Padre Pio relic to be brought in UST

The "incorruptible" heart relic of Padre Pio is scheduled to be brought to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila on Monday.

"Ngayon pa lang kami paalis dito. Derecho na kami UST. Sasalubungin kami doon sa UST ng mga pari at religious ngayong maghapong ito," said Rev. Fr. Jojo Gonda, rector of the national shrine of St. Padre Pio in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"May mga conference kasi ngayon para sa Year of the Clergy... Kailangang nandoon ako ngayon para magbigay ng conference tungkol kay Father Pio. 'Yung maghapon nakalaan lang sa mga pari at mga religious," Gonda added.

He said the relic would be transferred to the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday for veneration. It will stay there until October 11.

Gonda said devotees had flocked to the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio in Batangas to see the relic.

"Napakagrabe. Madaling araw pa lang nandito na mga tao. Actually October 5 pa lang ng hapon nagdatingan na mga tao dito at sinalubong nila 'yung dating ng puso ni Father Pio as early as 1 in the morning. Napakaraming tao hanggang kahapon," Gonda said.

The relic, which arrived in the Philippines on Friday, will stay in the country until October 26. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News