A precious link to a glorious past

Mrs. Nelia Dy Wongchuking (seated, left), President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wong Chu King Foundation, joins other foundation officers and members at the main altar during a symbolic turnover of the church to Naic Parish during the foundation’s 24th anniversary last March 30.

Wong Chu King Foundation (WCKF), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Mighty Corporation or Mighty Corp has helped the Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Concepcion of Mary in Naic, Cavite rise up again after it successfully completed the church’s restoration project recently.

WCKF Executive Director Alex Wongchuking said, “The foundation has devoted its resources to rebuilding churches in the country, helping the poor get education and doing other charitable works. We cannot allow this historic church to go into a state of disrepair.”

This church is one of the country’s oldest and largest in the coastal town of Naic along Manila Bay stands as precious link to our country’s Spanish colonial past, a reminder of the Dominican Parish in 1849 after the Spanish King ordered friars to take over the native clergy after revolts sparked in Latin America led by local priests.

WCKF, which is also involved in other CSR projects like scholarship grants to the poor, completed reconstruction work on the church last February and made a symbolic turnover to church officials last March 30 to mark the foundation’s 24th anniversary.

Cavite Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista was grateful and said, “The restoration of the church to its original architecture will “encourage people to grow in their faith, in a life of prayer and in a life of holiness, which is God’s desire for all of us.  With this beautiful church, one can say that the presence of God is really felt by the people.”

It was also reported that one of the church’s devoted parishioners is Mrs. Nelia Dy Wongchuking, WCKF President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. She was born in Naic and has fond memories of the church of her youth and many sees that the projects implemented is just one of her ways to give back to the community.