Cardinal Sin monument: A symbol of how much he was loved by his townmates
NEW WASHINGTON, AKLAN--In their best dresses and amid the tolling of bells and explosion of fireworks, thousands of residents of this town welcomed the unveiling of the monument of Jaime Cardinal Sin on Aug. 31, the late prelate's 79th birthday.
They came from all walks of life, rubbing elbows with the top officials of the land who crossed party lines to honor the spiritual and political leader considered the key figure in two popular uprisings that restored and defended the country's democratic institutions.
Regalada Fernandez, 66, and Generosa Gonzalez, 64, stood out in their colorful embroidered baro't saya.
They said they agreed to look their best in the unveiling of the monument at the public plaza, recently renamed Jaime Cardinal L. Sin Park, at the poblacion of New Washington, around 9 km southeast of the capital town of Kalibo.
The two are not even Catholics--they belong to the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church)--but they said they still attend Mass at the parish church, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
"We are here because he was very much loved by the people," they said.
Around 1,500 of Sin's townmates, friends, relatives and other Aklanons flocked to the church to attend Mass before the unveiling ceremonies. Others who cannot be accommodated in the church stayed at the plaza and listened through the church's public address system.
President Macapagal-Arroyo had declared a province-wide holiday to mark the unveiling of the monument.
Aklanons lined up the streets of Kalibo and New Washington greeting guests who joined the ceremonies. Flaglets in the yellow and white colors of the Catholic Church were everywhere.
Guests were treated with lechon (roast pig), one of Sin's favorite dishes.
The guests included Senate President Manuel Villar II, House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Presidential Management Staff chief Serge Remonde, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Aklan officials.
"It's like he has gone home to us permanently," Dr. Ramon Sin, the late prelate's younger brother, said in an interview.
The Cardinal last visited his hometown in 2002, three years before he died, and his townmates had wanted his remains to be buried here. But church tradition reserved him a slot at the crypt at the Manila Cathedral.
Leonila Dacoro-on, 76, a close friend of the late prelate who has been staying with the Sin family since 1944, said she felt sad when the bust arrived in the town weeks ago.
"But I am also happy because even if he is gone, we can now see him every time we pass by the plaza. "It's as if he is still alive and with us."
Antipolo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, an Aklanon who served as Sin's first secretary when he was appointed of Archbishop of Manila recalled how the cardinal had been very close to his townmates.
"You can take away Cardinal Sin from New Washington but you cannot take away New Washington from Cardinal Sin," he said in his homily delivered at the Mass before the unveiling rites.
Reyes led the blessing and unveiling of the 22-foot monument designed by architect Rafael Tecson. The 13.5-foot bronze statue, built by brothers Ronald and Jonell Castrillo, stands on a six-foot pedestal made of imported black granite.
The statue is designed after one of the late cardinal's popular images showing him in full vestment. His left hand is holding his bishop's staff while the other hand is raised as if giving a blessing.
Tecson said the image was chosen by the project's donor Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua and Dr. Ramon Sin. Cabangon Chua is also chair of the Jaime L. Cardinal Sin Monument Project.
The statue is positioned suggesting a belfry "symbolizing the role played by Sin as a leader, who like a church bell, calls on the people to come together in the spirit of love and service and live a better life for all," according one of the monument's markers.
Tecson said the statue was made in two months and was transported to the town by barge in the first week of August.
New Washington Mayor Edgar Peralta said the monument is a symbol of how much Sin was loved by his townmates.
"You have returned for good. And we rejoice," Peralta said in a speech during the program.
He said Sin will always be remembered not only as a spiritual leader but also for being instrumental in breaking the "hand of oppression and slavery" of Martial Law.
In a statement, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said the monument "will have many stories to tell, many lessons to teach, many values to emulate. It will tell of his courage and decisiveness in the face of moral quandaries. It will recall his prophetic role during critical moments in our nation's history. It will relate his love for his clergy and for his flock, and his sincere desire to serve them through his leadership."