Nuestra Señora del Pilar Shrine and Parish has apologized after the church became the subject of an internet viral sensation.
The Mindoro Catholic church was the venue of its Heavenly Harmony Concert on October 5, which featured celebrity performers Julie Anne San Jose and Jessica Villarubin.
In a statement posted on Facebook today, Parish Priest Fr. Carlito Dimaano admitted that there was an error on his part in pushing through with the said event.
“I admit that there was a mistake on our part in making this decision,” Dimaano said in Filipino, as he assumes liability for this mishap.
He admits that it was a secular concert, a show that focused less on Catholic teaching, which offended some members of the faithful.
He also apologized to San Jose and Villarubin who received hateful messages from their song numbers. He extended the same gesture to Bishop Pablito Martinez Tagura of Occidental Mindoro for tarnishing his name.
“I have already learned from this circumstance. If I could only turn back time, a better decision could have been made for the glory of (Mother) Mary,” he said with his regrets as he promised not to repeat the same mistake.