Catholic faithful protest removal of Virgin Mary statue in Boracay
Devout Roman Catholics and parishioners on Boracay Island could not help but vocalize their opposition over the removal of a statue of Virgin Mary at Willy’s Rock in Brgy. Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.
The image also served as a tourist attraction in Boracay Island.
But the people’s opposition only fell on deaf ears, as Socorro Ruchanie Gadon, owner of Willy’s Beach Resort, stood firm by her decision to have the statue removed.
Gadon claimed that she came up with the decision because the statue is inconsistent with her religious belief.
It was gathered that Gadon converted to the Born Again Christianity in 1992.
But she claimed that her religion is not what prompted her to come up with such decision.
Instead, Gadon pointed that it was what she read in the Bible that people should only idolize Jesus.
“Yung sinasabi nila, it is also written in the Bible na many will persecute and I’m ready for that. Unang-una, I don’t compromise to any one God. Si Lord lang talaga..,” Gadon said in a TV interview.
In 1986, when Gadon was still a devout Catholic, she had the statue put up despite her father’s repulsion.
“I dream of a woman nakabaligtad siya walang ulo. Because of my devotion, the following day, I bought a statue of Lourdes in Kalibo (Aklan) and brought it in Boracay and decided to place it over a rock,” she added.
Five years later, she said that a nun from Rome, Italy went to her and told her that she should replace the image with that of Ten Commandments.
“With that statue, only a few believed and it divides. Unlike if it’s Ten Commandments, it unites because that’s the law of God,” she added.
To replace the statue, Gadon commissioned someone to do a Ten Commandments tablet.
The tablet was done in October 2009 and will be put in Willy’s Rock once the Department of Environment and Resources (DENR) will give its go-signal.
It was not known where Gadon placed the statue and parishioners and residents could only guess.
But she revealed that she had it removed Thursday from 12:30 to 3:00 in the morning.
She allegedly chose the time, so as not to disturb other people.
Last Saturday, it was learned that Gadon attended a meeting of the DENR and some resort owners at the Boracay Parish Church.
The parish priest, Rev. Fr. Magliore Placer, was quoted to have said that the meeting will not push through unless Gadon goes out.
The woman followed but after explaining her side.
In his homily, Placer told parishioners that they might erect another grotto to replace what Gadon removed.
This elicited an applause among mass parishioners.
There are already several individuals who expressed desire to donate a statue.
“We respect each other’s faith but you should respect the faith of the majority of the people,” Placer said.
