In preparation for the national celebration of the canonization of Visayan Martyr Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the Calungsod Templete breaks ground at the South Road Properties (SRP) today August 7, 2012.

A portion of SRP bought by SM City Prime Holdings will be the site for their biggest mall in the country and will also be the location for the national thanksgiving mass on November 30 this year.

Rev. Fr. Brian Brigole, Diocesan Chair for Cultural Heritage of the Church said that, "Though the venue is offered for free by the SM management, the site will be demolished after the event on November.

However Cebuano church leaders are working out to ask SM management and the city government to donate the lot to preserve the temple and be declared a heritage site."

Fr. Brigole also facilitated the structure design of the templete or “small temple” assisted by the group of architects and engineers. He further added that it will be built on a 1,200 square meter reclaimed land where church officials expect up to 800,000 devotees to gather for the liturgical celebration.

The structure itself can accommodate 150 people on each side. The pyramidal design of the templete transcends the martyrdom of Blessed Pedro Calungsod.

The church will spend more than Two million pesos which came from the pledges and donations of the Cebuanos for the templete which is scheduled for completion after two months.

His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal blessed the site followed by the ceremonial groundbreaking which was attended by the Mayor Rama, Gov. Gwen Garcia, Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, other Church and Civic Organization leaders, Cebu City Councilor Bob Cabarrubias and the city’s department heads.