Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Echaves: One beat, one vision By Lelani P. Echaves
THAT millions of devotees come to Cebu for the yearly procession should not surprise anyone. Millions of reasons bring them here---thanksgiving, requests for favors, fulfillment of promises, or simply veneration.
So, to borrow the Sinulog theme of “one beat, one vision,” Cebuanos’ hearts have always had the same beat for and the same vision of this Holy Child---though a powerful grantor of favors and miracles, He remains so endearing in His ways.
At the Santo Niño exhibit in the Ayala Activity Center, one felt the rush of happiness upon seeing the various images. Thanks to the generous collectors--- Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, the Society of the Angel of Peace, Ms. Dading Perez, Atty. Linda Ramos, Archt. Filna Espina, Father Dodong Desayo, Ann Ragasa, Nene Trevenos, Val Sandiego, James Amatong, and Helen Bacay---my afternoon was soul-warming.
Garcia’s vast collection showed the Holy Child’s reach in devotion. His Santo Niño de Guerrero must’ve been a model for the book “The Little Prince.” The clothes, saber and knee-high boots made for the lost little boy who had to suffer the foibles of mortals.
There was the Sleeping Santo Niño, his face a picture of purity and innocence. If the Carrying of the Cross by the adult Jesus sends us into spasms of “mea culpa, mea maxima culpa,” imagine that guilt deepen when you ponder the Santo Niño de Nazareno pushed to kneel from the weight of the cross. The sight of the angelic face just rends your soul.
So does the Santo Niño de Lagrimas with eyes pleading and sad. Elsewhere, an onlooker said, “Kaluoy sab niya oy!” She referred to another wooden carving of a Sleeping Santo Niño, tired from the day’s journey and resting his head on a slab of wood while cherubs above watched over him.
The Santo Niño garbed in a doctor’s gown, with a stethoscope slung around his neck and his medical bag in hand strongly reminded all of his healing powers. And his many ways as an instrument of peace come to mind through the Santo Niño de Lisseux with his hand lending respite to a white dove.
The exhibit had two very distinctive Santo Niño de Pragas. One stood right near the entrance, life-sized and imperial with his royal red robes showing heavy beadwork and sequined appliqués. Elsewhere was a frame showing a slightly yellowing picture of the green Infant Jesus of Prague. The written explanation attached to the frame said that this collection passed down many generations, until it was owned by a non-Catholic who wanted to throw it away and replace it.
There was a Santo Niño image for every hope, experience, tribulation and identification--the Santo Niño de la Eucharista holding a chalice with the sacred host inside; the Santo Niño Carpenter; the handicapped Santo Niño, armless from the elbows down; and the long-tressed Santo Niño wearing the habit of the Society of the Angel of Peace.
I liked best the Dancing Santo Niño with one foot in mid-air and hands positioned in graceful sway, and the small Santo Niño carved from foot-long driftwood. The dedication that went into the intensive intricacy and delicateness of the details could only have come from a spiritual fervor extraordinaire.
