PGMA attends 22nd anniversary rites for Rosales grotto

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (11 September) — President Macapagal-Arroyo last Thursday graced the 22nd anniversary of Our Lady of Rosales in spite of bad weather.

The President, dressed in light blue blouse and black pants, heard mass officiated by Msgr. Eugenio Mercado. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., Congressman Conrad Estrella, Presidential Management Staff chief Hermogenes Esperon, Rosales Mayor Ricardo Revita and other local officials joined her. About 150 people from the area also heard the mass.

The grotto was established in barangay Station District in Rosales town following the apparitions on Rowel Darang starting in 1987.

The President arrived at the site past 3 p.m., traveling by land from Pampanga. She visited her home province to lead distribution of relief goods as floods swept the area due to heavy rains caused by depression Maring.

After hearing mass, the President met briefly with host Rowel and then left via chopper for Manila.

Rains, which started to pour an hour before she arrived, began to subside before the mass. (PIA Pangasinan)