Cheerfulness and the Sinulog
Today is the 8th day of the novena Mass in honor of the Santo Niño de Cebu, and as usual devotees are streaming by the thousands in and out of the pilgrims center at the Basilica Minore. The feast day being only three days away, the solemnities are becoming deeply solemn.
Solemnness defines a heartfelt prayer. It implies sobriety and sincerity. That's why you cannot see somebody praying and smiling at the same time. Even if a prayer is one of thanksgiving one's countenance seldom shows a smile although it may reflect contentment and peace.
The church father who composed the song "Bato Balani sa Gugma" must have had this idea in mind because this song is sung with a refrain: "Kanamo maluoy ka unta nga kanimo nangilaba" done two times while swaying the right hand in a gesture of appeal. There's a tone of seriousness in this, but at the same time a sense of assurance that things will be all right, that despite adverse happening one's faith in the Holy Child remains firm. The gesture suggests too a child-like state of mind which generates the mode of playfulness and quiet joy. Perhaps, the composer of the song is trying to tell the faithful that they are communing with a God child, and what does a child like to see but words and movements that delight?
One of the new saints, St. Josemaria Escriva, whose birth anniversary on January 9 was celebrated by Opus Dei advocates, gives this advice: " Be cheerful, always cheerful. It is for those to be sad who do not consider themselves to be sons of God." The saint calls this holy cheerfulness, which implies a Christian's deep awareness of the Almighty Father's love and care. He is your father and my father in the truest sense of the word. If our earthly father is very much solicitous of our material (and ideally, spiritual) needs how much more for our Heavenly Father? But there's a caveat every Christian is reminded of. Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all these things (that we need to live a good life) will be given to us.
The Sinulog festival, apart from the religious rituals observed in adoration of the Santo Niño, must have been conceived as nothing more than a simple entertainment event. Filipino culture has engrained in us the need for a patron saint in every town or barrio to serve as advocate and protector. To honor him or her a feast day is celebrated once a year. That day, however, has developed into a day of more than prayers, but also one of gaiety and salu-salo. Without prayers, feasting and merry-making, what kind of a fiesta is that? people would say.
For many years before the Sinulog came about there was nothing to look forward to by way of entertainment during the Fiesta Señor. There was the usual novena Mass and the religious procession. But all these were tame and unspectacular, a far cry from today's endless stream of devotees attending both events.
And the Sinulog,--what an overwhelming spectacle it has become! From a simple street dancing event in 1980, which was hardly noticed even by Cebuanos, it has morphed into a festival of festivals whose magic and grandeur has drawn thousands of local and foreign spectators.
Joy is the message of Christianity. And our culture dictates that feast days should also be days of rejoicing and merry-making. It is therefore proper to adore the Santo Niño, our patron saint, with prayers and at the same time with a Sinulog.
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