SIX days before the Fiesta Señor day, the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño (BMSN) handed over a blessed image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu to the officials of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) during the “Sinulog sa Airport Kickoff” on Monday, Jan. 14.
MCIAA personnel, including other devotees, expressed their devotion during the enthronement officiated by Rev. Fr. Pacifico Nojara, OSA at the arrival area of the MCIA Terminal 2, where the blessed image was placed starting Monday, Jan. 14.
Nojara said this initiative is in fulfillment of the promise of Bishop Dennis Villarojo during the blessing of the MCIA Terminal 2, on June 30 last year, that the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño would give the airport an image of the child Jesus.
“During the blessing of this terminal (MCIA Terminal 2), I was with some other priests with Bishop Dennis Villarojo. Then after the mass, the blessing, Bishop Villarojo asked me ‘Jun, please give an image of the Sto. Niño here (MCIA). So, mao na ni siya nga image,” he said.
GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) chief executive adviser Andrew Acquaah-Harrison that this is timely for the Cebuano “balikbayans” who wish to come to Cebu and celebrate the feast of the Sto. Niño.
“It is the first time (that the MCIAA received an image of the child Jesus from the BMSN.) We felt that many people think of Sinulog as a festival, but also so many Filipinos recognized that Sinulog is the beginning of a very important period of Christianity. It was very fitting that as we kick off the Sinulog events, we should have the blessed image of the Sto. Niño here in the airport, because a lot of the balikbayans are coming home,” said Harrison.
Cristina Alan, GMCAC deputy chief financial officer, said the turnover of the blessed image of the Sto. Niño reinforced the faith of the Cebuanos.
“Putting it here recognizes the fact that we celebrate this occasion. It’s an offering that whatever we do, the success of the airport we offer to Señor Sto. Niño. We also would like the passengers that will arrive to also offer their petitions and for them to be blessed as they come to the city,” she said.
She said the MCIAA hopes to put up the same image of the child Jesus in MCIA Terminal 1.
“Hopefully, when we’re done with the renovation of the Terminal 1, we’ll have the same image of the Sto. Niño,” she added.
A short Sinulog dance presentation was offered after the
enthronement of the blessed image of the child Jesus at the
arrival area of the MCIA Terminal 2. (Wenilyn Sabalo/USJ-R
Intern)