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Sunday, January 21, 2007
700T walk for Sto. Niño
By Allan I Varquez With Jujemay G. Awit, Katrina N. Tabanao and Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- Love unconditionally. Vote critically.
These were the messages highlighted in two activities Saturday that demonstrated the religious side of the feast of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.
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"Makapili kita ug maayo nga kandidato kon dili kita mapalit ug sapi (We can pick the right candidates if we do not sell our votes)," said Rev. John Du, in his homily during the pontifical mass that started at 5:40 p.m. in the Basilica del Sto. Niño.
With elections looming less than four months away, Du urged churchgoers to remember that politics reflects each Filipino's personal integrity, or lack of it.
"Kon nanginabuhi ka nga ngil-ad ug batasan, dili ka usab makapili ug maayong kandidato, kanang kandidato nga matinud-anon, adunay dignidad ug klaro ang programa (He who lives in an ungodly fashion cannot be expected to choose the right candidate, the candidate who is sincere, dignified and visionary)," he said.
The church, he added, has a responsibility to guide its people to be cautious in exercising their right to vote.
Du delivered his homily at the end of a procession that saw about 700,000 people, according to police estimates, fill some central streets in Cebu City.
A shorter route than last year's meant that the procession ended earlier than usual, before nightfall, but it was no less well-attended.
The procession began at 2 p.m. when Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal escorted the image of the Child Jesus replica out from the Basilica compound.
When they caught sight of the icon, devotees in the Pilgrim Center and those lined up along Osmena Blvd. for the procession waved their hands and chanted, "Pit Senyor!"
Confetti and balloons marked the passage of the carroza that carried the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, a replica of the statuette that a Spanish fleet first brought to Cebu over four centuries ago.
By the end of the procession at 6 p.m., about 80,000 people filled the Basilica to hear mass. Thousands more stayed on the streets.
At least four people later reported to the Waterfront Police Station that pickpockets preyed on them while they were visiting the church, said precinct chief Pedrillo Villamor, the procession's designated ground commander.
One of the victims, Cristina Bas, 35, of Talisay City, said she lost her wallet with P10,000 inside. She only learned about it when she went to a nearby department store after attending mass.
No serious cases required the attention of four first aid stations at the basilica, though there were some complaints of high blood pressure.
Earlier in the day, Monsignor Cris Garcia asked thousands of devotees, who also gathered at the Basilica del Sto. Niño, to be like the Child Jesus who loves His people with no conditions.
In his homily, Garcia said the first mass with the reenactment of the baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon is not just a time to recall the conversion of the natives to Christianity, but also a time to remember our own baptism.
Men and women of all ages welcomed the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sto. Niño at the Pilgrim Center in front of the basilica.
The faithful applauded the symbolic planting of the cross.
They waved their hands when the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was brought in.
Following the Lady's image were Rajah Humabon and Reyna Humahay, who were later baptized as Carlos and Juana, after the Spanish king and queen at that time.
Devotees shed tears when the image of Senor Sto. Niño was brought in. Holy water was sprinkled on the devotees as a sign of renewed baptismal vows.
Before the mass ended, the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sto. Niño were carried around the center so devotees, who waved throughout the presentation, could have a good look at them. (Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (January 21, 2007 issue)
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