Viva Señor Sto. Niño

Yesterday the Church in the Philippines celebrated the Feast of the Santo Niño or the Holy Child.

That is an exception to the commemoration of the Baptism of the Lord. It is through the Catholic church of the Philippines that the liturgy states that we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Child Jesus.

Well, and good. In the first place that sparks the month-long celebration of the festivities through the length and breath of the archipelago.

Yesterday, Kabankalan broke out into thunderous Viva with the Sinulog of 2012.  That may have been a memorable fiesta for Kabankalan but a more dramatic and well-attended one was the Sinulog of Cebu City.

Over the years, this has become a “must” affair for both domestic and foreign visitors who enjoy the Cebuano interpretation of Sinulog.

Of course, that meant that late comers no longer had any room to book in among Cebu’s hotels and pension houses.

But Kabankalan’s Sinulog was made more unforgettable by the presence of global Kabankalanons who also participated in the community celebration.

Hundreds of Kabankalanons from various parts of the globe transformed it into a grand reunion with Kinit-anay kita sa 2012.

This was something which had originally escaped the notice of local media. But this writer had long focused on it as an event to watch. And the hundreds of Kabankalanons who flocked into Kabankalan to join the festivities truly transformed it into a “global” event.

But that is just one of the celebrations of the Feast of Santo Niño. There is the Dinagyang of Iloilo City and the Ati-atihan of Kalibo. And there is still the least known, albeit impressive, Ati-Ati of Ibajay, Aklan.

But there are others considered “must affairs”. Those of Cadiz and the other towns of Aklan, for example. And many other replications such as those of various district of Metro Manila where the Ati-athan is replicated and draws in hundreds of foreign visitors.

But we sometimes forget that the Feast of the Holy Child does not just mean that we honor the Son of God. He also has a message for all of us – for the kingdom of God such as these.”

“Unless you become as little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God” was the message.

In that episode of His Earthly life, Christ just reminded us that we should not exclude the children. Not only must we respective and love them, but we also must welcome them.

Christ does not simply mean that we should love and respect the little ones, but also to welcome them.

In short, we must not reject them. That means that we don’t have to practice abortion to kill the helpless innocents who are actually gifts of God for married couples.

He also reminds us to take good care of those who he has gifted us with. That we owe it to God to take good care of them, to nurture them, and to love them because they are His children whom He has entrusted to us for our care.

That is why it is painful to see a lot of small children running around with only a  bit of clothes, hungry and penniless. And, yet, we hardly cast a glance on them. And we call ourselves “Christians.”

Often, we pay more attention to the festivities than to the truly more important ingredient – that we translate our commemoration into a Faith in action. In short, we just don’t stop at the food and drinks but rather pay more attention to the needs of our children and for us to take care of them regardless of whether they are our own or of others.

Some of us travel far and wide just to join the Ati-Atihan, the Sinulog or the Dinagyang, but forget that we could do a lot more for the children if we spend part of our money  we can spare with the little ones. That would have more meaning for the Lord than us gyrating and shouting to our hearts content” Viva Senor Santo Niño”

Perhaps, for once, we could spend more time with our children and give them the spiritual guidance they need and impress upon them and other children what the Child Jesus would be happier if we have helped one of the miserable little ones enjoy the little we can spare for them. Then, perhaps, this will be a better world than what we now have.*

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