Feast Day: September 28. See/Read his life story here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR46eF7Y5Os&feature=related

Date Beatified: 18 February 1981 in Manila by Pope John Paul II (1st Beatification ever held outside the Vatican).
Date Canonized: 18 October 1987 in Vatican City, Rome by Pope John Paul II.

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St. Lorenzo Ruiz (c. 1600 – September 29, 1637), also known as San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, is the first Filipino saint (protomartyr)
venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. He was martyred during persecution of Japanese Christians under the Tokugawa Shogunate
in the 17th century for declining to leave Japan and refusal to renounce his Roman Catholic beliefs.

Before he died he reputedly said: "Isa akong Katoliko at buong pusong tinatanggap ang kamatayan para sa Panginoon, kung ako man
ay may sanlibong buhay, lahat ng iyon ay iaalay ko sa Kanya." (English: I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly accept death for the Lord;
if I have a thousand lives to offer, I will offer them all up to Him.)

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BALIK-TANAW / LOOKING BACK (July to October 2, 1988):

In celebration of the 1st Anniversary of the Philippines' first saint, the Parish Youth Organization (PYO) of the parish of the
National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima staged a play commemorating the life and times of St. Lorenzo Ruiz. I first saw the
televised version from the original script (would appreciate if someone could provide the name of the scriptwriter for
proper credit) shown within what I believe was the Family Rosary Crusade show on PTV Channel 4.

Fresh from participating in a Repertory Philippines Workshop and a Showcase Presentation of "The Odd Couple" (the Female Version -
where I played a Brooklyn lady cop character a la "Cagney & Lacy"), It was therefore a priviledge to be invited by the Parish Youth
Organization (PYO) of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima to direct this important play which became a major turning point
in my life. Growing up in Papua New Guinea, I didn't exactly feel ready nor worthy for the task especially since I had no previous
if little formal training in the local dialect of Tagalog to be fully effective as a Director. Thankfully the language of theatre is
universal and with the help of my Assistant Director Chris Santos the whole process became an impromptu lesson on not
just the local linggo but also in what was then the current Philippine youth culture.

The original script seemed predictable, so Chris and I agreed to spice things up by adding contemporary scenes so that
people today can relate to the St. Lorenzo Ruiz story without necessarily deviating from the significance of the original.

Preparations for the production that began in July 24 lasting up to October 1 involved the youth, church choirs and other organizations
and was finally presented on October 2 as a major activity celebrating the first Anniversary of the Feast Day (September 28) and Canonization
Date (October 18) of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, in conjunction with the festivities of the annual Parish Fiesta that was then celebrated on October 13.

Personally the whole process became the most memorable experience for this was the first time I became directly involved with
the National Shrine and from then on experienced first-hand the continuous blessings received upon sharing one's knowledge
and abilities as best they can and offering it as an apostolate.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIQh1_asyWE&feature=related