A check for $100,000 toward the operation of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles was presented to Cardinal Roger Mahony Jan. 21 on behalf of a Filipino Catholic support group.

Most of the donation (nearly $87,000) represented proceeds from a November fundraising concert with Kuh Ledesma held at the Cathedral, said Lydia F. Cruz, chairperson of the "Filipino Friends of the Cathedral" organization that coordinated the event. Cruz and co-chair Dr. Ralph Cadano combined to increase the total donation so that it rounded off at $100,000.

"We hope that this will be an incentive for all ethnic groups to support our Cathedral," said Cruz, a parishioner at St. Bede the Venerable Church in La Canada. Art Valencia and Lucy Babaran, members of the "Friends" board, will chair the committee that will coordinate this year's projects for the organization. Other board members include Nita Dungca, Christie Valencia, Luminoso and Ched Cruz, Pol and Winnie Siao, and Letti Eastty.

Santo Nino celebration
On Jan. 31, the Devotees of the Santo Nino in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will sponsor a Santo Nino de Cebu Sinulog celebration at 8:30 a.m. at the cathedral, with Cardinal Mahony presiding.

A pageant --- "The Story of Sto. Nino de Cebu" --- will be part of the liturgy. Young people coming from several parishes, Sinulog dancers and children will accompany the pilgrim image of the Santo Nino that Cardinal Ricardo Vidal from the Archdiocese of Cebu, Philippines, gave to the Filipinos in the United States with the message, "Spread the Good News and share our devotion to the people of the United States."