My Pedro Calungsod Experience

By: Rev. Fr. Andrei Ventanilla

I thought of giving up…

I was a 2nd-Yr. Theology Student in Spain and it was in that year that I suffered a crisis due to academic demands. The truth is, I failed in some subjects – my first failure(s) in my whole academic life. 

That made me feel terribly homesick. In fact, I was even thinking of going back to Cebu after the Canonization. I told myself, “This I will tell Archbishop Palma when we see each other there.”

My most treasured experience about San Pedro Calungsod was the opportunity to attend his canonization in Rome on October 21, 2012. It was also my first time to set foot on the Eternal City.

To be there at the Canonization made me feel as if I were in Cebu. That time, the streets of Rome were filled with Filipinos and most of them were Cebuanos. I had a good time meeting with people I knew. What a worth-remembering euphoria!

Above all, that experience inspired me to rise from the fall and to study very diligently as my way of expressing my service and gratitude to the Archdiocese of Cebu. 

That was my prayer as I stood in the midst of the crowd while watching the image of Pedro being slowly unveiled.

Oops, I forgot one detail. I never had the chance to talk to the Archbishop for he was busy at that time. We only had a simple meet and greet. When I saw him, I kissed his ring and he asked me:

AJP: Musta, Andrei?

Me: I’m okay (?)

AJP: Ahw, okie ah…. See you, then!

We did see each other… three years after… when I returned to Cebu after graduating Theology. And the rest… is history.