By CHRISTINA HERMOSO
Roman Catholics from different parts of the country celebrate today, Sunday, Jan. 19, the Feast of the Santo Nino (Child Jesus) with festive and elaborate rites that attract both local and foreign tourists.
In Metro Manila, 33 fiesta masses, which started at 3 p.m. yesterday, are celebrated by the hour until 11 p.m. today at the Santo Nino de Tondo Parish in Manila, the center of celebrations in the metropolis. The grand procession will be held at 4 a.m. today.
To ensure a smooth and safe procession, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has ordered the banning of vendors along the procession route.
In Pandacan, Manila, 15 masses will be celebrated today at the Santo Nino Parish from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., including a community mass at the church yard at 7 a.m. which will be marked with the dancing of the Ati-Atihan. A procession, held nightly since Jan. 12, will be held at 6 p.m.
In Cebu City, the much anticipated “Sinulog” in honor of Senor Santo Nino, the oldest festival in the archipelago, is expected to gather around a million devotees and tourists. Cebuanos do not consider the Christmas season over until after the celebration of the festive Sinulog Festival.
The heart of the Sinulog is the locals’ centuries-old devotion to the Holy Child, whose miraculous image is greeted with cries of “Viva Senor Santo Nino!,” “Hail to the Child King!,” and “Pit Senor!” from the phrase “Sangpit sa Senyor” (Call to Senor).
A Catholic Church prelate said yesterday that devotion to the devotion to the Santo Nino must inspire us to care and help those who are in need.
“Our Santo Nino as a child is small, so fragile, and very vulnerable that it inspires us to look after Him and take care of Him. Our affection to the Santo Nino must lead us to help and heal those who are in need, those who are suffering and hurting,” Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said.
“These times, they are our brothers and sisters in Batangas. Our devotion to the Santo Nino must inspire us to extend a hand to our suffering brothers and sisters in Batangas,” added Santos.
“Our devotion to the Child Jesus must also inspire us to take good care of the least, the last, and the lost in our society. To love the Santo Nino is to make the lives of children peaceful, safe, and fruitful.”
Santos said devotion to the Santo Nino must also serve as an inspiration to be obedient. (Christina Hermoso)