Legends of the Sto. Niño de Cebu (the book) - Part 1

There is a book printed in 1965 that collated the legends most of which were the miracles attributed to the Sto. Niño, mostly in times of plagues. The book narrates of the centuries-old belief of the Cebuanos in the miraculous Child Jesus. CEBUpedia is reprinting the introduction of the book authored by Manuel Enriquez de Calzada:

“Needless to state, the legends printed herein were handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation down through the centuries starting at the landing of Magellan in old Banawa (now called San Nicolas, a district of Cebu City) in the year 1521. In fact, it may even be said that before Queen Juana wife of King Humabon of Cebu, received the Image of the Holy Child as a gift from Magellan, a legend about the Santo Nino Jesus of Cebu was already started.

“It took the compiler several years off and on though, to gather them. He had to travel occasionally in and around Cebu, talking to old folks all of them now dead. Except for some irrelevant details which were deleted, no attempt has been made to modify any of them. It might be that as these were told and retold down through the centuries some slight changes or modification had been made by the latter generations. Be that as it may, the core of the legends remains unchanged.

“Fearing that these legends would be relegated to oblivion with the passing of the years, the compiler hastened to have these printed in a more or less permanent form. He considered it opportune to have these published during the celebration of the fourth centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines.

“As all legends go, some of these are so tall, the others not so but they afford enjoyable reading for young and old alike. It is for that purpose that these legends were written. The compiler would be greatly compensated if he has achieved his aim.

“MARTIN ABELLANA

Translator

San Nicolas, Cebu City

February 28, 1965.”

Here is one article in the book

“The Cholera Epidemic of 1883

“The worst cholera epidemic in the history of Cebu took place in the year 1883. It ravaged the city and the neighboring towns for three solid months, September, October and November. So widespread and terrible was the epidemic that the government had to utilize its employees and the soldiers to check the spread of the disease. The Church chipped in its help by sending the priests to do what they could to put a stop of its ravages.

“The soldiers helped in burning the garbage so that flies could not lay their eggs on it. The priests went around telling the people not to eat uncooked foods and to boil their water before drinking. They also administered to the spiritual needs of the dying. They told the people to clean their houses and their surroundings and to fill up low places in their yards, In short, the people were told to follow the rules of sanitation and hygiene.” (To be continued)