The Pundok ni Beato Pedro Calungsod (The Group of Blessed Pedro Calungsod) is a cebuano-speaking community here in Rome. The origins of this group can be traced back to the celebration of the feast of Seňor Santo Niňo de Cebu in 1996. A few of the Cebuano-speaking priests at the Pontificio Collegio Filipino and some other Cebauno-speakers planned and gathered to celebrate the feast. The texts had
to be typed and sent by e-mail from Davao City, since at the time there were no Cebuano liturgical books here in Rome. The question was raised about future gatherings but there was no immediate follow up. The next school year 1996-1997 saw the beginning of what would later become the Pundok ni Beato Calungsod. The ingistators of the initial gatherings were two student priests: Fr. Bill LaRousse, a Maryknoll priest who had worked in Mindanao in the diocese of Tagum, Mati, Tandag, and Davao since 1977. The rest of the ¨core group¨ were Sr. Miriam Alejandro, OSB, and Sr. Celeste Nidea, OSB, both from Davao, Sr. Amata Medellin, OSB, from Tagum, Paz Villarba, Terry Germino and Merlyn Gaguing, all from Cebu, Nilda Luterte from Leyte, Delfina Altamero from Surigao, and her sister Belen Alunday from Abra. Still relying on the Davao e-mail connection, about 6 priests, the three sisters, and the six lay people started t ogather twice a month to celebrate the Eucharist in Cebuano and share lunch together. These very informal gatherings were held at the SVD Generalate and continued there for the 1997-1998 school year. Little by little the group increased. The group would have a number of priests concelebrate at each mass as all Cebauno-speaking priests were welcome to join. The motivation for the group gathering were to be able to celebrate the Eucharist in its own language and to enjoy each other's company. It was an opportunity for all to go back to their roots in their own language group. It has been described as tambal sa kamingaw (the medicine or treatment for loneliness) while here in Rome. To grow and deepen our faith as Catholics would also have been a motivating factor. There was a double motivation, spiritual and social, that were the vision inspiring the group. The group by its appreciation of its won cultural heritage can contribute to their richness of the unity of the Filipino community in Rome. As the group kept on inviting others, little by little, the number continued to increase. Eventually the group was too big for the room at the SVD Generate. The group also used the AFLI center for a while. All this time the group had no name and was just referred to as the Visyan group or the Cebuano group. Eventually Cebuano liturgical books were sent from Davao. For the 1998-1999 school year the group met at Via Caboto courtesy of the RVM sisters. The Collegio Filipino was very welcoming to the group as the celebration of the feast of Senor Santo Nino de Cebu in 1998 was held there. It was 1998 celebration of the feast of Santo Nino, Her excellency Tita de Villa, Philippine Ambassor to the Holy See, who was a guest of the group, asked the name of the group. Everyone was challenged to reflect on what would be the name for the group. The group then decided to be known as the Pundok ni Pedro Calungsod. It was 1994 when Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu, introduced the Cause for the Beatification of Pedro Calungsod and the process was recognized as valid in 1997. So then on, the members thought that it was very fitted to identity the group with the name of Beatification candidate who is known as a Bisaya . Who is Pedro Calungsod? He was a young lad from Visayas who was a martyred together with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, SJ, in Guam on April 2, 1672. Blessed San Vitores, SJ, was beatified on October 6, 1985. It is the documents about the martydom of Pedro Diego that are the only source of information about his companion marty Pedro Calungsod, a boy from Visayas in the Philippines. Since Pedro is always referred to as a Bisaya, and his exact origin is not known, he can be claimed as a townmate (katagilungsod) by all who use Binisaya, as their language. It is interesting to remember that the Spanish first heard of the name Bisaya when they were in eastern Mindanao. Early Dutch and Spanish records Mindanao were known as Bisaya. Pedro then, in a special way, was a model of the Catholic faith for all the people who speak Cebuano-Visayan from Visayas and Mindanao. Pedro accompanied by Padre San Vitores to Guam (then part of the diocese of Cebu) as a catechist in the Jesuit mission to the Mariana Islands. They arrived there in 1668. Pedro had learn the Chamorro, the language of the people of the islands of that foreign land. The members of the Pundok, overseas workers or students who had learn also Italian, can be compared to Pedro who was also away from home in the foreign land and who had learn also another language. Members wishinglly hopefull to be inspired by him to live their faith today. One of the purpose of the Pundok is to learn more about Pedro Calungsod, to spread devotion to Pedro, and be challenged by his life and martydom as we live to our Christian faith. The Pundok rejoiced when the beatification was announced at the end of January 2000 and was made official as Blessed last March 5, 2000. The Pundok began the school year 1999-2000, like Pedro in Guam, moving from place to place, and they were welcomed at the PIME Generate. However, as the new millennium begins, Pedro has returned the Pundok who bears his name to the Jesuits, the missionaries who trained Pedro and who brought him to Guam to with them. The Pundok ni Pedro Calungsod were gathered at the Collegio Bellarmino and the Chruch of St. Ignatius. The group had grown to include about 50 lay people, different groups of sisters join once in a while, and number of religious priests and seminarians, or those who have worked in the Cebuano-Visayan speaking areas, along with the priests from the Collegio. The Pundok gathers at least twice a month, on the second and last sunday of every month in the morning hours so the members of the group can continue with their other communities that meet in the afternoon. The informal nature of the group gave way to a more formal structure as the group grew in size. The first acting coordinators for the group were Renilda Luterte and Conchita Caintic, together with Fr. Nazer Zaragosa, and Fr. Bill LaRousse, as facilatators of group activities and events. Different Cebuano priests from Collegio and from religious orders have been invited to celebrate the Eucharist and preach. Other priests who also participated in the activities of the Pundok were; Fr. John Young and Fr. Buboy Pates; Fr. Ilde Leyson introduced Fr. Dennis Villarojo, Fr. Naser Zaragosa, and Fr. Ramonito Maata to the Pundok ; Fr. Boy Salvador; Fr. Manny Ginete, CM and Fr. Tony Pernia SVD were the main celebrants at the Eucharist for the two feasts of Seňor Santo Niňo. Some of the student priests who became their advisers were also Fr. Edward Tabada, Fr. Allan Polgo, Fr. Manuel Montesclaros, Fr. Pederito Aparece and Fr. Arlou Buslon. One aspect of the Pundok that helps its activities was the spirit of cooperation from all involved. There areso many others to metioned who were very heplful and were very involved in every group's activities. After the beatification of Pedro Calungsod last March 5, 2000, the group adapted it's name until today, Ang Pundok ni Beato Pedro Calungsod sa Roma. The group celebrates it's annual anniversaries the same feast day of Beato Pedro Calungsod, April 2. The group celebrates it's every Sunday mass at the Parocchia Sta. Marcella, Piazza Nicoloso da Recco 12, Rome under the care of Fr. Mhar Balili as the present Spiritual Adviser. What the Pundok had achieved were the result of all efforts and sacrifices of all the members. The Pundok continues to be a source of strengthning of all its member's faith and the undying line of the group – ang tambal sa kamingaw.
