"I’m happy to be back!”
This is what Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said when he presided over a thanksgiving Mass to kick off this year’s Kadayawan Festival at the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City, Monday, August 10.
According to CBCP News, it was the first time Valles had been seen in public after he was rushed to a hospital due to a mild stroke.
In his homily, the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines updated the faithful on his condition as he thanked them for their prayers.
"I still keep the cane but I can walk already... but I’m still perfecting my walk,” Valles said.
The church leader admitted he thought at the time he was going to die because his half body was paralyzed.
His speech and swallowing were also affected.
“It was no small sickness… I thought of a great possibility of dying,” he said.
But the prelate is thankful that he is now making progress.
“I’m still practicing how to kneel but I’m halfway there,” he added.
The prelate was brought to a hospital in Davao City on May 23 and was discharged on July 6.
Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, CBCP vice president, is acting president of the conference while Valles is still recovering.