SAINT Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, is remembered for his deep faith, courage, and ultimate sacrifice. His life reminds us of resilience and trust in God, even in difficult times.
Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, once reflected on this legacy, noting that the saint’s life is an open invitation to all:
‘He continues to call us to live out our Christian faith, to cling to our faith in Christ in the face of suffering and death to make our lives an offering to God and neighbors,’ Cardinal Tagle has said.
Eternal Gardens Memorial Park Corp. honors this call to faith by keeping the memory of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz alive through its parks and community initiatives.
From simple beginnings to martyrdom
BEFORE his canonization, Lorenzo Ruiz lived a simple life as a husband, father, and altar server in Binondo, Manila. After being falsely accused of a crime, he sought refuge aboard a ship carrying Dominican missionaries to Okinawa, Japan.
At the time, Christians in Japan faced severe persecution and could be put to death for refusing to renounce their faith. Ruiz was arrested and severely persecuted, but he refused to renounce his faith. Before his martyrdom, he declared that he was a Catholic ready to give his life for God, a powerful testament to his faith.
Eternal Gardens and its Sacred mission
WHEN Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified, the milestone inspired a spiritual awakening across the Philippines. Among those deeply moved was the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, founder of Eternal Gardens. For the Ambassador, witnessing the beatification of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz by Pope John Paul II in Manila was not just a historical event, but a profound, personal spiritual moment.
To honor the saint, Eternal Gardens commissioned bronze monuments created by the renowned sculptor Florante ‘Boy’ Caedo. These statues were placed in Eternal Gardens parks and donated to various parishes as places for prayer and remembrance.
Central to the company’s services are its columbariums. Designed as peaceful spaces, they offer grieving families a quiet environment to find solace and remember their loved ones. A notable example is the three-story columbarium named in his honor, which combines practical memorial care with spiritual significance.
Numerous Eternal Gardens parks, including those in Baesa, Caloocan City; Biñan City, Laguna; Balagtas, Batangas City; Lipa City; Naga City; and Dagupan City, feature plazas and columbariums dedicated to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. These sacred locations provide serene environments where families can commemorate their departed loved ones in the presence of the saint who understood the deepest forms of love.
A continuing tradition of devotion
EVERY September 28, Eternal Gardens observes the feast day of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. By maintaining these monuments and sanctuaries, Eternal Gardens helps ensure that the story of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz remains a source of inspiration for families remembering their loved ones.