A Sto. Niño image in every Cebuano home in the US

STO. NIÑO IN THE US. A Cebuano balikbayan who is here for the Fiesta Señor celebration told The Ear that “there is not a single Catholic Cebuano home in his place in California that does not have the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.” He said the image is prominently displayed usually in the living room. “No, dili para pangdekorasyon lang kundili para ampoan,” he said. The balikbayan said most, if not all, the Sto. Niño images in the homes of Cebuano Catholics come from Cebu and blessed by the priests at the Basilica. “Wa gyud ang-anga, mga Augustinian priests gyud ang gipabendita,” the balikbayan said.

FIESTA SENOR CELEBRATED. The same Cebuano balikbayan also said Visayans — Cebuanos, Ilonggos, Leytenos, Negrenses, etc. — in their community also celebrate Fiesta Señor on the third Sunday of January. And the highlights of the celebration include Sinulog dancing in the community park and a solemn procession. “But during the procession we are not allowed to light our candles by the fire department,” the balikbayan said. “Istrikto sila didto bahin sa kayo. Vigil candles sa altar gidili. So artificial electric candles nalang ang gigamit sa kadaghanan.”