8-storey Pope John Paul II inauguration set on Feb. 18
BACOLOD CITY — The eight-storey Pope John Paul II tower, the highest edifice so far in Bacolod City which is located at the heart of the Reclamation Area, will be blessed and inaugurated on February 18, 2010 with the holy presence of His Excellency Archbishop Joseph Edward Adams, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines and other prelates.
Fr. Felix Pasquin, San Sebastian Cathedral Rector and Prime Mover of the PP II Tower, said the blessing and inauguration will be attended by His Excellency Archbishop Adams, Bishop Vicente M. Navarra of the Diocese of Bacolod, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of the Archdiocese of Jaro, Archbishop Onesimo Gordoncillo of the Archdiocese of Capiz, Bishop Jose Advincula of the Diocese of San Carlos, Bishop Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Kabankalan, Bishop Camilo Gregorio, Bishop of Batanes, Bishop Antonio Tobias of the Diocese of Novaliches, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro, Bishop Nicolas Mondejar, Bishop Emeritus of San Carlos and Rev. Fr. Ulysses Dalida, Administrator of the Diocese of Aklan and Atty. Simplicio “Sammy” Palanca.
The inauguration will also be graced by Governor Isidro P. Zayco, Vice Governor Emilio Yulo, III, Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Monico O. Puentevella, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson; Msgr. Victorino Rivas, Vicar Gen. of Bacolod, Rev. Monsignori, Rev. Fathers, Rev. Sisters, Seminarians, Papal Honorees, students and many others.
Being the prime mover of this tower, he shared that it all started in February 7, 2008. A beautiful Thursday morning that promised itself to be a day full of sunshine. The Diocese of Bacolod was then in the thick of preparations for her Diamond Jubilee. Gratefully contemplating on the journey in the faith of the Diocese, “I happened to remember that one highlight in the life of the Diocese was the historic visit to Bacolod on February 20, 1981 by Pope John Paul II, who was received by hundreds and thousands of people right at the Reclamation Area, a place developed by Atty. Simplicio Palanca, President of the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (BREDCO).”
Fr. Pasquin recalled that to commemorate the Pope’s visit, a marble marker was built in a place nearby, which is now occupied by business establishments but the marker could no longer be found.
On the day of February 7, 2008, he decided to see Atty. Palanca to discuss the possibility of constructing a new marker in honor of Pope John Paul II, in time for the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Diocese.
“I asked him several times if he remembers that visit of Pope John Paul II and if he remembers that he and Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich built a marker to commemorate the Pope’s visit to Bacolod? And Atty. Palanca responded that, “Abaw na patay lang to si Msgr. Fortich, wala gid to ma-atender ba.” But he said, “Let’s revive it,” Fr. Pasquin said.
Palanca and Pasquin planned for its construction and said that once the building will be finished, Atty. Palanca will donate it to the Church.
He brought the good news to Bishop Navarra and he said, “Thy will be done.”
Moreover, Bishop Navarra hopes to make this tower a Pilgrimage site. He wrote Archbishop Cardinal of Krakow, Poland to send some memorabilia of Pope John Paul II and he replied, he would send some.
“We are also appealing to all to also share your mementos or souvenirs during the Holy Father’s visit here in 1981. We shall put them in the different floors of the Tower in order to establish John Paul II’s character,” Pasquin said.
Atty. Palanca has equipped the tower with an elevator, a water system and a generating set. He had a statue of John Paul II sculpted by Bro. Tagoy Jakosalem, (OAR)and a Cross on top of the tower by Architech Chick Garcia. The Cross will be lighted at night which will turn as the new landmark of Bacolod City.
But beyond all that, Atty. Palanca has equipped the tower with his sense of gratitude, spirit of generosity and nobility of faith. Being a man of his words, he promised to donate this tower to the Diocese of Bacolod, and under the loving gaze of our Heavenly Father.
Moreover, the features of this tower will possibly include viewing decks, coffee shop, souvenir shops, one floor will be named after Atty. Simplicio Palanca, Prayer Room and a place where the memorabilia of Pope John Paul II, the Artifacts of the Church, among others.
Atty. Palanca spent more or less P15 million for this tower, Fr. Pasquin said.
