The icon that three children said they found on the seashore in Lapu-Lapu City. (CDN PHOTO/ NORMAN V. MENDOZA)
Don’t make conclusions right away.”
This was the advice of Msgr. Esteban Binghay, vicar of the Cebu Archdiocese, about reports that crowds continue to gather outside the home of a boy who said he found a Sto. Niño image that “spoke” to him in barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.
“All miracles are unusual. But not all unusual incidents can be considered a miracle,” said Binghay.
He cautioned that it takes decades of rigorous investigation before the Catholic Church declares that a “miracle” is authentic.
Sto. Niño devotees and curiousity seekers from as far as Bohol province and towns of Cebu continue to visit a makeshift altar outside the house of 3-year-old Neñil Ballermo, who said he found the icon on the seashore when he was playing last Jan. 24. Two childhood playmates said they, too, heard the boyish icon say in Cebuano “Don’t throw me away because I’m good.”
“Due to the faith of people, they usually consider unusual things as miracles. But let us not conclude right away so we won’t be misled,” Msgr. Binghay told Cebu Daily News.
Binghay said Fr. Benjamin Balsamo, parish priest of the Sto. Niño Parish in Mactan, is looking into the matter and was told to submit a report to the archbishop and the Commission on Worship.
Scores of people line up to get a glimpse of an icon of Sto. Niño that allegedly talks according to the children who found the image. (CDN PHOTO/ NORMAN V. MENDOZA)
Binghay said miracles validated by the Catholic Church usually carry a message from God.
“The apparitions of Mary in the past convey a message, mostly calling on people to repent and have a change of heart,” he said.
Janet Ballermo, the mother of Neñil, said the family rarely gets rest because of so many visitors coming to see the icon, bringing flowers and candles, while others insist on touching and kissing her son.
Some visitors come past midnight or arrive very early in the morning.
Ramil Arellano, father of the boy’s playmates, said he closes his house when the children are sleeping to prevent the crowd from disturbing them. The parents said it’s not true that they asking for money to build a chapel.
RELATED STORY:
‘Talking’ Sto. Niño draws crowds
On ‘Hubo’ day, 3 children saw the Niño, draws thousands to Mactan home