By Inday Espina-Varona
Millions of devotees flocked to the central Philippines city of Cebu over the weekend to join the liturgical celebration of the Señor Sto Niño with gratitude and a prayer on their lips.
More than four million attended at various sites the 10-day celebration, which also commemorates the arrival of Christianity in 1521, according to administrators of the historic Basilica named after the Christ Child in the city.
On Jan 19, the Basilica’s sprawling plaza, or Pilgrim Center, was filled with devotees spilling out onto surrounding streets. Many wept as they expressed thanks for “miracles,” and even more prayed for deliverance from sickness, family, school, and work problems.
They waved their hands to the Cebuano hymn, Batobalani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love), a popularly known Gozos or ceremonial devotional song sung since the 18th century. It expresses a childlike joy and gratitude for the blessings received.
“The Holy Child has been our constant source of hope and joy over the years. In His childlike form, we see innocence and the enduring power of love that sustains us through all hardships. His presence assures us that we are never alone, and through Him, we are given the strength to endure,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose S Palma
“As we celebrate this Jubilee year, we are called to reflect on the deeper meaning of God’s love in our lives and the lives of others. Let us continue to serve, love, and extend His grace to all, knowing that nothing can separate us from His infinite love,” he said.
At the Jan 20 Thanksgiving masses, clergy reminded the gathering that God’s graces are not meant for personal gain but to be shared with others.
The fervent devotion to the Christ Child became ironic during the years of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Cebu, the premier city in the central Philippines, was among those convulsed by a brutal drug war.
Among the tens of thousands killed in Duterte’s campaign were 122 children and thousands of young adults, and Cebu roiled with night raids on hapless households and the discovery of bodies dumped by roadsides.
In 2018, Palma, a critic of the former president, reminded believers that the Sto Niño stands for values the opposite of those displayed by the strongman, who was beloved by a third of Catholics who voted for him.
Faith and history
Perhaps the country’s biggest liturgical celebration, this 460th year of celebration, which runs from Jan 9 to 19 and culminates on Jan 24, has the theme “Sto Niño: Hope of the Pilgrim Church.”
Cebuanos combine the liturgical feast with the secular Sinulog, also held on Jan 19.
The revelry carries the same theme but with diverse expressions. It is mainly showcased by dance and music with stomping rhythms, including the “Pit Señor” song composed by a former rock star, Mike Hanopol, who later converted to the Jewish faith.
“With over a million devotees in attendance for this year’s Solemn Foot Procession, may we be reminded of the hope that connects us together as we walk in faith, united in prayer and devotion,” a statement by the Basilica said on Jan 18, the eve of the feast day.
Hundreds of thousands also joined the Penitential Walk on Jan 16, and other activities like the nine-day Novena and the Traslaciones or the procession of images.
On the eve of the feast, around 500 boats with 8,000 passengers joined the fluvial procession, which commemorates the arrival of Christianity in the country in 1521 through Spanish colonizers.
This year’s fluvial event included the Sacred Family, with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St Joseph the Worker joining the Santo Niño.
Even those who could not attend physically, such as hospitalized patients and jail inmates, were granted some grace as images of Santo Niño and the Virgen de Guadalupe de Cebu circulated.
The Señor Santo Niño de Cebú is widely venerated in the Philippines, where around 85 percent of its 110 million population identify as Catholics. His images are seen in most households and family-owned stores and even dangle from the rearview mirrors of jeepneys, buses, and taxis.
The Sto Niño is known as the country’s oldest Christian image. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer working for the Spanish crown, brought it to Rajah Humabon and his wife, Haran Humamay, for their baptism. Shortly after, he became involved in intra-tribal rivalries and died fighting in waters off Mactan island, according to the Italian Antonio Pigafetta, who was a companion on the journey.
The original icon has continuously resided in a sanctuary under the custody of the Augustinians. Father Andres de Urdaneta founded the Church of the Sto Niño de Cebu on Apr 28, 1565, when a second group from Spain arrived using the charts made by Magellan.
Cebu’s fiesta ushers in a nationwide round of festivals for the Christ Child, mostly centered in the central Visayas islands. Iloilo and Aklan on the island of Panay, and several cities on neighboring Negros island also have their own feasts towards the end of January. – UCA News
