Sr. Sto. Niño: Team Cebu City’s source of strength, motivation

The Cebu City Niños with images of the Señor Sto. Niño. One image is what the team always carries with them to competitions while the other two they gave to their host school during the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifiers,  the Montes 1 Elementary School. | Contributed Photo

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Niños sent a 390-strong team to the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifiers in Iloilo last week. 

Part of the team was its leader who never fails to inspire and motivate the athletes in every game they compete in — the Holy Image of the Señor Sto. Niño, the patron of Cebu.

“In the 7 years that sir Ed (Edward Hayco) sat as chairman ( of the Cebu City Sports Commission), it has always been done [bringing the Sto. Niño with the team]. I guess even from years back,” said Gayle Grace Dico, the CCSC executive director. 

“Perhaps I’d say the team feels secured and confident that the Sto. Niño blesses them,” said Dico.  “They normally approach the Sto. Niño and say a prayer before every game.”

Sometimes, the Niño is also brought to the games, especially in crucial ones, to help bolster the confidence of the athletes. 

“Nag bus mi one time nya dugay kaayo ang byahe, [The image of the Señor Sto. Niño) was allocated a seat tapad nako. Mura na jud ni sya ug apil sa delegation,” Dico said. 

And the presence of the Holy Child has always helped.

Back in 2016, for example, during the Batang Pinoy national finals in Tagum, the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, who represented Cebu City in the 3×3 basketball, were up against a tough team but said they found the strength in the Señor Sto. Niño, an image of which was carried by Dico to the finals.

The team went on to win the title against Zamboanga.

For the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Regional Qualifying Leg, Cebu City managed to finish second overall behind hosts Iloilo City.

As part of their custom, the Cebu City delegation would always bring with them two other images of the Señor Sto. Niño to be given to the school where they are billeted in as a token of appreciation.

In Iloilo, the Cebu City delegation was billeted at the Montes 1 Elementary School. 

“We presented to the principal the image of Sto. Niño to thank her and the faculty for a warm accommodation,” said Dico. 

Before the Niños left back for Cebu on the night of March 3, a thanksgiving Mass was held at the school gym. /bmjo