The little boy called Señor Santo Niño

CEBU, Philippines -  The Holy Child is usually depicted in red and gold vestments like that in Cebu or in Tondo, Manila, with a water gourd like the Sto. Niño of Atocha, or as a policeman inside a police office. But underneath these garments is an ordinary boy, as what He is portrayed in the many miracles He purportedly made over the past centuries.

People who witnessed these miracles said the Sto. Niño appeared as a little boy, who often wanders around to play with other children. Sometimes, He appears to the needy as a dark-skinned five-year-old kid. In Atocha, Madrid, for example, the Sto. Niño became popular sometime in the 1400s after a “little boy” was reportedly seen bringing food to prisoners.

 It is said that at that time in Atocha, there were several Christians who were jailed because of their faith. Jailers were prohibited from feeding the prisoners, and at one time, the government ordered that only children were allowed to bring food to their imprisoned family members. Fearing for the survival of those prisoners who had no children to feed them, their family members prayed to Our Lady of Atocha for help. Shortly after, those children who brought food to their relatives came home with tales of a young boy who also came to visit other prisoners. This “little boy,” according to the children, had with him a water gourd that seemed to have endless supply of water, and a basket full of bread for the hapless prisoners.  Following these events, those who prayed to the Lady of Atocha suspected the identity of this boy. They then checked the shoes worn by the child Jesus being carried by the Virgin, and saw that the shoes he was wearing were already worn out. Suspicious still, they replaced these with new ones, but not long after, these too became worn out. Since then, the people from Atocha have revered the Sto. Niño.

Following these “miracles,” the icon of the Santo Niño de Atocha is seen with a little basket in His left hand and a water gourd dangling from a staff in his right hand. He also wears sandals and a large hat, and sits on a chair.

The Basilica del Santo Niño, which houses the Sto. Niño de Cebu, has also published a booklet — “Mga Milagro ni Sr. Santo Niño” - of the purported miracles of the Holy Child. One of these miracles reportedly happened a long time ago inside the house of a Cebuano family who keeps an image of the Sto. Niño inside their room. According to the one who had the story published, her four-year-old nephew, once left alone inside the room, reportedly sustained a black eye after allegedly playing boxing with a “little boy.” When asked who that little boy was, the nephew pointed to the image of the Sto. Niño.  Another story was how the same little boy saved a six-year-old child from a fire. Mrs. Puzon, as narrated in the book, said she left her child inside a locked room for a while, but when she came back, the house was already on fire. She was just surprised when she saw her son coming out of the house unscathed. The child later on told her that the Sto. Niño, which was on his hands, opened the door for them.

A couple from an upland area in Cebu also shared a story of the Holy Child’s miracle in the same book. The couple said one day they lost their carabao, which the husband used in his farm.

That night while preparing to pray before the altar, they noticed that their Sto. Niño was also gone. The next day, the couple was awakened by their neighbor’s call outside. When they went out to see what it was all about, the neighbor was already holding their carabao. When they asked where he found it, the neighbor said he saw a little boy passing by his house with it, but when he went out to ask where the boy is bringing it, he was already gone. Pleased that their carabao was recovered, the couple instinctively went to the altar to pray, but they were just surprised that their Sto. Niño was back. When they looked closely, his vestments were already filled with thistles (amorseco). The couple believed that it was the Holy Child who came out to look for their carabao, hence the thistles in his clothing.

From his many wanderings, the Sto. Niño is also called Santo Niñong Gala or “Palaboy” (wanderer). Some of his images, depicting his being a wanderer, are dressed in a sleeveless shirt, a woven hat and a cross staff.

And like an ordinary boy, the Santo Niño de Cebu’s devotees who visit him at the Basilica, leave him shoes, slippers and toys of all sorts. Rev. Fr. Tito Soquiño of the Basilica del Sto. Niño said these items were left by children and adults who treat him as a little boy who uses these. The toys and shoes are later on donated to different orphanages, he said.

Soquiño, however, said the Holy Child’s reported miracles have yet to be validated by the Church. But, he clarified, the Church does not stop the people if they believe these tales, especially if doing so strengthens their faith.

Depicting the Holy Child as a wanderer, dressing him in various outfits, is also not one thing that the Church prohibits the public from doing, according to Soquiño. He said the Church understands it being a “personal expression of one’s faith.”

“If it helps their faith on the Sto. Niño, we have no problems with that,” he said.

Soquiño said he has also experienced “miracles” from the Sto. Niño. One was when he was almost kicked out from the seminary for being sickly, but his prayers to the Holy Child prevented it from happening. Soquiño was also diagnosed with cancer last year and underwent an operation. He said that as of the moment, he is considered cancer-free. Soquiño said that was the second miracle of the Sto. Niño. — /QSB  (FREEMAN)