Cebu, Kabankalan, Iloilo, Kalibo all in one for Sto Niño

LET me first congratulate the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Phils (OAAP) for electing a new set of officers during their gathering at the prestigious Casino Español de Cebu.

Allow me to congratulate Raymond J. Dabao of Steel Art Billboard as the new Vice-President of the association and being the only Western Visayas member to be in the OAAP roster of officers. Having started very young in his exposure in the advertising circle, Raymond is now counted as a brilliant entrepreneur in the field he has entered inspired by his late father Joe Dabao, a hardworking family man.

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Cebu had almost four million devotees of the Child Jesus (my patron Saint) visiting the city during last weekend’s Sinulog Festival. Every time we go to Cebu City, we never miss visiting the Sto Niño Church where thousands line up from morning till night paying a visit to the Image. Indeed Cebu City has been the centre of Christianity and until today visiting the Sto. Niño really makes miracles in the devotees’ lives.

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Kalibo in Aklan province is another destination where the Child Jesus is being praised for his blessings of Kalibo for more than four hundred years. The Kalibo Ati-atihan festival is joined in by devotees from all over the country and thousands and thousands hear mass in the Kalibo Church for each one’s intentions to the Child Jesus. Many told me that those who wished to have children go there and pray and the Image granted them.

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How I wanted to visit Kabankalan for the Sinulog festival but my confinement in the hospital prior obliged me to relax to avoid the hot sunny weather and cool winds mixing up in one’s body. The festivals of Cebu, Kalibo and Sinulog are on the same third weekend of January when the feast of Sto. Niño is celebrated. But that did not stop me attending a procession for the Sto. Niño feast in Bago City.

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Today, Thursday marks the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival also honouring the Child Jesus. Also lined up are various festive activities for the festival and I am here in Plazuela de Iloilo for various events. Iloilo is now having thousands and thousands of visitors from all over to also join the devotion and revelry.

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More than anything else let everyone be reminded that the feast and devotion to Sto. Niño is the prime purpose of the festivity.

Commercialism will always be part of it but take note that the Child Jesus is out there to watch over us for our devotion.

TIME and THINGS do not really last. What matters are the people whom we care about and the values that we live and share with each other.