BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — In connection with the arrival of the relic of St. John Bosco in the country last December 5, members of the local Catholic community in Cebu are looking forward to see the holy artifact here.

St. John’s Bosco’s relic arrived in the Bacolod-Silay airport last Sunday and is scheduled to visit various destinations in Negros province before this is shipped over to its next destination, Cebu.

In Negros Occidental, the relic visited, aside from Bacolod, the capital city, Victorias, Mambucal and Dumaguete City.

On December 12, 2010, the relic will cross by sea from Dumaguete City to Santander, Cebu. It will then be motored by land to Cebu City. It will be brought to several venues in Cebu until it leaves for Manila on December 23, 2010.

St. John Bosco is the patron saint of editors, youths, school children, students, magicians, apprentices and young workers.

The relic’s arrival in Cebu City is part of its world tour which kicked off from Valdocco, Italy last April 25, 2009.

The said remnant consists of St. John Bosco’s right hand carefully preserved inside a special case, which was then placed inside a lifelike wax replica of the saint resting in a special container for veneration.

Said container will be transported by a custom-built light truck driven by Italian chauffeurs who have vowed never to leave the wheel and remain near the sacred relic for the duration of its worldwide journey.