Thursday, November 29, 2007 'Moving Niño' confuses barrio folks By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
EB MAGALONA -- A miracle? This is now the question that bothers folks in Barangay Madalag after an icon of Sr. Sto. Niño was reported to have moved in the palms of Jessica Serad.
Serad, 33, a mother of four kids, disclosed she started to notice their Sto. Niño moving at the altar of their shanty in Purok 3 on Sunday.
"My God! I don't know what to do and I can't speak words after I saw our Sto. Niño moving. I then took Him from the altar but when I held Him in my hands, the Niño kept on moving and moving. It was really amazing," Serad narrated.
Serad knew that there would be a lot of people who won't believe in her.
"But I am not forcing them to believe in me. I just want to perform healing using the water offered to the Niño because I know that this is now my calling," she added.
Serad is not asking for any centavo, but receives donation from anyone who visits her house and see the Niño.
Two of Serad's visitors - Carmela Mijares and Amar Villarosa from Barangay Tanza and Barangay Poblacion III - were convinced the alleged miracle was real.
The two also tried to hold the Niño but the latter didn't move. They're still convinced that "it's a miracle".
Some folks in Madalag refuse to believe that the Niño is moving. They, however, are afraid to say negative comments.
Serad bought the Niño through special offer agents who went to their place three years ago. It costs P1,300 but can be acquired immediately by paying only P50 as down payment. The remaining balance is payable for six months.
Serad said she only gave shampoos and soaps to the agent in lieu of the P50 down payment.
"At first, I am hesitant to get this Niño because I know that I can't afford to pay even in installment basis," she confided to Sun.Star-Bacolod.
"I have no choice but to pay it monthly until I fully paid the icon only this year," she added.
The Niño stands at least one foot and a half-inch.
Serad said that a year ago, she almost died because of an unknown sickness. But, one night, she awoke from a dream and found herself asking for water.
She said that when she recovered from that "nightmare," the first thing she saw inside the house was the Niño at the altar.
“I took the icon, hugged it and asked for help to save me from death,” she said.
“I believe that what He's showing now is really a miracle for me to change my lifestyle from being a gambler and chain smoker to faith healer,” Serad added.
"If this is what He wants for me, I accept it with open heart and I am willing to risk my life just to obey Him," Serad continued.
Serad's husband, Raymund, is also one of her believers now.
