As the final drumbeat of the Sinulog fades and the Fiesta Señor ends, devotees of the Sto. Niño are challenged to bring about change by loving God and neighbor.
“Let us always remember our baptism. We are called to live the righteous life that God desires,” said Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA in his homily during the “Hubo” mass that capped the 11 days of religious activities in honor of the Holy Child Jesus.
“Always bear in mind that all of us came from dust and unto dust we shall return. So let us live life everyday by doing good works,” he added.
At dawn yesterday, Mejares, the rector of the Basilica del Sto. Niño, led the annual “hubo”, a Cebuano word for “undress.”
A replica of the original image of the Sto. Niño was stripped of its fiesta vestments, given a ritual bath and fitted with simpler garments.
“In changing the vestments of the Sto. Niño, we are reminded of a God, who although almighty, chose to humble himself and became man. May we find a deeper meaning in what we are doing,” he said.
Thousands of devotees packed the courtyard of the basilica’s outdoor pilgrim center, many of them bringing their own Sto. Niño icons to be blessed.
“The Sto. Niño is our hope. He is our refuge in the midst of trials and tribulations,” Mejares said.
The “singing priest” ended his homily by singing “Lupa” to remind people to be humble at all times and to instead entrust everything to the Lord.
“Who is the Sto. Niño in our lives? Those who experienced his love and goodness will never cease to return to this basilica to give Him thanks and praise. That’s why even if the fiesta Señor is over, several people still troop to this place,” he said. About 4,000 devotees gathered to witness the changing of the image’s royal red and gold wardrobe to ordinary garb that is worn the rest of the year.
A replica of the image of the Sto. Niño given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu’s Queen Juana in 1521 was used in the “hubo” ceremony.
The ritual began with the removal of the crown, followed by the orb and scepter and armlet, the bands, cape, tunic, inner garments and boots.
As pieces of the clothing were removed, Mejares and the congregation sang “Christe exaudi nos (Christ graciously hear us),” to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
After the undressing, the Holy Child’s image was dipped in water, wiped with a towel and dressed in his ordinary garb, starting from his boots up to his crown.
For every piece donned, the faithful sang “Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus, Christus imperat (Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands),” in remembrance of Jesus’ glorious resurrection.
The Hubo ritual ended with a drum roll of the Sinulog beat as the devotees applauded.
The original Sto. Niño image remains in a marble chapel in the basilica, where pilgrims line up to pay homage.
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