Cebuanos abroad also celebrate Sinulog

CEBU, Philippines - Distance and different time zones were not a hindrance for Cebuanos living in other countries to conti-nue their devotion to Santo Niño by also celebrating the Sinulog in their own way.

Carlita Aquino, 34, a native of Barili, Cebu, who is now living with his family in Washington D.C. where she works as a teacher, said she had been a devotee of the Holy Child since childhood.

Aquino said she and the other Cebuanos in the United States are also celebrating the Fiesta in the house of their friend in New Jersey.

“Daghan gyud mi diri nga mag-celebrate sa iyang pista kada tuig. We also have Mass and we even perform the traditional Sinulog dance here,” said Aquino.

She said she personally offers the success in her career to the Holy Child. Aquino, who graduated Bachelor of Science in Special Education, said it came to a point that she was really sad after failing in the board examination.

Her failure did not discourage her but instead deepen her faith more in the Holy Child. She recalled attending the Friday masses in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño praying to get a good job abroad to help her parents.

Aquino said while submitting her documents abroad, she would dance her papers in front of the image of the Holy Child and eventually her documents got approved.

“Everything I have asked, all of them were answered. Bisan wala ko kapasar sa teacher’s board exam, however, I made it here with higher income and nakatabang na ko sa akong pamilya which is more than (what) I asked (for),” said Aquino.

Aquino wishes to be able to celebrate the fiesta of Senior Santo Niño in Cebu once again in the future.

A seaman, who is also a devotee, said that although he could not attend a fiesta celebration because of the nature of his job but he is one with the Cebuanos in honoring the Hold Child.

Joel Bayadog, 31, also a native of Barili, said he will never forget the Santo Niño.

“Gimingaw na gyud ko maka-attend sa Sinulog diha. Lahi ra man gyud diha gud kay ma-feel gyud nimo ang hugot nga pagtoo sa mga tawo,” said Bayadog. —/FPL (FREEMAN)