ORMOC CITY- Spending money from his own pocket, a former mayor here in Leyte spent millions of pesos just to fulfill his childhood dream to build a shrine intended for Catholic devotees.
Businessman Panfilo Go, 60,a long-time mayor of Hilongos town, said that his plan to construct a shrine started when he had a dream when he was just in Grade 5.
He said that an old lady appeared on his dream asking him to build a shrine where Catholic devotees could pray.
In 1978, he was able to convince a lot owner to sell his property to him located in Barangay Lunang where he built a small chapel.
April of 2017, Go, who had developed a devotion to Agnus Dei, constructed a shrine with the help of a Good Samaritan.
The shrine could accommodate about 1,000 people.
On March 30 of this year, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Most Reverend Gabrielle Giordano Caccia celebrated a Holy Mass at the shrine attended by 3,000 devotees and 20 priests from the Diocese of Maasin.
Inside the 6,000 square meters compound where the modern church was built, a two-story convent was also constructed with the papal nuncio leading its inauguration.
A huge gymnasium was also built with the public can use for free, Go said.
Fr. Chris Estreber, the church priest said, its feast is celebrated every 10th of October and churchgoers from various places come to celebrate.
Belonging to a fanatic religious family, Go said he does count on the money he will be spending for the church and in helping others who are in need.
“Political life is over for me. Three terms as mayor and one (term) as vice mayor are already enough. I have done what the Lord prepared for me in politics and this is my way of extending help to people”, he said. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
