BAGUIO CITY -- The heart relic of the Catholic patron saint of the sick, doctors and nurses arrived at the Baguio Cathedral here on Sunday, drawing hundreds of devotees.

St. Camillus De Lellis's heart was placed in a crystal glass immediately after he died in 1648. The heart has remained intact and incorrupted over 400 years after his death.

John Benedict Cruz, a nurse from Manila, said the saint has helped grant his prayer for healing on several occasions.

"Sa kanya kami humihingi ng tulong sa may mga sakit at gumagaling naman talaga kami sa aming pananampalataya," he told ABS-CBN News.

(We ask help from him for the sick and we were healed because of our faith.)

Canilla Caridad, a devotee from Dagupan, Pangasinan who suffers from chronic fatigue and muscle pains, said she also prays for good health.

"Nagpapasalamat ako na nakarating kami dito ng maayos at sana naman sa aming pabalik ay safe pa rin," she said.

(I am thankful that we arrived here soundly and I wish that we will also be safe when we return home.)

The Vatican had permitted the Camillians or priest devotees of the saint to tour the heart relic around the Philippines, starting in Marikina earlier this month.

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines executive secretary Fr. Dan Cancino said he hopes Filipinos will find refuge, healing, and self-restoration through their devotion to the relic and their faith in God.

A special Mass will be held at the Baguio Cathedral at 8 p.m. Sunday. Devotees can venerate the relic until 12 midnight.

Another Mass is scheduled at 9 a.m. Monday before the relic returns to Manila. It will also be brought to the Bicol Region, Visayas, Panay Island and Mindanao in the succeeding weeks until March 31.