Pope confers awards on Filipinos
By ROY C. MABASA
August 5, 2011
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines — Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the Benemerenti awards on two Filipinos residing in the United States in recognition to their long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and community.
According to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, Pope Benedict XVI conferred the Benemerenti awards on Titus Verzosa and Nellie Hizon.
Instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, the Benemerenti medal ranks second after the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice and is bestowed upon Catholic men and women who have rendered significant service to the Church and society.
The Benemerenti is a gold Greek cross depicting the image of Christ, his hand raised in blessing. On the left of the transverse arm of the cross is a depiction of the tiara and crossed keys, and to the right is the sheilf of the current Pope and his motto. On the reverse is the word Benemerenti, which means "good merit" and the ribbon is made of Papal colors, yellow and white.
According to accessible records, only t75 individuals received the award from 1949 to the present. Verzosa, a resident of Fresno, California, received the medal for his 17 years of dedicated service and leadership as a choir director, finance council member and a coordinator of several fund-raising events for St. Mary Queen of Apostles parish.
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