Devotees called to live the spirit of baptism

Cebu - Monsignor Cristobal Garcia, officiating priest in yesterday’s Mass reenacting the first acts of Christianity in the Philippines, reminded devotees of the Sto. Niño to “go beyond reenactment and live the spirit of the first baptism.”

“Sa simbahan, way lugar ang drama drama kay ang Diyos mutan-aw sa atong kasingkasing og sa atong mga bakak. Dili reenactment lamang kung dili renewal ug ang pagpakabuhi sa kalimpyo sa atong pagbunyag,” Garcia said. 

Garcia told thousands of devotees that followed the image of the child Jesus during the fluvial parade to the Basilica that the reenactment of the first baptism 443 years ago should serve as a reminder for everyone to adopt a clean lifestyle.

He said devotees should nurture the cleanliness poured in symbolically by the water during baptism, especially by families that have been broken because of misunderstanding and greed.

In yesterday’s reenactment, Raja Jumabon and his wife Ratu Jumanay were baptized and renamed Carlos and Juana along with all the other natives in the then Sugbo island year just like how it happened in 1521.

Garcia himself baptized Jumabon portrayed by Ben Marcojos, company driver of The FREEMAN and Philippine Star, and Jumaya portrayed by Morcojos’ sister Cristina Loquere, a school worker.

The devotees present also experienced another baptism by the Augustinian priests who, after the renewal of vows, blessed them with holy water using palm leaves.

After the baptism and the mass, Ferdinand Magellan, portrayed by businessman Lito Acha, gave the three gifts to the first couple- the Ecce Homo (bust of the suffering Christ), the icon of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, and image of the Sto. Niño.

After the mass, a dance was offered by the Confradia del Sto. Niño, dancers from barangay Mabolo and Guadalupe Parish, and the San Diego Dancers. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)