CEBU CITY -- More than 25,000 people attended the funeral of 86-year-old Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal here Thursday morning.
Cebuanos and visitors from as far as Butuan City and Calbayog, Samar began queuing up outside the gates of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral as early as 5:30 a.m. in their desire to attend the funeral mass, which started at exactly 9 a.m.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Nagiel Bañacia said there were already about 5,000 people when the Cathedral opened at 7 a.m. and the turnout suddenly ballooned to about 20,000 at the start of the Requiem Mass officiated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
As the funeral procession began, more people just came out of nowhere and filled the streets along the funeral route, waiting for the carriage carrying the coffin of the late prelate and waving goodbye as it passed them by.
People continued arriving and joined the procession to pay their last respects to the man whom many Cebuanos called “peacemaker” and Prince of the Cebu Roman Catholic Church.
Cardinal Vidal was laid to rest at the Cebu Cathedral Mausoleum at 11:41 a.m. His immediate family, led by his brother Juanito Vidal, poured out their emotions as the coffin was lowered to the archbishop’s final resting place beside the tomb of his predecessor Cebu Archbishop Julio Cardinal Rosales.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, and Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo headed more than 40 bishops who attended the funeral.
Also in attendance were Cebu leaders, including former chief justice Hilario Davide III, Cebu Representatives Gwendolyn Garcia and Raul del Mar, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas, former Congressman Antonio Cuenco, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña.
Former Manila Metropolitan Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino likewise graced the funeral. Former senator Francisco Tatad was also spotted together with former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama.
“Don’t pick fights.” This was the message of Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo in his homily during the mass.
This, according to Villarojo, was the most unforgettable advice the late Cardinal Vidal has given him when the prelate was still alive.
“Don’t pick fights, as your enemies today will likely become your allies in the future,” Villarojo recalled Vidal as telling him.
Villarojo said at first, he took the advice of the Cardinal literally, but as he became closer to Vidal personally, he realized that it also meant having control of one’s temper.
“I have seen His Eminence (Vidal) angry so many times, but I never once heard him say an expletive,” Villarojo said. “The only word that would come out of his mouth when he’s angry was `Pambihira!’”
“Truly, His Eminence was a man of peace and a true son of God,” Villarojo said as he ended his homily. (PNA)
* Stay at Home and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at
www.wirenine.comLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=112223.0
