MANILA, Philippines – A sea of people estimated to be at least 800,000 are attending the thanksgiving Mass in Cebu City for newly-canonized Filipino Saint Pedro Calungsod on Friday.
Some 1,500 police and military personnel have been deployed to secure the shrine built for Calungsod.
President Benigno Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay are expected to join the celebration.
Catholic bishops and ranking representatives from the Vatican are also attending the mass scheduled this afternoon.
Parishes across Cebu are holding processions in honor of Pedro Calungsod.
Calungsod was canonized in October by Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican.
He is the 2nd Filipino saint after San Lorenzo Ruiz. -- ANC
source: abs-cbnnews.com
