PAST and present merged seamlessly as thousands of devotees witnessed yesterday the reenactment of the first baptism in Cebu at the Basilica del Sto. Niño.
As part of the mass, key events in the conversion of Cebuanos were acted out. Four “converts” and three companions of “Ferdinand Magellan” lifted a black wooden cross, about three meters high, and rested it in front of the altar of the Pilgrim Center.
In the center’s packed grandstands, which can accommodate more than 12,000, devotees added color to the spectacle with their umbrellas, as they waited for the return from Mandaue City of the images of the Señor Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In his homily, Msgr. Cristobal Garcia thanked the devotees for demonstrating their faith. He also led the crowd in applauding and thanking the priests who have taken care of the images for over four centuries.
The images, held aloft in separate glass cases, were brought into the Pilgrim Center at 9:20 a.m.
Also reenacted were the baptism of Datu Humabon and Queen Juana (played by Archt. Antonio Decatoria and his wife Carmen) and the conversion of Cebuanos. Again, the past blended with the present, and Msgr. Garcia and other priests “baptized” the devotees after the reenactment.
Before the final blessing, “Magellan” (played by Lito Acha) and his soldiers gave “Humabon” the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Sto. Niño and the Ecce Homo.