Touched by the Sto. Niño

I am not writing this because I want to gain sympathy or impress. I am coming up with this piece because I strongly feel and believe now is the most opportune time to pay tribute to the most important child in my life-the Miraculous Sto. Nino.

I have always believed that miracles do at times come in small packages or by simple ways. I am pretty sure I just did get one Wednesday night. It's simple in the sense that I really did not have any idea as to what to write about for this issue (you can call it a writer's mental block).

I was actually thinking of coming up with a fearless forecast for this year's Miss Cebu candidates. Who would succeed statuesque and smart reigning Miss Cebu Stephanie Señires? Will neophytes topple pageant veterans Carlisle Santos, Nikki Taylor and Joan Uy on January 18 at the Watefront Grand Ballroom? Will another MAC model in the person of Fern Mequillo continue the winning streak of the modeling agency ably managed by good friend Chicoy Tomol? Or will Louise Angelique Tan who was first runner up to my very amiable friend Bb. Pilipinas World Anna Maris Igpit during the Miss Mandaue 2005 gain the honor of being crowned this year's Miss Cebu? There are so many questions on my mind waiting to be answered as far as this year's pageant contestants, touted to be the most promising batch, are concerned.

I would have wanted to tackle the issue on the "age requirement" because the buzz is there is/there are candidates who are below 18. If that's true, does this mean there's favoritism? Well, I'm just asking.

Unfortunately I just can't because Miss Cebu pageant is not my assignment. So by Wednesday night I still did not know what to write about. But as I was watching the unfolding of the first-ever Huniño (Huni Alang kang Senor Santo Nino) grand finals night at the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica, a VTR about the documented miracles of the

Holy Child was shown. Right then and there, the idea of paying tribute to the Sto. Nino came to mind. And why not?

This is what I mean about "miracles" happening by way of even the simplest of forms. I was just seating there, in a quandary, and yet this idea of a topic came up.

Among the documented miracles featured included that of a boy who told a fisherman that he was sent by the priests of the Basilica to take his catch and to return later to collect the payment. And when the fisherman came later in the afternoon he was told by a priest that they sent nobody, but when the fisherman described the boy to be dark-skinned with curly hair, the priest immediately got an idea and asked somebody to check the altar of the Sto. Nino-and where the fish was eventually found.

The same story was told to me by my mother when I was about 10 years old. Since then I had developed a strong bonding with the Sto. Niño. I imagined him to be just like me-and that he is my playmate. I became an altar boy when I was a fifth grader and two years after was elected sacristan mayor. And all this time I grew very close to the Sto. Niño. When I reached my sophomore year, I quit because I believed I was already too old to be an altar boy. But never did I turn my back from him because I became a lector until I finished high school.

Life in Pilar, Camotes was never easy. Yes, my mother is a public school teacher, my father did not have a stable job. He used to be a municipal employee but due to politics, he got terminated. We were burdened with debts. We were struggling to survive financially and emotionally. Honestly, one childhood memory was people were always sowing intrigues against our family. They wanted us to fall and never get up. Politics really had much to do with it. My sister and I were always the outcasts in parties. I always wondered why my friends' shoes would light up and twinkle, why my classmates had a baon of P10 or P20 while mine was only P2, why they have new bags everytime the school year opens or why they'd always go to Ormoc City and come back with groceries in both hands. In short I felt insecure and inferior.

When I was in grade six we got evicted from our house because the lot we occupied was not ours. A grandmother offered us a huge lot for only P600-this was 1992. We took it, but of course, even if it meant my parents would have to sacrifice more to find the means to build another house again. My father then tended a small sari-sari store to, at least, make both ends meet. At night we would squat on its floor and try to get some sleep. But when it rained, it was an agonizing experience because the floor would be flooded as the rain would pass through its nipa roof. I experienced eating cassava for breakfast, cooked banana for lunch and cassava again for dinner. If you talk to me about being downtrodden, I surely can relate because I have lived that kind of life too. Hardship lasted until after I finished college.

I don't have to go to specific details anymore because this space would not be enough. But the most important point of my life story is that in all those trying times there was never a time that we turned away from God. I could still even remember those times when we were sick and there was no money at hand to buy medicine, my mother would put the image of the Sto. Niño on top of any part of our bodies that was in pain. Believe it or not but the pain would subside and disappear! The power of faith!

Looking back, I could not believe I have survived everything, every challenge and every test of the times. Things do happen for a reason, and mistakes are there to teach you how to do things right the next time. Experiences should be cherished because when the going gets tough you can make use of such so much so you can stand your ground despite adversity that tries to weigh you down. I am very much thankful I have gone through all those hardships, because they taught me to dream and persevere. I have learned to wait for my moment of triumph and to understand that there is that perfect time for everything. I am proud of my past because it teaches me to be humble and grounded.

God, indeed, has been so good to me. Of course, I am not rich yet but at least my situation is better compared to before. Career-wise the breaks I've gotten last year are beyond my imagination. I am a big dreamer but still I could not believe I have come this far-became entertainment editor of Banat News since January, got to handle a radio program since May and became a teacher since November. To think that I was never a standout in college, but just an ordinary student. Wow! This is quite an achievement and I could not think of anybody else who could be responsible for this but my forgiving God. Truly God never fails to accept with open arms those who return to His fold. This is my destiny! I have found a true friend. The miraculous Sr. Sto. Nino has always been there.

It was only me who had left. Now, I'm so glad to have found my way back!

So don't you think it's just fitting to pay tribute to the Holy Child? Viva Pit Senyor!

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