St. Pedro Calungsod

                “A new model for the young Catholic community…”

                Born on July 21, 1654 in Ginatilan, Cebu, the young Pedro Calungsod’s early life is of few details, prior to missionary works and death are known. Probably received his basic education at a Jesuit school, mastering Catechism and fluently speaking the Spanish language when he was around 14, he was chosen among the exemplary young catechists to accompany the Jesuits in their mission to the Ladrones Islands (Islas de Los Ladrones or “Isles of Thieves”).

                Pedro’s travel, together with Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitore, was difficult – jungles and terrains to conquer, frequent typhoon visits and the scarcity of food – but even with that, the mission still persevered and were able to convert a significant number of locals from paganism to Christianity.

                While preaching and baptizing the residents of the islands, a Chinese by the name Choco, began spreading rumors that the baptismal water used by the missionaries was poisonous. Evidently, some sickly Chamorro infants, the inhabitants of the Ladrones Islands, who were baptized eventually died. Choco was readily supported by the maranjas (local medicine men) who despised the missionaries.

                Having learned that the wife of Mata’pang, the village chief of Tumon, Guam, gave birth to a daughter, they immediately went to baptize the child. But due to the spread of Chinese man’s fallacy, Mata’pang strongly opposed.

                Meanwhile, during the absence of the village chief, San Vitores and Calungsod baptized the baby girl, with the consent of her Christian mother.

                When Mata’pang learnt of this baptism, he became furious, violently confronting the two. He hurled spears first at Pedro, who was able to dodge them and can escape from it easily but not wanting to leave the priest alone, he did not left San Vitores’s side, which caused him to be pierced by a spear at his chest. It was acclaimed that he could defeat the aggressors with weapons, if only the Jesuit missionary did not prohibit him from doing so. As Calungsod fell to the ground, a companion of the chief sprang forth and finished him off with a machete blow to the head. Their feet were tied with large stones and were thrown into the ocean on April 2, 1672.

                He was beatified on March 5, 2000 by Blessed Pope John Paul II. Last October 21, together with six other exemplary Catholics, our very own Pedro Calungson was canonized and declared as a saint by the Holy Congregation of Rome and Pope Benedict XVI. He is now considered the 2^nd Filipino saint, after Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.