Devotee’s wish for miracle

CEBU, Philippines – Being a devotee of Senior Santo Niño for 15 years now, it is Lorelai Abadilla’s prayer that the child Jesus will grant her the miracle of bearing a child of her own.

Having married for several years, her wish of having a baby remains unfulfilled.

But, Abadilla, 31, remains hopeful that one of these days the Holy Child will grant her prayer.

This is one of the reasons why she woke up early on Thursday to join the Walk with Jesus, a yearly procession that marks the opening of the feast of Santo Niño in Cebu.

Instead of bringing a replica of the miraculous image, Abadilla dressed her one-year-old niece, Phil Criz Lor, with a Sto. Niño wardrobe and brought with her to the procession.

The child lives with her because her mother works in Kuwait.

“Ako man gyud ang nag-atiman niya because her mother is working in Kuwait. Mao ni siya akong baby sa pagkakaron,” Abadilla said.

She said it was amazing that the child did not complain waking up very early in the morning.

She also felt it was a miracle that the child allowed the hat to stay on her head as part of the costume.

“Mura’g blessed kaayo pud kay she hates cap all the time. Tangtangon gyud niya.  Na-surprise lang kay mura’g na feel sad niya ba nga we’re doing it for Senior Santo Niño,” she said, adding that they will probably to the same thing again.

Abadilla said she included in her prayers the safety of Phil Criz Lor’s mother abroad and the baby’s bright future.

Unlike Abadilla who is still hoping a miracle to happen, a 44-year-old carpenter from Sitio Banawa in Barangay Guadalupe joined the rest of the 300,000 devotees on Thursday to thank the holy child for the miracle that happened to him.

Daniel Ramirez said he offered the sacrifice of waking up early to join the procession because the Sto. Niño gave him a peaceful life. His devotion started when the Holy Child allegedly talked to him in his dream.

“Milagro gyud para nako katong gipadamgo ko niya. Ingon siya nako nga nindot ang dagan sa panahon sa katuigan,” Ramirez said.

According to Ramirez, he started attending the religious activities for Senior Santo Niño soon after his dream. He said it always give him a wonderful feeling every after participating these activities.

“Sa una, libog pa kaayo akong hunahuna. Sukad gipadamgo ko niya, hapsay na. Unya tig-ubanan na gyud ko  niya,” said Ramirez, adding his whole family is one with him in devoting to the Holy Child.

Although earning his living as a carpenter still, Ramirez said he finds it amazing that he can still eat and feed his family three times a day.

On the other hand, an 80-year-old grandmother said it does not need to experience a miracle or ask for anything for them to show their devotion to the Holy Child.

Porling Capuno, of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, joined the dawn procession despite her age. She was with some of the members of her family.

Capuno was still very active and able to finish the more than an hour procession from Fuente Osmeña to Basi-lica Minore del Santo Niño.

She said she had been joining the walk with Jesus ever since it was first initiated and never failed to do it every year.

“Kada walk, dia gyud ko gakuyog. Pasalamat nga baskog gihapon ang panglawas,” said Capuno.

 “Mag-uwan o maayo (ang) tiempo sa panahon, nia gyud ko,” she added.

According to her, staying healthy despite her age is already a big thing to be thankful for. —/FPL (FREEMAN)