A Sto. Niño image as gift for Pope Francis in Luneta

Sandiego Dance Company dance Sinulog at the Quirino Grandstand last Sunday. (Facebook grabbed Photo from Val Sandiego)

Though he was unable to visit Cebu City, Pope Francis received a salient token of the island when he left the country yesterday.

The Holy Father got a six-inch image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu from renowned Cebuano choreographer Val Sandiego after the papal Mass in Luneta last Sunday.

“I really wanted to give him an icon of the Sto. Niño. So while his popemobile was passing by, I tried to get his attention. When he saw the Sto. Niño, he pointed at me and instructed a Swiss guard to get it (image) from me,” Sandiego said.

“Our eyes met. I was speechless. I’m just so happy. I can’t contain the joy I felt,” he added.

Devotee
Sandiego’s dance company led millions of people in Manila in dancing the Sinulog while the Holy Father was headed to the Quirino Grandstand last Sunday—the Feast of the Sto. Niño.

Sandiego said he, his wife,  Ofelia, and 54 Sinulog dancers brought their respective images of the child Jesus to have them blessed by Pope Francis during the Mass’ final blessing.

Since the pope’s homily was centered on the Sto. Niño, Sandiego said he decided to give his image of the child Jesus to the pope. “I placed our names on it as well as some dedications,” he said.

The image of the Sto. Niño that Sandiego gave to the Holy Father was made in Talisay City, Cebu. “That image was made-to-order,” he said.

Despite the throngs of people at the Quirino Grandstand and Luneta last Sunday, Sandiego said he was blessed to have caught the attention of Pope Francis.

“I caught his attention probably because I wore a costume depicting St. Joseph. He is a devotee of St. Joseph as he mentioned during the meeting of families at the Mall of Asia Arena,” he said.

Event of a lifetime
Sandiego said it was raining during the entire duration of the papal Mass in Luneta which gathered six to seven million people. But the rain failed to dampen their spirits.

“We were all soaked. But it was all worth it. It was a Mass I didn’t want to end. I simply could not explain the feeling. We were so near the Holy Father. And to have him preside over the Mass is truly an event of a lifetime,” he said.

Sandiego is the owner and choreographer of the Sandiego Dance Company and a devotee of the Sto. Niño.

The dance troupe was earlier tapped by Catholic bishops to lead the people in dancing the Sinulog during last Sunday’s papal Mass.

It was the second time for the Sandiego Dance Company to perform the Sinulog for a Pope.

Collection
On Feb. 19, 1981, the Sandiego Dance Troupe also performed at the old Lahug airport for St. John Paul II’s visit to Cebu City. The dance company was still led by Sandiego’s mother, Luz Mancao Sandiego, who founded the group in Carcar City in 1947.

On January 18, 2002, a fire razed Sandiego’s house in barangay Capitol Site in Cebu City and destroyed the cast’s costumes and his collection of nearly 100 Sto.  Niño icons.

It happened three days before the feast of the Sto. Niño. But Sandiego said the fire did not destroy their God-given talents.

During that year, the dance company still performed during the fluvial procession and reenactment as well as the grand parade the following day in white T-shirts and denim jeans hastily donated by a benefactor.

INVITATION. Val Sandiego’s dancers pose with a streamer inviting Pope Francis to next year’s International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

Emotional
Sandiego could not help but feel emotional while recounting the event in 2002 and the privilege of dancing the Sinulog during the papal Mass last Sunday.

“God really has a plan. Last Sunday (January 18) was the 13th year since our house was burned down,” he said.

The Cebu Archdiocese spent for the airfare of the group to and from Manila.

“It’s not all about the recognition that we reaped throughout the years. It’s about our being a family,” Sandiego said.

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