Paying homage to the Holy Child

A Cessna plane gets ready to drop flowers on the galleon carrying the Sto. Nino during yesterday’s fluvial procession along the Mactan Channel. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Some devotees dress their children as Niños, ask for success, good health

Two Cessna planes flew over yesterday’s fluvial procession along the Mactan Channel and dropped flowers on the galleon carrying the images of the Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dr. Jovenal Toring, president of Indiana Aerospace University (IAU), said he and his family have been doing the flower drops  since 1998 when  organizers allowed them to do it.

“I only prayed to the Señor Sto. Niño for blessings and good health to the family, and, for as long as we are able to do this flower drop, we won’t hesitate (to do this) as this is our devotion,” said Toring, who are devotees of the Holy Child.

In barangay Looc, Mandaue City, along the route of the foot procession to bring the Sto. Niño to the galleon for the fluvial procession, hundreds of devotees eagerly waited for the holy icons to pass by.

Amelia Lumapas, 44, a resident of the barangay, was teary-eyed when the icons passed by in a “carroza” or carriage during the foot procession past 5 p.m. yesterday.

At the fluvial procession, hundreds of devotees on the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge shouted and waved “Pit Senyor” as the galleon sailed by.

At about the same time, devotees lined up along the road in barangay San Roque in Cebu City going to the Basilica del Sto. Niño waiting for the galleon to arrive in Pier 1.

Among them were former Sinulog dancers Irish and Edwin Labato Jr.  They brought  along their sons aged 3 years old and 4 months old whom they  dressed in red and yellow pants and shirts.

The eldest Niño had a crown, and carried a sceptre and a globe similar to what the Sto. Niño is holding while his younger brother, Amar, was garbed in baby Sto. Niño clothes and a hat.

“In dressing them up as Sto Niño, we were able to make them feel the presence of the Holy Child, and we are able to pass our devotion on to them,” Irish, 30, said in Cebuano.

The Labatos, who were former dancers of Tribu Kinaiyahan of barangay Pahina San Nicolas, Cebu City stopped dancing the Sinulog when they had a family. Now, they are asking for the Sto. Niño to grant them success in life, guidance for their family and good health.

In the afternoon, thousands of devotees joined the solemn foot procession along major roads in Cebu City.

Gilbert Castro, 35, was among those who waited for the holy icon at a skywalk along Osmeña Boulevard.

“The view here is nicer here rather than joining the crowd below where it is so crowded, he said in Cebuano.

Another devotee, Minerva Sevilla, 43, also dressed her 5-year-old son, Jacob, with a Sto. Niño costume.

“This is our tradition. He got dengue last year and Sto. Niño healed him,” Sevilla said in Cebuano.

Another devotee, an ailing Romulo Navarro joined the procession accompanied by his wife, Mercedita, and daughter, Rachelle.

“I have been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last year. I’m offering this sacrifice to the Señor Sto. Niño,” he said in Cebuano.

An Australian tourist, Frederick Johnston, 37, said that he was amazed on how Cebuanos profess their devotion to the child Jesus.

“I’ve never seen (something) similar like this. The faith and devotion of the people here in Cebu is beyond words,” Johnston said.