Miracle or not?: ‘Dancing’ Santo Niño needs in-depth probe

CEBU, Philippines - The Archdiocese of Cebu will launch a formal investigation to determine if the reported "dancing" of an image of Santo Niño in Barangay Patupat, Barili town in southern Cebu could be attributed as a miracle.

That is, if the local parish has rendered its report.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma declined to give commentson the matter yesterday, but he urged the Catholic faithful to further strengthen their devotion to the Child Jesus and to be grateful always regardless of whether"these wonders exist or not."

For several days now, residents have flocked to the Birhen de los Remedios Chapel in Barangay Patupat to see the image of the so-called "Dancing Niño."

Apart from Patupat, two other villages in the same town were also visited by devotees reportedly after the images of Santo Niño inside their chapels started to dance.

Father Jonas Mejares, rector at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, said this is not the first time that these reports have surfaced.

"Dili ko kaingon nga tinuod ang maong panghitabo o dili," he said, pointing out that along, thorough inquiry is needed before the "dancing" phenomenon could be construed as a miracle.

He said it is important to get accounts from the eyewitnesses.

"There is a proper protocol that has to be followed. It should come from the proper authority to declare if it's true. But on our end, we are asking the faithful to put things in proper perspective. We don't question their personal experience, but we have to establish the element of truth on the matter," Mejares said.

Cebu Archdiocese spokesperson Monsignor Joseph Tan told reporters yesterday that he had asked someone to communicate with the parish priest concerned, Monsignor Rolando Jimenez.

"At least adtuon niya ug makisayod siya ug unsa'y history behind the so-called dancing Santo Niño ug unsa na kadaghan ang mga tawo nga nangadto.Mura'g profiling langsa phenomenon og naunsa na," said Tan, who assured giving update early next week.

Tan echoed Mejares' statements, saying the faithful should not directly conclude that the incident was a miracle since "we are grounded by the Roman Catholic doctrines."

"We have always emphasized nga mas dako ang milagro nga gihatag sa Ginoo katong nagpakatawo siya, nagpakamatay ug nabanhaw siya," he said.

"Dili unta nato tabunan ang tinud-anay nga milagro nga gihimosaGinoo with the so-called smaller claims of miracles nga chances are bunga ra kini sa tawhanong involvement," he added.

Tan, however, acknowledged that at times, people tend to pose this kind of argument: "Unsay mawala nato kon mutuo kita niana?"

"Mamahimo kitang tuo-tuohon. In this case, atong gibaylo ang tinuoray nga pagtuo. We always want to avoid that expression nga moingon ang uban nga 'naunsa ning mga Katoliko, nagpatuyang na'," he said.

He clarified, though, that the Roman Catholic Church does not condemn nor judge the persons involved if it be proven they are only making up stories.

"In some ways, nalipay ko nga naa pa'y ingon ana nga religious fervor sa Cebu nga kining panghitabo maka-attract og multitudes. It shows that the faith level sa atong mga Sugbuanon taas pa gyud kaayo… I suppose that the devotion to the Santo Niño, makadangop og atraksyon sa daghang tawo ug mosakripisyo gyud pag-adto," he said. — (FREEMAN)