I HAVE written before about my visit to the Sto. Niño de Providencia in Las Piñas, Manila. It was an experience that will be forever etched in my heart and mind. Lorna Gonzales who is the caretaker of the Holy Image is truly a wonderful person and has been a dearest friend since that privilege.

During the feast of the Niño, many devotees troop once again to the small chapel in BF Resort. Modest and unassuming the chapel is, but the devotees that came and celebrated the whole day were in the thousands.

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The small Niño has healed thousands since He started secreting oil from His body in January 27, 1992, not only locally but internationally as well.

The devotees who have been healed are not a monopoly of Manila people who enjoy proximity to the Niño. In Bacolod, there are testimonies to give witness to the kind and loving touch of Niño.

I shall reprint the letter sent by Marisu Yusay to Lorna with her permission so that she can share the great and beautiful love the Niño bestowed upon her and her son.

First testimony:

“I experienced the magnificent power of the Sto. Niño de Providencia when my son was diagnosed as having leukemia. I gave birth to a Down’s Syndrome son who was suspected as having leukemia days after he was born. We had to fly to Manila to have him undergo a battery of laboratory tests and medical procedures which finally gave the verdict that he had congenital ALL. This news was so devastating to me-I cried most of the time-sad and afraid what will happen to my son.

A friend of my sister introduced me to pray to Sto. Niño de Providencia who helped her battle cancer. She gave a few bottles of holy oil and a handkerchief bearing the face of the Sto. Niño. These, plus a miniature statue of the Sto. Niño, were always placed on the hospital bed of my son during the time of his confinement. I guess the prayers to him made me strong for my son who was fighting his battle with leukemia.

There were many instances that I believe miracles happened to my son because the Sto. Niño or Niño as I call him. Prognosis for my son was he was a risk patient-and that he might relapse during the course of his chemotherapy. However, how is it that every time his oncologist fears that something is wrong, my son’s lab test would always clear him and he remains in remission. When he had red rashes all over his body, while at home, we visited the Sto. Niño at BF Las Piñas. I prayed that his rashes will disappear without any medication. When he woke up after his siesta, I was so happy and surprised that all his rashes disappeared. Another answered prayer for me.

Again, when my son’s SGPT and SGOT (liver enzymes) tests shot up to 3000 plus levels due to his chemo medications, the doctors were afraid that his liver was not functioning anymore. Tests again were taken to confirm how his liver was. Plans were made if we were ready for a liver transplant, a bone marrow transplant or what to do in case of relapse if the chemo treatment has to be terminated. But lo and behold, the lab tests showed that his liver was still functioning well. I believe that the mighty hand of STO. NIÑO saved my son again.

My son didn’t finish the whole protocol or cycle of his chemo treatment because of his liver. We decided to go home and let GOD take care of the rest. NOW, I am so happy that I am together with my other kids and we are one family again.

Today, my son is five years old, healthy and strong, happy and so loving, a beautiful gift from GOD and a true manifestation of how miracles happen if we believe. Signed: Marisu L. Yusay and Joaquin Angelo L. Yusay. Dec. 21, 2008

Second testimony:

This letter to Lorna is from Julian Chua of Barangay Bata.
 
“Dear Ms Gonzales,

Please allow me to celebrate my new life by donating my modest contribution to Infant Jesus de Providencia. In fact, I came to Carmelite Church during HIS birthday on January 27 only to find out that it was celebrated ahead by one week.

I said new life because three years ago, the doctor told me that I got three months to live and the reaction I made was to tell my daughter that I be cremated, and I did not fear death. During my confinement in the hospital, a good gentleman and a friend, Architect Antonio Corral brought me bottles of oil and pamphlets of Infant Jesus de Providencia. From that time on, I kept on praying for my health and three and goin four, am still alive and very active in business and sports. And as of January 17, I came to Carmelite to also celebrate my 2nd birthday.

Thank you, Julian Chua.

Third testimony:

I paid a visit to my friend Teret Arnaldo, my optometrist and I don’t know how our conversation turned to NIÑO. I believe that HE wanted Teret’s testimony to be included in this write-up.

Teret is a very energetic lady. Aside from her profession as optometrist, she sells real estate and is now promoting her own family development and loves to play tennis. However, all these physical activity saw jeopardy when she was advised to stop by her doctor. They have found that the openings of the blood vessels in her heart diminished to small openings. She was to go to the Heart Center to have several tests from angiogram invasion to nuclear stress test. But before doing so, she looked for the chapel of Sto. Niño de Providencia in Las Piñas. She proceeded to the Heart Center and to her dismay, the tests results proved worst than expected.

She went to Bacolod to prepare for the necessary procedures and of course the monetary requirement needed for her treatment. Teret remained steadfast with her pleas to the Sto. Niño. It was her friend Steve Lim who introduced her by the way to the Infant Jesus. Two weeks prior to her return trip to Manila, she was able to close 2 real estate deals (which were negotiated and closed so fast-it was truly a miracle!!!) enabling her to have the necessary funds. She needed company for her trip and her daughter Drixie, who despite just delivered her baby, graciously accompanied her with her 1 month old baby.

Again, Teret sought out Niño in his chapel before her scheduled procedures. When she got to the Heart Center, there was hardly any vacancy. All rooms were taken. She was happy because the Doctor who assisted her spoke Ilonggo and went the extra mile of helping her with accommodations. She had to share a room with another but that was okay. The major problem was her clogged arteries. Tests went on to verify for the last time what procedures where to be administered and Teret on her finite end was just persistent with her prayers. She left everything in God’s hands. When all tests were done, to the doctor’s surprise and most especially to Teret, there was no blockage and no surgeries as earlier scheduled to be performed. Miracle of miracles! Teret believes that her faith and prayers have seen her through and she is eternally grateful to the Sto. Niño de Providencia for this new lease of life!

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The novena to HIM always says…“Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you!” The Good Lord is so generous with HIS blessings! All we need is to ask…but in absolute belief that it will be given to us!