Cubao diocese to open beatification cause for Darwin Ramos

In 2006, Ramos entered in one of TnK’s centers to help street children after getting acquainted with a group of street educators from group. (File Photo By Postulateur – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA — The Diocese of Cubao will formally open the diocesan process of the cause for the beatification and canonization of Darwin Ramos.

According to Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, the rites for the Solemn Opening and Declaration of the Cause will be held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City Wednesday afternoon.

“Part of the procedure for the cause of someone for sainthood is (the) formal opening in the diocesan level,” he said in an interview Tuesday.

“It is mainly to inform (the) people and get some data about Darwin. How has he affected people’s faith, commitment, etc.,” the Catholic prelate added.

A mass will follow after the ceremony, where among the attendees are the children from Tulay ng Kabataan (TnK) Foundation and the mother of Darwin, Mrs. Erlinda Ramos.

Last March 29, the Vatican declared Ramos as a “Servant of God”, which is the preliminary step towards sainthood.

It is the second of four steps in the Church’s canonization process for one to be declared as “Venerable”.

He spent his early years in the slums of Pasay City, where he became a scavenger in a bid to help his family.

He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, resulting in his being unable to stand as his muscles had weakened.

In 2006, Ramos entered in one of TnK’s centers to help street children after getting acquainted with a group of street educators from group.

Discovering the Catholic faith, he received the sacrament of baptism in the same year and the first communion and the sacrament of confirmation in 2007.

Ramos had developed a deep personal relationship with Christ, and not a day passed that the boy did not take time out to entrust himself to God.

He was only 17 years old when he died on September 23, 2012 at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City.