod was championed by the Archdiocese of Cebu.
6. The 2,000 dancing inmates of the Cebu provincial jail could perform live their “Pope Dance” for their special guest instead of just posting a video on YouTube.
Cebu’s dancing inmates with their latest inspiration. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
7. Francis would enjoy connecting with a largely youthful population (the average age is 23).
8. The Mactan Cebu International Airport makes it easy to fly in and out (and avoid the complications of Manila).
9. The Augustinian order, custodian of the Santo Niño image, is celebrating 450 years of presence in Cebu. We can’t blame them for feeling overlooked. They sent Francis an invitation and still hope he accepts.
10. Many Cebuanos take their faith seriously; it is still pretty much a part of local identity. They also live peacefully side by side with Muslim members of the community.
11. At 78, Pope Francis isn’t expected to keep up the pace of a globe-trotter for long.
12. The International Eucharistic Congress on Jan. 15-31, 2016 will be held in Cebu City for 15,000 delegates. Popes don’t usually attend this event. Francis could break the mold. (Organizers moved the date to fit his schedule).
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