WITH the Sinulog drawing closer, many devotees want to give their Sto. Niño statues a touch-up. For that, they go to the many “repair centers” that are located in the vicinity of the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

“Magsugod-sugod na sila og paayo ug palimpyo sa ilang mga Niño unang semana pa lang sa January (They start coming to have their Sto. Niño cleaned or repaired in the first week of January),” said 56-year-old Nerie Mancera, who has been in the business for 30 years.

The rate depends on how big or small the statue is.

Mancera charges between P100 and P2,500. The latter already includes the repair, a fresh coat of paint and new clothes.

Rosalina Ponce, 57, has been Mancera’s faithful customer for 10 years. Her visits have become an annual tradition.

“Pista man gud na sa Sto. Niño. Nya, ang-ang maghikay-hikay ka niya imong Niño bulingit kaayo’g nawng (It’s the feast of the Holy Child. You’ve prepared a feast so you can’t have your Holy Child looking scruffy),” she said.

She said she has always had a statue of the Sto. Niño at home.

“I don’t believe so much in the miracles, but I like the fact that I have someone I can rely on when I have a problem. Someone who can help me,” she said in Cebuano.

Mancera said devotees flock to her stall with their Sto. Niños that have seen better days. Some are dusty, while others have lost their shiny pallor.

“It’s only once a year that the statue is in need of cleaning and a new set of clothes,” she said in Cebuano.

Armed with a glue gun, scissors and paintbrush, Mancera gets to work inside her stall near the basilica at 7 a.m. She normally doesn’t finish until 8 p.m.

Ponce said she has heard many stories about the Sto. Niño from her customers.

“Those who don’t know that you’re supposed to change the statue’s clothes would get a visit from the Holy Child in their dreams, telling them that it was time for a new wardrobe,” she said in Cebuano.

On average, Mancera repairs 10 statues a day. Depending on the statue’s size, she says it can be ready for pickup immediately or in three-days time.

Mancera works seven days a week.