The Historic Raising of Rufino J. Cardinal Santos' Galero

Last September 3, 2018 on the occasion of His Eminence Rufino J. Cardinal Santos' 45th death anniversary, the cardinal's galero was raised in the Manila Cathedral. The occasion was to honor the cardinal's achievements for the Archdiocese of Manila. 

It was said that Padre Pinong, as Cardinal Santos was fondly called as a priest, saved the life of Michael J. Cardinal O'Doherty when he was incarcerated by the Japanese in UST.

He was responsible for the reconstruction of the Manila Cathedral after it was left in ruins after World War II. He also founded the San Carlos Seminary, and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary in Makati City. 

He headed the reconstruction of St. Paul Hospital of Manila after the war. The hospital was later renamed in his honor as the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, D.D. with former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban 
recognized the donors of the Manila Cathedral reconstruction.

Amb. Jose L. Cuisia receiving a plaque from Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, D.D.
recognizing the contributions to the reconstruction of Manila Cathedral 
of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.



The raising of Cardinal Santos' galero, according to the Facebook page of The Manila Cathedral became possible because of Divine providence. The galero was discovered in a dark corner of the stock room of the Archdiocesan Museum of Manila. It was still in its original box with the label of the maker Tanfani and Bertarelli in Rome.

With the advent of the Second Vatican Council, the galero is no longer given to cardinals as it is very expensive costing half a million pesos.     

The galero is usually raised in the cathedral's sanctuary or above the cardinal's tomb. It is left there until it decays as a symbol that all earthly glory will fade. 

In times past, there was the belief that while the cardinal's galero is still hanging, he is in purgatory. When the galero already decays, he is gone to heaven.

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