San Isidro Labrador Parish-Columbio

07/05/2026

Stacruzan is not a beauty contest nor a money contest.

Santacruzan is not a beauty contest nor a money contest.

It is a deeply rooted Filipino Catholic tradition, held annually during the month of May in honor of the Holy Cross. The celebration is connected to the devotion to Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) and her son, Emperor Constantine, who, according to tradition, discovered the True Cross of Christ in Jerusalem. Because of this, the Santacruzan forms part of the Filipino observance of Flores de Mayo, a month-long devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The highlight of the celebration is a grand religious procession where participants—often young women, men, and children—portray biblical and symbolic figures such as Reyna Elena, Inang Reyna, and various “sagalas” representing virtues like faith, hope, and charity. Traditionally, this procession is meant to be prayerful and catechetical, teaching the faithful about salvation history and Marian devotion.

Santacruzan is not meant to be a beauty contest nor a money contest.

It is a sacred tradition that calls Catholics to return to its true purpose: a public expression of faith rooted in devotion to the Holy Cross. Over time, however, some communities have shifted toward pageantry, competition, and commercial display—focusing more on gowns, sponsorships, and popularity rather than prayer and devotion.

This becomes a gentle reminder for Catholics to reclaim the spirit of Santacruzan. It should not be driven by commercialism or social status, but by faith, reverence, and community prayer. The procession is not about who looks best or who spends the most, but about honoring Christ through the symbol of His Cross and honoring Mary through sincere devotion.

When understood and lived properly, Santacruzan becomes more than a cultural event—it becomes a living catechesis. It invites the faithful to reflect on salvation history, to honor the Blessed Mother, and to renew their commitment to Christ. In this way, the tradition remains rooted not in spectacle, but in Catholic faith and spirituality.

01/03/2026

03.01.2026

Grateful to the goodness and kindness of Most Rev. Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, DD, for the Turnover and Blessing of Bishop's Alay Pabahay to Kuya Marlie Escalante& family and Kuya Agrifino &Family.

Blessed by God's grace through your hands, Bishop!

To the Bayanihan Team—Mabuhay kayo! Congratulations, everyone! 🙏✨💪❤️

02/02/2026

Pastoral Appeal | On Responsible Garbage Management

Today, I would like to express my full support for the initiatives of our City Government in addressing the serious problem of garbage management in Cebu.

But I would also like to say something very important, something very simple, and something very true: The real solution to the garbage problem is not in machines. It is in changing habits.

No technology, no equipment, no landfill, no budget will ever be enough if our daily habits remain the same.

Because garbage is not first a city problem. Garbage is a lifestyle problem.

⸻
Garbage begins at home

Most of the waste we see on the streets did not begin there. It began inside homes.

It began when we did not segregate.It began when we used plastic without thinking. It began when we threw something away carelessly, believing it would simply “disappear.”

But nothing truly disappears. It only goes somewhere else—to rivers, to seas, to dumpsites, and eventually back to us.

⸻
This is a moral and spiritual responsibility

As Christians, we believe that creation is a gift from God entrusted to us. We are not owners of this earth. We are stewards. To throw garbage irresponsibly is not only bad citizenship. It is poor stewardship. It is forgetting that God entrusted this beautiful island of Cebu to our care.

Caring for the environment is not optional for Christians. It is part of our faith.

⸻
Small habits, big impact

The solution is not complicated:
• Segregate waste at home
• Reduce single-use plastics
• Reuse what can still be used
• Compost biodegradable waste
• Teach children to be disciplined with trash

These are small acts. But when done by thousands of families every day, they become powerful.

⸻
A call to our parishes, schools, and communities

I ask our parishes, schools, religious communities, and organizations to lead by example:
• Practice proper waste segregation
• Avoid plastic in parish events
• Teach environmental responsibility in catechism and classrooms
• Show that faith and care for creation go together

Let our churches be models of discipline and responsibility.

⸻
A shared responsibility

I humbly ask every Cebuano Catholic: Do not wait for the government to solve this problem for you. Be part of the solution.

Because the cleaner Cebu we desire will not come from machines. It will come from changed hearts and changed habits.

⸻
Let us remember:

The real solution to the garbage problem is not in machines. It is in changing habits.

May our love for God be seen in the way we care for His creation. May our faith be seen in the discipline of our daily actions.

And may future generations inherit a Cebu that is cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful than the one we have today.

With my prayers and blessings,

+Alberto S. Uy
Archbishop of Cebu

12/01/2026

Grateful Hearts! 🙏

A heartfelt Thank You to Municipal Mayor Hon. Amirh M. Musali and Chief of Police PMaj. Joemari Y. Cua for their unwavering support during the Diocesan Eucharistic Revival, Adoration and Congress (DERAC) on December 7-8, 2025, in Amas, Kidapawan City.

They received the Plaque of Appreciation, personally signed by His Excellency, Most Rev. Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, DD, Bishop of Kidapawan, and presented by Rev. Fr. Ismael A. Del Rosario, DCK, Columbio Parish Administrator.

Your steadfast commitment strengthens our faith community! God bless you both!🙏🙏