How does a community remember its memorable event particularly on its religious observance?
At the Parish Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Landayan, San Pedro City, the commemoration on the nineteenth year of a devastating typhoon and its miraculous effects on the city was recently held.
Jesus Christ on the Holy Sepulchre, also known as Lolo Uweng, is a miracle in itself.
According to Sonny Ordona, Shrine of the Holy Sepulcher Ministry Head, last year's celebration was unforgettable.
"December 1, Day of Miracle," exclaimed Sonny in his missive.
Ordona reminisced: "Sinalanta ng Bagyong Reming (internationsl name: Durian) ang mga rehiyon ng Bicol, Southern Luzon, Metro Manila at Central Luzon mula November 30 hanggang Disyembre (Typhoon Reming devastated the regions of Bicol, Southern Luzon, Metro Manila and Central Luzon from November 30 to) 1, 2006.
"Ito ang naitalang pinakamalakas na bagyo noong 2006, at pangatlo sa mga pinaka-mapinsalang bagyo sa Pilipinas mula pa noong 1947 (This was the strongest storm recorded and third among the destructive typhoons in the Philippines since 1947.
"Mahigit isang libong tao ang namatay at umabot sa limang bilyon pisong halaga ng mga ari-arian at pananim ang napinsala.
"Sa Laguna, nagkaroon ng malaking epekto ang bagyong ito, pangunahin ang pagbaha, pagsuspende ng klase sa maraming bayan, pagkawala ng kuryente sa maraming lugar, at ang paglipat ng mga apektadong residente sa mga (There were tremendous effects of this typhoon in Laguna Province primarily floods, suspension of classes in many of its towns, power cut-off and the exodus of affected residents in) evacuation centers.
"Ngunit isang himala ng langit na noong Disyembre 1, habang ang mga rehiyong nabanggit ay binabayo ng 195kph na hangin at binabaha ng malakas na ulan, sa tahanan ni Lolo Uweng sa Landayan ay maaliwalas ang panahon para sa pagtatalaga ng Parokya ng Sto. Sepulcro bilang isang Pang Diyosesis na Dambana ni Hesus sa Banal na Sepulcro (There was a miracle from heavens that occurred on December 1 while the region was being battered by the storm at 195kph. While Landayan was flooded, the weather at the Shrine of Lolo Uweng was clear at the time the Holy Sepulcher was being prepared as the Shrine of Jesus.
"Habang sumisilip-silip ang tila nahihiyang sinag ng araw sa likod ng maputlang ulap ng umagang iyon, nagsimula ang pagdiriwang sa isang parada mula sa kanto ng Landayan mula National Highway patungo sa simbahan ng parokya (While the rays of the sun that morning were coyly peeping in from the ashen clouds, a religious procession started at the corner of Landayan from the highway towards the parish church.
"Ito ay pinangunahan ng noo'y Bishop ng Diocese of San Pablo Leo Murphy Drona, S.D.B., mga kaparian at lingkod-simbahan, at mga opisyales ng San Pedro LGU sa pangunguna ni dating (The procession was led by the former Bishop of the Diocese of San Pablo Leo Murohy Drona, S.D.B., priests, religious servants and officials of the San Pedro Local Government Unit speaheaded by ex-) Mayor Felicisimo A. Vierneza.
"Ang parokya ay pinamumunuan noon ng The parish was then headed by Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Jeremias "Jerry" O. Oblepias at Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Gomer R. Torres).
"Masaya at masiglang naglakad ang mga tao sa pangunahing kalsada ng barangay na ginayakan ng malalaki at maliliit na bandera na may iba't ibang kulay. Sa unahan ng parada ay isang unipormadong banda ng musiko na tumutugtog ng mga masisiglang piyesa na angkop sa pagdiriwang (The cortege joyfully and lively paraded in major thoroughfares of the villages which were adorned with banners of all colors and sizes. The procession was headed by a uniformed band that played celebratory music.
"Sinundan ito ng pagdiriwang ng Banal na Misa sa Sto. Sepulcro Parish Church. Tampok sa selebrasyon ang unveiling ng mga bronze markers sa main entrance ng simbahan at ang pormal na pagtatalaga ng parokya bilang Pang Diyosesis na Dambana ni Hesus sa Banal na Libingan) (This was followed by a Holy Mass at the Holy Sepulcher church. The highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of the bronze markers at the main entrance of the church and the formal designation of the parish as the) Diocesan Shrine of Jesus in the Holy Sepulchre).
"Iyon ang dakilang araw ni Lolo Uweng-ang sentro ng isang maringal, makulay at masayang pagdiriwang na ginanap sa isang napakagandang umaga sa Landayan sa kalagitnaan ng isang tinaguriang (That was the geatest day of Lolo Uweng--the center of the majestic, colorful and jolly celebration done during a rosy morninf in Landayan in the middle of a) super typhoon.
"Isang oras pagkatapos ng matagumpay na inagurasyon ng pinakabagong dambana sa Diyosesis ng San Pablo, nagsimulang pumatak ang banayad na ulan sa Landayan, na tila baga isang pagbabasbas ng banal na tubig mula sa kalangitan (One day after the inauguration of the newest shrine for the Diocese of St. Paul, a drizzle started to fall that seemed like a holy water from above)."
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the miracle and Ordona's ministry is preparing another celebration at this early.
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