‘Fathers’ of Bataan roll out red carpet to ACSP

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan – Tagged as the ‘Governor’s Night’, Hon. Gov. Albert S. Garcia welcomed the members of the Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages (ACSP) in the Philippines in celebrating their 25th Founding Anniversary, yesterday October 24 at the Blue Horizon, Crown Royale Hotel, this City, over the dinner and a cultural show.

The event started with an invocation rendered by the Koro Bangkal-Magbikin, a chorale composed of members of indigenous people from Bangkal, Abucay.
Gov. Garcia, in his utterance, reviewed the itinerary of the guests for the whole week in Bataan and described each place included. He even told the guests that the week is not enough for them to experience the beauty and goodness of the province so that they need to plan their comeback here.

The Most Rev. Ruperto C. Santos, DD, Bishop of Balanga, expressed his excitement to welcome the guests in the province. “Come, see and taste the blessings of this province (Bataan).”, he stressed while telling the guests that the week will not only focus on tourism but also in holiness and faithfulness.

In response, Fr. Joselin Gonda, President of ACSP, shared his utmost gratitude for the warm welcome of Bataan which he described first time in their history.
“It’s the first time in our history that both leaders, the government and church, the Governor and the Bishop, welcomed us whole-heartedly.”, he told everyone.
A cultural presentation, showcasing Bataan’s local talents, the Koro Bangkal- Magbikin and Jose De Piro Kabataang Orkestra performed before the delighted guests while having dinner.