07 October 2009 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo joined in the liturgical celebration to open the canonization inquiry for Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion, the great grandaunt of the First Gentleman. Friends and relatives of the First Couple, plus hundreds of Ilonggo devotees, attended the official opening of the canonization process for Mo. Rosario Arroyo, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary (originally Beaterio de Molo). Saint Annes Parish, Molo, Iloilo Video by RTV-Malacañang

OPS October 7, 2009

MOLO, Iloilo – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo today attended the formal opening of the diocesan process of the cause of canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion at St. Anne’s Parish here.

The First Couple went to mass with Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Ignacio Arroyo for the formal opening of the diocesan process and mass celebrated by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

Mother Rosario is the great, great grand mother of the First Gentleman and Rep. Arroyo.

The First Couple offered flowers during the unveiling of the portrait of Mother Rosario. After the mass, President Arroyo and the First Gentleman lit candles and visited the remains of the servant of God and proceeded to the Dominican Sisters Mothers House right across St. Anne’s Parish.

The diocesan process is being initiated upon the petition of Father Samson Sillorequez, OAR.

Lagdameo said that he was initiating the process of canonization after having consulted with the Holy See, his brother bishops and the faithful of the archdiocese, and after having verified the existence of a true and widespread sanctity enjoyed by Mother Rosario, in life and even after her death.

Mother Rosario is the foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She was born on February 17, 1884 from a wealthy couple Don Ignacio Arroyo and Doña Maria Pidal at this town. She was baptized as Ma. Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo.

She entered the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Sta. Catalina de Siena at the age of 27. After six months of postulancy, she received the religious habit and was given the name Sister Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion.

A scion of affluence, she was a model of religious poverty and simple life. Mother Rosario left footprints of virtues. She distinguished herself by a solid piety, love of prayer and strict religious observance.

According to the Dominican sisters, Mother Rosario’s life clearly mirrored the virtues of purity and innocence, deep simplicity and profound humility, ardent love for the poor and the needy.

She also donated her inheritance to the congregation and lived a life detached from material and worldly goods.

Mother Rosario died at the age of 73 on June 14, 1957 after receiving the Holy Viaticum and anointing. After her death, the fame of holiness which she enjoyed during her life increases. Several persons have manifested allegedly having received favor from God through the intercession of Mother Rosario.

The Dominican sisters believe that canonization of Mother Rosario may attract more vocations to religious and priestly life and contribute to enliven her spirit of service and love to the poor and the marginalized of the society and serve as model to young people who are searching ways to give meaning to their life.

The Tribunal which spearheads the diocesan process is still into more documentations of the graces and favors granted through Mother Rosario’s intercession.

10/7/2009 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is being welcomed by the Dominican Sisters at the Iloilo Airport during her October 7 visit in Iloilo City to attend the canonization inquiry on Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion, the foundress of Beaterio de Molo. The liturgical ceremony was held at St. Anne Parish Church in Molo, Iloilo City. (PIA6/T. Villavert)

OPS October 6, 2009

MOLO, Iloilo – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will attend the formal opening of the diocesan process leading to the canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion at Saint Anne’s Parish here.

Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion, the great, great grandmother of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, was the founder of Beaterio de Molo and the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary here. Born of wealthy parents, she donated her inheritance to the congregation and lived a life bereft of material and worldly goods.

Upon arrival here, the President will be welcomed by Cabatuan Mayor Ramon Yee, Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzales, Jr., Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Iggy Arroyo, and Presidential Chief Legal Adviser Secretary Raul Gonzales, Sr.

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo is expected to officiate in the mass with five other bishops.

The Tribunal which has taken up the cause, is still documenting the graces and favors granted through Mother Rosario Arroyo’s intercession.

After the formal opening of the cause of canonization, President Arroyo will proceed to the municipality of Estancia for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Local Water Utilities Administration’s (LWUA) water district improvement project.

The LWUA-funded Estancia water district improvement project includes the drilling of additional wells and provision of electro-mechanical and chlorination equipment, installation of new transmission and distribution pipes including valves and hydrants, construction of a new reservoir, provision of power line extension and standby equipment, installation of service connections, and provision of non-revenue water reduction program.

Estancia is noted as a center of commercial fishing in the country due to its abundant marine resources. The municipality is taking steps together with the national government and private sector towards the development and protection of local marine resources.

10/8/2009 - PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO shakes hands with the youngsters and the public who mobbed her as she walks the 150 meter distance from St. Anne Church to the Dominican Mother House where the tomb of Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion is located to pay her last respects. The President and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo attended the liturgical celebration that marked the opening of the canonization inquiry of Beaterio de Molo's founder Mother Rosario held at St. Anne Church in Molo, Iloilo City, October 7, 2009. Mother Rosario is a great grand aunt of FG Mike Arroyo. (LAFrench/PIA)

PIA 2009/10/08

Iloilo City (8 October) -- Pormal na nga ginsuguran sang Archdiocese sang Jaro ang diocesan process padulong sa canonization ni Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion nga gintambungan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo kag First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo sa simbahan sang Sta. Ana sa Molo sining siudad.

Upod sang First Couple si Congressman Ignacio Arroyo sang 5th District sang Negros Occidental nga nagtambong sa pormal nga pagbukas sang diocesan process kag misa nga ginpangunahan ni Arsobispo Angel Lagdameo.

Si Mother Rosario ang himata ni First Gentleman kag ni Congressman Arroyo.

Ginsuguran ang diocesan process sang presentasyon sang katuyuan nga ginhimo ni Rev.Fr. Samson Sillorequez, OAR, nga naghatag man sang inagihan sa kabuhi kag obra ni Mother Rosario nga nagamerito sang pagpangusisa.

Ginpahayag ni Lagdameo nga ginsuguran ang proseso sang canonization pagkatapos nga konsultahon ang Santo Papa, ang mga kauturan nga Obispo kag ang mga tumuluo sang archdiocese kag pagkatapos hibaluon ang matuod kag lubos nga pagkabalaan ni Mother Rosario sadtong buhi pa ini kag mangin sang napatay na siya.

Naghalad sang bulak ang First Couple sang kuhaan sang takop ang laragway ni Mother Rosario. Pagkatapos sang misa, si Pangulong Arroyo kag ang First Gentleman naglakat pakadto sa Dominican Sisters Mother House agud magsindi sang kandila kag bisitahan ang bangkay ni Mother Rosario bag-o magbalik sa Manila.

Ginbun-ag sa isa ka manggaranon nga pamilya, si Mother Rosario modelo sang religious poverty kag simple nga pagpangabuhi. Iya nga gindonar ang iya ginpanubli sa kongregasyon.

Si Mother Rosario ang nagtukod sang Beaterio de Molo kag ang Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines.

10/8/2009 - PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO talks with members of the Arroyo clan before the start of the liturgical celebration that marked the opening of the canonization inquiry on Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion, Foundress of the Beaterio de Molo and the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines at St. Anne Church, Molo, Iloilo City. Mother Rosario is the great grand aunt of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo (4th from left). (LAFrench/PIA)

PIA 2009/10/07

Iloilo City (7 September) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to return to Iloilo City and province today (October 7) to inaugurate a multi-million project in Estancia and attend the formal opening of the Diocesan process of the cause of canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion.

At about 9 o'clock in the morning, the President is expected to join the Liturgical Celebration which will mark the formal Diocesan Process of the Cause of Canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo at the St. Anne Parish Church in Molo, Iloilo City.

The mass will be officiated by Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, with 5 other bishops.

Mother Rosario Arroyo it will be recalled was the Foundress of the Beaterio de Molo and the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. She is a great, great grand aunt of the First Gentleman, Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Later, the President will proceed to the municipality of Estancia, Iloilo. She will lead the groundbreaking and time capsule laying ceremony for the Estancia Water District Improvement Project which is part of her administration's thrust to provide clean, safe and affordable water.

With a cost of P30 million, the project will upgrade the facilities and expand the capability of the 22-year old water district to provide potable water to its service area, which presently covers five barangays in the town's poblacion with some 600 connections.

The Estancia Water District Improvement Project is funded by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). It includes among others the drilling of additional wells, provision of electro-mechanical and chlorination equipment, installation of new transmission and distribution pipes including valves and hydrants, construction of a new reservoir, provision of power line extension and standby equipment, installation of service connections, and provision of NRW reduction program.

To welcome the President in Estancia are Governor Niel Tupas, Sr., Mayor Restituto Mosqueda, 5th District Representative Niel Tupas, Jr., LWUA Chairman Prospero Pichay, and Estancia Water District Manager Rodney Agregado. (PIA)

10/8/2009 - PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo offer flowers before the portrait of Mother Rosario Arroyo after it was unveiled during the liturgical celebration held at St. Anne Church in Molo, Iloilo City on October 7, 2009. The Holy Mass marked the opening of the diocesan process of the cause of canonization of Mother Rosario, who is the Foundress of the Beaterio de Molo and the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines. (LAFrench/PIA)

PIA 2009/10/07

Iloilo City (7 October) -- Aatenderan ni President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo an pormal nga pag-abre han proseso han dayosesan nga magtatapos ha "canonization" ni Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion han St. Anne Parish ha Molo, Iloilo.

Sumala han surok, giaapoyi daw ine ni First Gentleman Mike Arroyo hi Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion, nga asya an nag-abre han Beaterio de Molo ug Congregation han Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary. Hi Mother Rosario daw in natawo dida hin rikohanon nga mga kag-anak kundi iya igin endono an iya mga pinanunod nga karikohan ngada han kongregasyon ngan pillion lugod an kinabuhi nga kablas hin mga material nga mga butang.

Igindudukomento pa daw han Tribunal han Singbahan an mga grasya ug bendisyon nga nagkatutuman tungod han pangamuyo ni Mother Rosario Arroyo.

Nabaruan nga katapos han buruhaton han Presidente ha singbahan, in iya naman tetistigosan an pag-abre han pagpakaupay pa han patubig han kanan Estancia Local Water Utilities Administration.

An Presidente in tatapoon nira Cabatuan Mayor Ramon Yee, Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzales, Jr., Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Iggy Arroyo, ug Presidential Chief Legal Adviser Secretary Raul Gonzales, Sr. (PIA-Eastern Samar)