The Cebuanos and the Sto. Niño

The feast of Cebu's Holy Child or Sto. Niño is celebrated every third Sunday of January. It is one of our biggest events that even people from all over the world take time to see it. Last Sunday was it when at least 3 million, foreigners and locals, joined in the day-long Sinulog Festival. It is not just, however, a one-day affair. Like most religious events, the Sinulog is started with a nine-day novena. In these days, several activities are also lined up (this happens every year) in preparation of the feast. There's the walk for Mary, fluvial and foot processions, reenactment of the first baptism (which first happened in 1521, the very year when Cebu became Christian), to name a few. And each of these is well attended by not just hundreds, but thousands or even millions. I say, more than anything else it is a show of faith. The foot procession is one good example how devoted we are to the Sto. Niño. From the Basilica del Sto. Niño (where the Sto. Nino is housed) and back, it takes at least eight hours to finish the procession. Yet, we do not mind the long hours, the heat, the tired legs and the crowd. Because to us, all of that is gladly done in honor to the Holy Child. There have been several criticisms being hurled at us the way we show our devotion to the Holy Child. According to the naysayers, it's so pagan. It is no longer faith, but fanaticism, according to them. But of course, they can not relate to us. They have not probably seen how we become one when we sing and wave to the Sto. Niño in unison while singing the "Batobalani sa Gugma" during the Holy Mass at the Basilica. They have not probably seen the tears in our eyes when we do it. And they have not probably known the love of the Sto. Niño. Because as Cebuanos, we do. We feel His love more than anyone else does. And what we do in His honor, not only during the Sinulog but everytime we have a chance to, is our way of giving back His ultimate love to us. Until they become Cebuanos, they will never learn to love the Sto. Niño like we do.