The First Ever Given to a Saint
The Commission on History, Culture and Heritage of the Province of St. Ezekiel almost spent one year in procuring that the Saint be recognized as co-founder of the city of Puerto Princesa, the capital of the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
There was a solid basis for the petition. The young Fray Ezekiel was the chaplain of the military detachment sent by the Spanish government in 1872 to establish a settlement in the north of the island, which settlement would later become Puerto Princesa. In the ten months that his health allowed him to stay in the territory (March 1872-January 1873), the Saint spent his time exploring his surroundings and evangelizing the indigenous tribes along the rivers of Inagawan and Aborlan.
But it was no easy task to procure a plaque of recognition from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the highest authority on matters of culture. A historical marker of this nature has never been granted to a non-Filipino or a saint; not even the two Filipino saints, Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod have this honor.
Only after several revisions of the texts to be engraved on the plaque that is made of cast iron was the project finally approved by the middle of September 2014. The chosen date for the unveiling of the marker was December 8, being the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of Puerto Princesa and the titular of the cathedral. For two reasons is the marker located in the plaza fronting the cathedral. First, the church was built by the last Augustinian Recollect bishop Gregorio Espiga in 1961 and second, this is exactly the spot where the military chaplain, Fray Ezekiel Moreno, celebrated the first mass sometime in 1872.
“A City Founded by a Saint”
On the 8th of December, while the country was preparing for the coming of typhoon, Ruby, a solemn Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated at the well-lighted neo-gothic cathedral of Puerto Princesa. The typhoon impeded the prior provincial of the Augustinian Recollects of the Philippines, Lauro Larlar, from presiding the Holy Eucharist. Regino Bangcaya, former major superior and missionary in Palawan, took over his place. Thirteen Augustinian Recollects coming from the different ministries in Palawan concelebrated. The cathedral was full to the brim. Present were Augustinian Recollect sisters, members of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity (SARF), parishioners and faithful representing the different ministries of the Order: Puerto Princesa, Luzviminda, Plaridel, Tagburos, Brooke’s Point, Inagawan, Liminangcong, Narra and Casian.
There followed the unveiling of the marker, which was transported by plane from Manila. Lucilo Bayron, the mayor of the city, welcomed the guests and at the same time thanked God for sparing Palawan from the typhoon. With reference to the Saint, the mayor openly said: “Our land is blessed, we have Saint Ezekiel as evangelizer of our ancestors.” In continuation Rene Paglinawan, the head of the Recollect Commission on History, Culture and Heritage, blessed the marker; after which, the curtain covering the plaque of recognition was drawn apart by the same mayor. Professor Luis Romanillos, the consultant on the history of the Augustinian Recollects, delivered his message defining the collaboration and the hard work of many persons that led to the approval of the project. The vice governor of the province, Dennis Socrates, in his closing remarks said: “I am grateful to the Augustinian Recollects for bringing Jesus Christ to Palawan and for leading the Palaweños to Him”. To conclude he affirmed: “it was St. Ezekiel who made it possible for us to be proud of being ‘a city founded by a saint’”.
In perpetual memory
During the meal that followed the unveiling of the marker, Professor Luis Romanillos shared with guests his recollections on the life and works of the Saint while in the different places of Palawan. He loves the Saint and for this, the professor, being the most passionate biographer of St. Ezekiel, is considered the principal author of the texts – in response to the demands of the National Historical Commission – engraved in the plaque of the marker. The texts in Filipino language will read in English as follows: “Saint Ezekiel Moreno. 1848-1906. — Augustinian Recollect and saint. Born in Rioja, Spain, 9 April 1848. Arrived in Manila, 10 February 1870. Ordained priest in the cathedral of Manila, 2 June 1871. Co-founder of the town of Puerto Princesa, missionary, chaplain of the military and the penal colony, 4 March 1872. From 1873 until 1885, parish priest of Calapán (Mindoro), Las Piñas, Santo Tomás (Batangas), Santa Cruz (Manila) and administrator of the Hacienda de Imus. He died in Spain of cancer, 19 August 1906. Canonized by Pope John Paul II for his sanctity, great example of life and unconditional service to the poor and the sick in the Philippines, Spain and Colombia. 11 October 1992. He is considered the protector of cancer victims”.
Under the Care of the Recollects
Another important event followed on the 11th of December and on the same spot where the historical marker is. In a simple ceremony and witnessed by a chosen few, the National Historical Commission entrusted the care of the monument to the Augustinian Recollects. Carmina Arevalo, the executive director of the Commission, handed the document to Lauro Larlar, the prior provincial of the Augustinian Recollects in the Philippines. By signing the document, the prior provincial is committed, in the name of the Order, to preserve and maintain the historical marker the plaque of which weighs 92 kilos. The whole structure with its base made of marble and with two supporting columns, one on each side, stands on green grass secured by a fence made of steel bars.