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Smooth
sailing, happy noise in fluvial parade
It
was the sunniest and smoothest fluvial procession in
recent years, making Saturday's religious ritual more
solemn for the Cebuanos and visiting devotees of the
Señor Sto. Niño.
Coast
Guard, Maritime and ports officials hardly got reports
of any mix-up in the formation of the flotilla or any
collisions among the participating seacraft.
The
arrival of the Holy Child Jesus, carried by a "galleon"
of the Ouano family in Mandaue City, was as grand as
the greetings of the flag-waving devotees, who lined
the piers of Mactan Channel.
The
Niño was kept in a glass case bedecked with flowers.
Among the dancers waiting on the shore were consistent
Sinulog award winners Val and Ofelia Sandiego, who though
teary-eyed kept dancing as an offering, only a day after
they lost their house and a collection of antique Niño
images in a fire.
Some
of the devotees arrived at the Cebu City pier as early
as 1 a.m., hoping to get a ride on the participating
vessels.
Firecrackers,
ships' bullhorns, drums, sirens and yells from the Sto.
Niño devotees added color to the decorated motorboats
sailing under a brilliant sun.
Dozens
of red and white balloons, with papers bearing prayers
and wishes for a good life, were released into the sky.
Two
Air Force helicopters from Mactan Air Base and a civilian
private plane hovered above and showered petals on the
flotilla, which included motorized bancas, passenger
boats, yachts, barges and fastcraft.
The
fleet arrived at Pier 1, their destination, at 8:30
a.m. It assembled at Caltex depot in Lapu-Lapu city
two hours earlier.
"It's
great. It's very colorful, a lot of drums and trumpets.
It's very special," remarked 45-year-old German
national Axel Bohse.
Bohse,
who hails from Hannover, Germany, took video shots of
the two-hour spectacle which he plans to sell to a television
network back home.
Once
his fellow Germans see the colorful fluvial procession
and Sunday's Sinulog Mardi Gras, Bohse said he is confident
they will also want to come to Cebu next year.
"We
have a similar event in Southern Europe but it's not
as lively as this," he added.
Drums
make her heart ache, but she dances
When
candle vendor Esperanza Barazon dances the Sinulog,
her feet barely move and her whole body aches.
Too
old to even remember her exact age, Barazon doesn't
mind the pain, recalling that the first time she set
foot at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in
the 1930s, her prayer to the Holy Child was to live
life long.
"Mao
ni akong gipangayo. Tan-awa ko ron, gihatag gyud niya,"
she said proudly. (Look at me, the Sto. Niño
has answered my prayer for a long life.)
"Malas
lang wala ko nangayo'g bana," the old woman joked,
flashing a naughty, toothless smile. (Too bad I didn't
pray for a husband.)
Barazon
estimates her age to be 85. She said she was only about
14 when her parents died and she made her first visit
to the basilica. That places 1931 as the year Barazon
first danced the Sinulog.
Living
a hermit's life in a nipa hut in Aloguinsan, Cebu, Barazon
considers her yearly trip to the basilica a pilgrimage
she offers to the Holy Child she considers her "little
boy" (ang akong gamay).
She
sleeps on the sidewalk at night and sells candles during
the day to save for bus fare for the trip back home
after the festivities.
Business
has not been good the past two years, she said. Since
she can no longer dance as gracefully as before, customers
no longer hire her services.
Also,
she now has to limit her trade outside the basilica
grounds lest the crowd inside the pilgrim center crushes
her to death.
Barazon
recalls when Piyesta Señor celebrations were
a lot simpler and devotees solemnly danced to brass
band music.
"Magsakit
akong dughan anang tambor," she said of the drumbeat
that has since been associated with the celebration.
Not
that she frowns on the way the feast is being celebrated
now. She said each generation has its way of expressing
faith. What is constant, she said, is that the Sto.
Niño always hears prayers.
Now
ripe of age, what more does she ask from her little
boy?
"Taas
nga kinabuhi lang gihapon, ug plete para pauli,"
she said. (A long life still, and fare for home.) LPN
SANTO
NIŅO
The Holy Child devotion in the Philippines
By
Jenara Regis Newman
The
Santo Niño mystique pervades the religious devotion
of the Philippine Islands. Which is but fitting, for
the history of the Santo Niño in this country
begins with the "finding" of the Philippines
by the Western World through the coming of Magellan
who gave an image of the Niño to Queen Juana
upon her "baptism."
The
baptism may have been one of convenience, for how could
the Cebuanos of those days be so readily Christianized
a few days after the coming of the Spaniards? Or it
could have been a matter of recognition of the God Child
by a people whose name for the Supreme Being remains
to this day Bathala. Bata-allah. Child God.
Whatever
the reason, the statue of the God Child remained in
the islands, revered, tradition has it, long after Magellan
was slain and the foreigners driven away, only to come
back later and discover the statue of the Niño
in the smoldering ruins of a hut. This is the statue
that is now known as the Santo Niño de Cebu.
In
that year of its finding, 1565, by Legazpi and his men,
the Cofradia, del Santo Niño de Jesus was born,
tasked with propagating the devotion to the Niño
throughout the islands.
Through
the centuries, other "Niño" statues
have found their way here, embraced in churches and
enthroned in individual homes, not as a matter of decoration,
but as a symbol of devotion for One who has been, according
to legend, a giver of blessing and comfort, both spiritual
and material.
It
is with this background that Benjamin Farrales founded
a group called Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre del
Niño Jesus, a group of men and women banded together
by their common love and devotion for the Santo Niño.
And
it is this group and Ben Farrales, who writes that the
Santo Niño is "Where my heart is,"
who have undertaken this beautiful coffee table book.
And
indeed, the Niño takes center stage in this book
replete with colored and full page pictures of the Niño
and His various festivities throughout the islands.
He
is here in His various appellations - of Cebu, of Prague,
of Bad-asay, Santo Niño Durmendo, Santo Niño
de Oro, Santo Niño Sagrado de Jesus, de la Paz,
de la Esperanza, del Dolor, de las Flores, the Dancing
Santo Niño, among the many, many Niños
portrayed in this book.
It
tells also, in words and pictures, of the various festivals
honoring the Niño, including Cebu's Sinulog,
Aklan's Ati-atihan, the Santo Niño festivals
of Tacloban, Ibajay (Antique), Pakil (Laguna), Sabtang
island (in Batanes), Alfonso (Batangas), Malabon (Metro
Manila), Ternate (Cavite), Hagonoy (Bulacan), Pandacan
and Tondo (Metro Manila). It also touches on the Santo
Niño shrine in Davao.
Also
included in the book are various saints devoted to the
Child Jesus, myths and miracles, the Santo Niño
in art, the various image makers of the Niño,
pictures of the Niño owned by individual collectors.
From Cebu are pictures of the Santo Niño collection
of Dr. Lydia A. Alfonso, Msgr. Cris Garcia and Tonette
Pañares who helped annotate the Cebu Niños,
as well as gave a backgrounder on the devotion to the
Santo Niño in Cebu.
Even
the finding of the Santo Niño de Bad-asay in
an Ayala Santo Niño exhibit is chronicled here.
Naturally, there is a chapter on the Congregacion del
Santisimo Nombre del Niño Jesus, which has a
yearly exhibit of Santo Niño statues.
On
the book's cover is the Santo Niño de Oliva from
the Ben Farrales collection while the back cover shows
the Santo Niño de Cebu. The book is, to date,
the most comprehensive documentation of the Santo Niño
devotion in the Philippines and is a must have for Santo
Niño devotees (now, if only I could afford a
copy! It's P2,000 for the soft cover edition and P2,500
for the hard cover one).
Children
of the Dance
By Orlando
J. Cajegas
This
is no child's play, dancing in the street, come rain
or shine.
But
to the 96 kids of the Lahug Elementary School, the group
that bagged the first prize trophy in the Sinulog sa
Kabataan 2001 -no small feat, by the way - this is fun
in the sun. Sinulog sa Kabataan 2002 was held last Jan.
12, with participants coming from the province of Cebu;
and Jan. 13, with participants coming from the city.
"Enjoy
ra man mi kaayo," reveals nine-year-old Mark Gil
Sapid, a grade 3 pupil. In the dance, he was the designated
bearer, rather the finder, of the Santo Niño.
Sapid
goes on to say, "Mananagat man mi nga way kuha,
apan pagkakita namo sa Santo Niño, naa na mi
kuha." This was the underlying narrative of their
dance, he says.
"We
usually tapped the bigger kids, like those in grade
six, but since they are busy with the Neat review, we
tried the younger kids this time," says the principal,
Lourdes Perez.
Rehearsals
started as early as October of last year. Although arguably
the younger kids are much harder to train, this batch
was an exception to the rule, Perez avers.
"It
comes second nature to them, dancing," affirms
Perez. "They have so much enthusiasm, so much energy,"
she adds. "In their young mind, they are already
committed to the dance, and I find that refreshing to
say at the very least" she says.
"Amo
gyud ning nindoton kaayo," says Honeylyn Balingcasag,
the 11-year-old lead dancer of this contingent, on their
joining the mardi gras. She says she was so excited
she could hardly sleep. "Wa gud mi kapoy-kapoy."
And
the threat of the scorching sun?
"Antuson
ang kainit, amo man ning halad sa Senyor," Balingcasag
points out. She says that, in learning the dance itself,
she also learned "discipline, and how to be responsible-
di man ni duwa-duwa lang."
These
kids are even willing to brave the rains during rehearsals.
Well, looks like these kids are ready -no, determined-
to claim the streets in the form of the dance beloved
of Cebuanos, young and old alike.
For
this year's Sinulog, a total cash prize of P100,000
was given as first prize. But for these children of
the dance, the money doesn't really matter; it is the
dancing as form of prayer for the Holy Child that counts,
to the beating of drums and hearts.
3rd
Sinulog bazaar provides
Filipino ingenuity to festive spirit
While
most flock to Cebu to witness the festive street dancing
and pay homage to the miraculous Santo Niño during
the city's grandest festivity, the Sinulog, many of
the revelers are also drawn to the Sinulog Export Overruns
and Consumer Bazaar for its showcase of locally-produced
export quality products.
Now
on its third year, the 17-day bazaar is set to kick
off on Jan. 18 and ends on Feb. 3 at the Trade Hall
of SM City Cebu.
"It
is our thrust to bring to Cebu unique local products
of world-class quality at popular prices to institutionalize
the event," says L.A. Ducut and Co. Inc. managing
director Lilibeth Abais. With almost 10 years of event
organizing and managing expertise, the organizer combines
Filipino's best and festive spirit to further promote
the "Bili Tayo! Atin Ito!" mentality in the
local market.
"Bringing
in crafts that depict Filipino ingenuity during Sinulog,
no less, also adds a different character to the Sinulog
experience," Abais says.
This
year's bazaar has exceeded expectations as it increased
its participants' number to close to a hundred firms
from last year's 80 despite the global economic crisis.
Of the total figures of featured products, 85% of it
are locally-produced. Some of the bazaar's top sellers
are export overrun garments, barong materials made of
jusi and pina from Aklan and Laguna, wooden frames and
mirrors from Cebu and handicrafts from Bicol and Mindanao.
To
test the local market are this year's new participants
which include JM Handicraft, Melenolls Footwear and
Maharlika, All Naturals Export Products, Katsuji Manufacturing
Co., Betty's Weaving, Country Ethnic Furniture, Home
Avenue Interiors, J.P. Lim Design and Crafts, Scents
and Blends, Borbo's Cutlery, Wax Works, Tiyad's Handicraft,
Jewam Handicrafts, Napa's Handicrafts and Shellcraft
Cebu.
Abais
pointed out that part of the bazaar's success may be
attributed to the market's readiness for Filipino-made
items. "It's not anymore just a matter of nationalism.
It's survival," says Abais. "The current market
has already developed a sense of pride being Filipino,
especially towards their own products and talents."
Due
to the previous year's warm response - drawing to around
160,000 visitors - a number of last year's participants
have again joined this year's bazaar. Among them are
Gemeco Metalcraft, New Albay Pili Nut Candy, G.O. Engineering,
Angie's Yakan Cloth, Joelsher Intl., Mode Furniture
(Arimaya), Reycons Pina Cloth, Matt Matt Garments, 2Y's
Collection, Pines Weaving, Lee-Ann's Knitted Wear, Likas
Burdang Lumban, Cardinal Ceramics, Romblon Geminids,
FCM House of Embroideries and Seven Trees Handicrafts.
With
the participation of major producers from all over the
islands, export overruns are guaranteed to be available
to consumers at popular prices. Major credit cards will
also be accepted.
"So
whether shoppers want something to bring to their homes
for pasalubong, or simply appreciate fine crafts made
of indigenous materials that are no less molded by Filipino
hands, there will always be something for them at the
bazaar," Abais ends.
For
particulars, one may call Nancy E. Mapa at 232-3729,
232-3740, 412-9463 or cell 0919-7184295 or Joanne N.
de las Alas at 0917-5400248.
Concert
King's Sinulog show to highlight
Louie Ocampo's musical genius
The
biggest event this month as far as Cebuanos are concerned
(including those from neighboring places and even foreign
shores), is the Pista Senyor and the accompanying Sinulog
festival. Through the years, the Sinulog festival has
spawned activities that have become regular fare.
Some
of these activities are the Miss Cebu (formerly known
as the Miss Cebu Tourism) beauty pageant, the Cebu Popular
Music Festival and, now in its third outing, the Crossover
concert series.
The
Crossover concert series started with XVII, Martin Nievera's
successful concert in Manila marking his 17th year in
the music industry. It was brought to Cebu by 93.1 Crossover
Cebu which, like its mother station 105.1 DWBM Crossover
Manila and the other Crossover stations in the country,
plays jazz and rhythm and blues music 24 hours a day,
aside from being responsible for much talked about parties,
gigs, lounge shows and similar events.
This
year, Crossover again brings the concert king to Cebu
with the show dubbed Martin Nievera - XV4 Ever The Crossover
Adventure Continues on Sat., Jan. 19.
The
event promises to bring back the concert king and a
surprise guest for a musical spectacle highlighting
the musical genius of Louie Ocampo as musical director.
The
concert will be held at the spacious grand ballroom
of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Showtime is 8 p.m.
Mark the date, folks!
How
to survive the Sinulog
By Leticia U. Suarez
You
can survive anything if you can survive being packed
in a crowd like sardines, and stand dehydration and
hunger for six hours.
It
is downright an exaggeration of the Sinulog mardi gras
for the old hand, but neophytes, heed these suggestions.
w
Wear all your fake jewelry; that way you won't miss
them too much when they go away with the snatcher. But
do remember to tape a triple thickness of masking tape
around your neck so it doesn't get nicked - nay, cut
off (gulp) - when snatchers run away with your value-baubles.
w
Bring food and water like there's a shortage, or no
tomorrow, whichever comes first. Our enterprising brothers
in the sidewalk business jack up consumables by as much
as P5. That's being kind; so you can imagine the mark-up
when they go for the jugular.
w
Padlock your pants pocket to discourage pickpockets,
or better still - wear metal pants. Now's the time to
bring out that antique armored suit you bought years
ago, however, you'll have to watch yourself. Someone
might kidnap you as part of the antique.
w
Bring cash, all your cash - all fake or toy bills, that
is. If you don't have toy money, cut newspaper to the
size of a 10-peso bill. Beef up your anemic wallet with
the pseudo bills.
Hide
your real cash in your shoes (wash shoes the day before)
but don't keep checking or else you will attract attention.
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