THE pet turtle whose shell has the pattern of the Santo Niño has been getting more visitors as this year’s Fiesta Señor formally kicks off.
Almost a month since one of her pet turtles went viral on social media, Fe Mangubat said that she has been getting a lot of visitors in her house in Barangay Suba, Cebu City.
Mangubat, 58, came to the limelight last month after one of her two pet turtles showed a carapace with a pattern that looked like that of the Child Jesus’.
Named Niño by its owners due to the marks on its shell, the eight-year-old pet has attracted a following in the village, who has chosen the Child Jesus as its patron saint since.
Visits
Mangubat told Sun.Star Cebu that while she initially observed longer lines of people who would come to her house before, now only a few people come but on a daily basis.
“Naa’y uban nga muari lang nya siya ra usa. Naa say uban na muari gyud, nya grupo sila (Some come here alone. Some in groups),” Mangubat said.
Aside from seeing her pet turtle, some people would often come to ask for water from Niño’s tub supposedly for healing.
Mangubat’s neighbors and pilgrims claim that Niño’s bathing water has “miraculous” properties and can allegedly alleviate sickness and pain.
But despite her pet turtle’s growing popularity, Mangubat never took advantage of it to make money.
“Kung naa’y muari na mangayo sa tubig, ako ra silang hatagan. Kung mutunol man gane sila ug bayad, ako ra silang ingnun na idagkot lang na sa simbahan ug pangayo ug pasalamat sa Ginoo sa grasya na iyang nadawat (If they come here to ask for water, I give them some. If they hand in money as payment, I tell them to instead just light a candle in church and thank God for the grace that they receive),” Mangubat said.
Relax
Mangubat claims that since the likeness of the Santo Niño appeared on her pet turtle’s back, her life has never been the same.
She claims her life is more relaxed and stress-free.
“Mas na-relax ang akong kinabuhi sukad nya nipakita ang Niño dinhi sa akong balay. Kung naa koy problema, dili kaayo magdugay kay makahunahuna man ko niya. Dayun muabot ra sad ang solusyon sa akong problema kung naa siya (I feel more relaxed in life since the Niño came to this house. If I have a problem, it won’t last long since I think of Him. Solutions just come when He is around),” she added.
As part of her “panaad” (pledge) for this year’s Fiesta Señor, Mangubat plans to bring her pet turtle during the annual fluvial parade on Jan. 14, which falls during the vespers of the fiesta.
Mangubat said it was her neighbors’ idea to bring Niño during the fluvial procession.
She initially relented about bringing Niño in the boat, but she eventually agreed after some of her neighbors convinced her to tag along.