There's another image next to the Crucifixion of St Peter that caught my attention - the image has caught my attention as we were at Mass. That figure reminds me of a statue in Rizal Park facing the Quirino Grandstand. My guess was right. The image was that of St Lorenzo Ruiz, the Filipino proto-martyr. As his kababayan I felt elated to see his image in St Peter's especially next to where St Peter died. Surely the late John Paul II had a hand in this as our country has a soft spot in his heart.Unlike most Christians nowadays, Peter and Lorenzo had a different way of professing their faith. Both signed it with their own blood and both met their end in a foreign land - the former in Rome and the latter in Japan which were then very hostile to Christianity.
There are quite a number of Filipinos in Rome and we have encountered a few of them during our weeklong viaggio. One lady was selling kakanin near Stazione Termini. We bought some of her items as we have truly missed these delicacies. Another Filipina offered a bus seat to Nidz while we're on our way to another basilica and told us a glimpse of the ups and downs as an Overseas Foreign Worker (OFW). Still another Pinay, Anna by name, was kind enough to show us around the city. Also, I have seen several Filipino priests, brothers, and nuns. Too bad we didn't have the chance to visit the Colleggio Filippino where Filipino priests studying in Rome reside.
Gone are the days when Europe would spread the Gospel throughout the world. It's now those Christianized countries like ours that have to pass on the light of Jesus even if it's (back) to the Europeans.
Up Next: A moment with the popes
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