VIRGIE Ramas was admitted to a hospital for two days last December due to high fever and upset stomach.
The 64-year-old resident of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City prayed to Sto. Niño and asked to be healed.
Ramas’ illnesses later disappeared, and she promised to join the activities of the Fiesta Señor.
“Giayo man ko Niya. Mao nang kada adlaw mosimba gyud ko Niya (He healed me. That’s why I attend Mass every day),” she said.
Ramas was one of the 350,000 devotees who participated in the penitential Walk with Mary and Traslacion mass that started at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu in Barangay Guadalupe at 4 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18.
After the Walk with Mary, a Traslacion mass was held at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.
In his homily, Fr. Manuel Tan, the parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu, said a man would lose his dignity if he was corrupt.
He said corruption comes from a man’s inner self where all the disgusting traits originate, like bribery, stealing, mocking other persons, and adultery.
“If your heart is corrupt, you will certainly become a corrupt person in the future. Anha magsugod sa ato (It all starts from us),” Tan said.
He further said a man would not learn from his mistakes until someone corrects him.
After the mass, the images of the Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sto. Niño were transferred to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City.
An estimated 10,000 people witnessed the arrival of the images in Mandaue City, police officials said.
The Traslacion in Mandaue City also held some surprises, including the temporary ceasefire of two opposing candidates vying for the mayoral post this year.
During the Traslacion Mass, Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing and Cebu Rep. Jonas Cortes (Cebu, 6th district) made gestures of peace with one another, signifying a temporary ceasefire between the two officials.
Quisumbing and Cortes, once allies, are now in opposing camps after the latter filed his candidacy to run for Mandaue City mayor in the May elections.
Quisumbing has branded as a “corrupt deal” the sale of the City’s 3.5-hectare lot for P50 per square meter in 2015 during the term of Cortes as mayor.
In his homily, Monsignor Danilo Sanico reminded the faithful about the importance of forgiveness and love for one another.
“Let us not just aspire for good health or for a good business. Let us also aspire to bring love and peace to one another through forgiveness,” Sanico said in Cebuano.
Sanico also reminded the faithful to love one another, as love brings peace of mind.
In an interview, Quisumbing said the gesture he made toward Cortes shows that he never held any grudges against the Cebu congressman.
“I never hold any grudges in my heart. Ang ato lang gyung gibuhat karon ang matarung ang mga nabuhat nga sayop (All I’m doing now is to fix things that need fixing). Personally, I never had any personal issue against Cong. Cortes or any of his allies,” Quisumbing added. From SCG, FMD of Superbalita Cebu / KAL / JKV