CEBU, Philippines - Every third Sunday of January, thousands of people from different parts of the country and even from other nations, troop to Cebu City to celebrate the feast of the miraculous Señor Sto. Niño. Some devotees come to Cebu for the religious activities, while some for the cultural activities such as the Grand Parade.
Year after year, the crowds attending the different activities of the Fiesta Señor have increased. However, despite the many inconveniences caused by a fiesta that draws a really large crowd, such as traffic, difficulty in riding public transport, not to mention weather problems such as the one being experienced this year, devotees still come to Cebu for the Sto. Niño?
The reason – the favors He has granted, as well as the miracles experienced by the devotees.
“Bisan pa og mag-uwan atul sa prosesyon, mouban g’yud gihapon ko kay kana maoy akong saaran. Mobalik g’yud ko dinhi sa Cebu sa maong adlaw kay saaran nako na kada tuig,†said 53-year-old Conrada Velasquez from Bogo City in northern Cebu.
“Milagroso kaayo ni nga bataa sir, ang akong usa ka anak patay na tingali unta kon wala pa niya tabangi kay grabe na pag-ubos ang platelet dihang gi-dengue apan dihang gisaad nako nga magsakripisyo ko paglakaw atul sa tinuig nga procession, kalit lang misaka,†said Ruben Vergara of Barili.
Even this writer experienced the Santo Niño’s protection. Nineteen years ago, while driving a motorcycle, this writer was ran over by a prime mover in sitio Bakhaw, Barangay Catmon-Daan, Catmon town in northern Cebu.
The prime mover, which was on the opposite side of the road, swerved to the other lane, hit the motorcycle and threw this writer off. The left front wheel of the prime mover then ran over this writer’s legs. All the time, however, all this writer could do was pray to the Sto. Niño.
This writer survived what was supposed to be a life threatening accident with only tears on the pants. After reporting the incident to the police, this writer then proceeded to Cebu City and walked to the Basilica to thank the Holy Child.
Former Cebu City Mayor and South District Congressman Tomas R. Osmeña also credits his recovery from cancer to the Santo Niño.
“Kon wala pa ang Santo Niño, dead ball na g’yud ko,†the former mayor said while laughing when he was interviewed by this writer.
The former mayor was diagnosed by the doctors in Cebu City to have cancer in his urinary bladder, which prompted him to have himself confined at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
According to the doctors, the grandson of President Sergio Osmeña Sr. had a fourth-stage urinary bladder cancer. Usually, a person with a fourth-stage cancer has slim chances of survival.
“Duna ko’y mga kauban nga taga Cebu nga nagpatambal ‘sab sa ilang cancer didto sa Houston, nangamatay na pero ako gitabangan g’yud sa Santo Niño kay daghang mga tawo nag-ampo para nako,†said Osmeña.
While Osmeña was still in Houston, Texas undergoing operation to remove the cancerous part of his urinary bladder, several people in Cebu prayed to Santo Niño for Osmeña’s successful operation.
Osmeña, now cancer-free, joked: “Tingali gipul-an na ang Santo Niño sa mga petisyon sa mga tawo nga luwason ko mao nga naghatag na lang siya’g chance uy. Kay kon ako lang ang mag-ampo basin dili tingali ko paminawon.â€
He also shared that while he was undergoing treatment in the US, he, his wife Margot (who is now a Cebu City Councilor), and their son Miguel travelled to San Antonio, Texas to visit the Sto. Niño Church there.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella also experienced a miracle that he attributes to the Sto. Niño when he was saved from death after floating in the sea waters off Batangas for 36 hours. Labella was among the many passengers of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Orient, which sank in 1998.
Labella said that while he was already floating in the sea, he prayed to the Sto. Niño to save him. “Para kanako, kadtong akong kaluwasan sa pagkalunod sa barko diin daghan ang nangamatay, usa na kadto ka milagro nga gihatag kanako sa Ginoo,†said Labella. — /QSB (FREEMAN)