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Saturday, January 14, 2006
50T turn up for dawn walk
By Jovy S. Taghoy
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Shaking off drowsiness and braving the dawn’s chills, Sheryl Documento, 22, woke up at 3 a.m. to join the Penitential Walk with Mary yesterday.
It was her first time, and she joined with a prayer in her heart for the Blessed Mother and the Señor Sto. Niño to help her pass the accountancy board exams.
Like Documento, Goldeth Vistal, 27, a registered nurse, walked from the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda to the Basilica del Sto. Niño to pray for guidance when she takes the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) tests.
Documento and Vistal were among the estimated 50,000 who walked with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Cebu, for her “reunion” with the image of Señor Sto. Niño at the basilica.
Msgr. Cris Garcia, archdiocesan commission on worship chairman, celebrated the Misa de Translacion at the basilica’s Pilgrim Center at 7 a.m.
In his homily, Garcia stressed the importance of keeping the family together.
Spouses Percival, 67, and Lucena Enriquez, 66, told Sun.Star Cebu that their love for the Blessed Mother and the Sto. Niño woke them up at dawn and made them endure the long walk.
Aside from praying for good health, Lucena also prayed for world peace.
Carrying a wooden image of Our Lady of Manaoag, 52-year-old Vivian Villanueva joined the procession to show gratitude for answered prayers and a flourishing lending business.
She also believes that the image of Our Lady of Manaoag was a lucky charm for her, as she received more blessings since a relative entrusted it to her.
Two devotees interviewed by Sun.Star Cebu yesterday said joining the annual Walk with Mary has become a pledge (“tuluma-non”) for their respective families.
Being a member of a church organization is one factor that motivated Imelda Rebonante, 45, to take part in the annual activity.
8 years
A Marian devotee and a mother of seven children, Rebonante said that her family, including her youngest daughter who is now 12 years old, has never failed to join the procession for eight years now.
“Agi’g pagpasalamat sa mga grasya nga among nadawat, kausa ra man sad ni mahitabo sa usa ka tuig (It’s our way of giving thanks for all the blessings we received, as this is only once a year anyway),” Rebonante said.
She wants her youngest daughter to grow up with spiritual guidance so she always brings her to the procession and other church activities.
A male devotee, who requested not to be named, said that joining the annual procession is a family tradition that his mother started.
When his mother died in 1993, the rest of the family, including his wife and three children, continued with their annual walk not only with special petitions but thankfulness in their hearts.
“Tanan nakong prayers, gidungog way palpak. Daghan kaayong trials nga akong na-overcome, (All my prayers were answered, and I have overcome many trials),” he said.
Challenge
Keeping the family together is a challenge for each family, said Msgr. Garcia, considering that several family members leave the country to work abroad.
“Sa atong pag singgit og Pit Senyor! Sa atong pag motorcade karon atong i-ampo nga unta moabot ra ang takna nga atong mga banay magkahiusa ra pud, magkatigum ra pud. Kay mga igsuon ko, mao mani ang pagbuot sa Dios.
Mao mani ang iyang gipadayag. Mao mani ang iyang laraw kanato. Kay naa sa banay magsugod ang kalinaw, (As we shout our praises, let us also pray that the time will come for our families to be reunited, because my brothers and sisters, this is what God wills us to be. Peace starts within our families),” Garcia said.
After the mass, thousands of devotees waved to the two images as they were carried out of the Pilgrim Center for the St. Joseph Shrine in Mandaue City at past 8 a.m.
The images will be brought back today to the basilica through the fluvial procession. The renewal of baptismal vows and the reenactment of the first wedding will follow.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 14, 2006 issue)
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