Sto. Niño crosses Mactan Channel to be with Mama Mary

CEBU, Philippines - Placed on a wooden coffer adorned with chrysanthemums and dancing ladies, the pilgrim image of the Santo Niño crossed the Mactan Channel and made its first visit to the Señora de la Regla Parish in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.

“Unang higayon na mibisita ang anak. Nagpaabot ang anak na bisitahon sa inahan. Busy ang inahan, di kaduaw sa anak, mao nga ang anak ang miduaw sa inahan,” Fr. Jaime Duero said.

Duero celebrated the Mass at the Señora de la Regla Parish upon the arrival of the pilgrim image of the Santo Niño around 8:30 a.m. yesterday.

The visit was part of the activities of the Archdiocese of Cebu in celebration of the 447th Kaplag Festival and the celebration of the Kadaugan sa Mactan yesterday.

At 6 a.m. yesterday, a Mass was celebrated by Fr. Tito Soquiño at the Basilica Del Santo Niño before personnel of the Naval Force Central of the Philippine Navy fetched the pilgrim image.

The image was taken on board the BRP Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo for the fluvial procession. Vessels along the way dipped their flags as a sign of respect.

The pilgrim image arrived at a private wharf and was welcomed by thousands of devotees.

Soquiño, executive director of Santo Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation Inc., said this year’s Naval honors for the Santo Niño is in recognition of his rank as the Most Esteemed Captain General of the Spanish Forces in the Philippines.

The Kaplag Festival is a commemoration of the discovery of the image of the child Jesus on April 28, 1565, by Juan Camus, a soldier of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in a burned nipa hut in Cebu, where the Basilica stands today.

Meanwhile, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said that all Christians must be very thankful for the discovery and finding of the image during the first kaplag.

Palma celebrated Mass at the Basilica del Santo Niño yesterday afternoon for the Kaplag Festival.

Palma is expecting that for the years to come, many devotees will come and join the celebration as what is happening during the Sinulog.

A reenactment of the discovery of the image followed the Mass. (FREEMAN)