A commemorative book for Kaplag 2015 (above) is displayed during yesterday’s launching at the SM Cebu North Wing. (CDN PHOTO/ANA LIZA BANAYNAL)
The Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu – Philippines yesterday launched a commemorative book and stamp in celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Kaplag.
The book contains articles and photographs about the origin and devotion to the Sto. Niño de Cebu.
“This is something we can really treasure. We dedicate the output to the silent witness and the silent worker: the Sto. Niño,” said Fr. Harold Rentoria, executive director of the 450th Kaplag, during the book launching at SM City Cebu yesterday.
“The Sto. Niño traveled to our country. He’s a witness to everything that had happened since 1521. And he has inspired many of us. We dedicate the book to him,” he added.
Copies of “Kaplag 2015: A Commemorative Book” can be bought at P1,500 each at the Basilica del Sto. Niño religious store.
Fr. Czar Emmanuel Alvarez, book editor, said they hope to deepen people’s understanding of the origins of the Catholic faith in the country and the devotion to the child Jesus.
Among those present at the launching were SM Prime Holdings vice president Marissa Fernan; Postmaster General Josefina dela Cruz; Fr. Eusebio Berdon, prior of the Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu; and Fr. Jonas Mejares, rector of the basilica.
A commemorative stamp is unveiled by Fr. Jonas Mejares, (far right), rector of the Basilica del Sto. Niño de Cebu; Marissa Fernan, SM Prime Holdings vice president (far left), Fr. Eusebio Berdon, the prior provincial; and Josefina dela Cruz, postmaster general. (CDN PHOTO/ ANA LIZA BANAYNAL)
The Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) also unveiled its first 21K gold ink, three-dimensional embossed souvenir sheet of stamps featuring the Kaplag. PHLPost printed 30,000 copies of souvenir stamps which will be sold until April 19, 2016.
The last time a commemorative stamp was issued for the Sto. Niño de Cebu was in 1965 for the fifth centenary of the Christianization of the Philippines.
The Kaplag celebration recalls the recovery of the image of the Sto. Niño in a box amidst the ruins of a partially burnt house on April 28, 1565. The image of the child Jesus, the oldest religious relic in the country, was unscathed.
READ: 8,000 join Kaplag opening salvo
On April 28 this year, Cebuanos will celebrate the 450th anniversary since the finding of the image of the Sto. Niño.
The day also marks two other milestones: the 450th anniversary of the Augustinian’s presence in the country, and the 50th anniversary of the church’s title as a minor basilica.
READ: How holy icon of Sto. Niño survived WW II hidden in Redemptorist monastery