Friday, January 11, 2008 Niño festivity on By Nancy R. Cudis Sun.Star Staff Reporter
WITH colorful buntings hanging over their heads and cold winds putting several candles out, thousands of devotees joined the penitential procession yesterday dawn, which began the Feast of Señor Sto. Niño and the nine-day novena.
The procession started at 4:30 a.m. at Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City moved down the boulevard to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.
The throng carried with them statues of Señor Sto. Niño, rosaries and candles, lighting up the whole stretch of Osmeña Blvd. while hundreds of policemen spread out at designated areas to secure the route.
Upon arrival, devotees packed the basilica’s open-air Pilgrim Center to hear mass at 5:30 a.m. but the center—which can accommodate at least 3,500 persons—was not able to contain them all.
The basilica itself was teeming with people and there were still many on the streets when the mass, officiated by basilica rector Rev. Fr. Andrew Batayola, began.
The Archdiocese of Cebu earlier reminded the people to fulfill their obligations to the church, like attending religious activities, before joining any revelry.
According to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, this is “what Señor Sto. Niño would want us to do.”
“Let us contemplate the oldest religious icon in the country according to the Bible,” Fr. Batayola said in his homily. “The Bible is also the acronym for `Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.’ Hopefully, we will be living witnesses to the Word of God. Deal or no deal?”
He got a loud “Deal!” from the crowd.
Batayola observed that many devotees participate in religious activities to offer thanksgiving and ask for blessings as they continue to believe in miracles.
Among these devotees are Nicholas Biano, 32, Remegia Evana, 70, Anabelle Casuboc, 43, and Lilibeth Leyson, 47.
Biano, a taxi driver from Negros Oriental, was holding a huge statue of the Sto. Niño owned by his employer’s wife.
Every year since he was a child, he participates in the procession with his parents. He is continuing the tradition with his wife and three children. He only asks for good health from Sto. Niño so that he could pursue his work and feed his family.
This is the same wish of Evana, who did not bring with her any statue but carried 10 candles that she gave out for free to those who didn’t have any during the procession.
She will be giving out 50 candles that she made to other devotees to show her gratitude to Sto. Niño.
Evana, who works different odd jobs, considered it a miracle bestowed by Sto. Niño when her husband gave up drinking alcohol in 2000. She and her husband celebrated 50 years of marriage last Wednesday.
Wearing colorful costumes, Casuboc and Leyson are members of the Lawis Rosary Crusaders in their chapel in Barangay Suba, Cebu City. They said they have been dancing every procession for the past 12 years to offer their thanksgiving to Sto. Niño.
After the procession, 10 daily masses are scheduled throughout the novena days. The first mass will start at 5:30 a.m. and the last mass at 7 p.m., with an hour and a half in between masses.
Today, the Sinulog opening salvo mass is at the Pilgrim Center at 2:30 p.m. Tomorrow and Sunday, contingents will compete in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, respectively.
On. Jan. 18, thousands of devotees are expected during the 4 a.m. Walk with Mary at Fuente Osmeña.
On Jan. 19, the fluvial procession from Mandaue City is at 7 a.m.; the reenactment of the first mass and baptism is at 10 a.m.; and the solemn procession of the miraculous image of the Sto. Niño is at 1:30 p.m.
On Jan. 20, there will be a 4 a.m. mañanita mass followed by a 6 a.m. pontifical mass by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
