Devotees came from as far as Mindanao

CEBU, Philippines - As early as 3 o'clock in the morning yesterday, Pacencia Quimbo, 29, was already at the Fuente Osmeña Circle bringing the image of Mama Mary. She was among the thousands of devotees who joined the Penitential Walk with Mary yesterday.

Quimbo, who is from Mindanao, always finds time every January to be here in Cebu just to attend all the church activities in honor of the Holy Child Jesus, Sto. Niño. She temporarily takes shelter with her relatives in Guadalupe.

She noticed that every time she misses this annual religious event, she always gets sick and last year was the worst. She was hospitalized without any clear findings from the doctor.

“Abi gyud naku ug mamatay naku ato kay gibutangan naman kog oxygen kay maglisud nako og ginhawa. Gipadamgo pod ko ni Sto. Niño when I was in the hospital. Mao to nga nisaad nako ni Señor Santo Niño nga moanhi na gyud ko matag Sinulog tungod kay iya kong gitagaan og laing kinabuhi,” Quimbo shared to The Freeman. (I thought I would die then. I couldn't breathe anymore. I also dreamed of the Holy Child while in the hospital, so since then I vowed to be here in thanksgiving for the second life).

Quimbo, also joined the Walk with Jesus last week and has completed the nine-day Novena Masses for Sto. Niño, which culminated yesterday.

On the other hand, Edna Ochavo, 45, shared that she has been participating in the Walk with Jesus and Walk with Mary as well as completed  the nine-day Novena Mass since she was still in high school without missing a year.

“Kugi lang gyud ug sayo og mata kay deboto man ko ni Sto. Nino sukad pa gyud ni katong high school pa ko hangtud karun nga naminyo naku. Samtang maayo pa akong lawas, dili gyud ko mohunong sa akong buhatonon matag Fiesta ni Sto. Niño,” said Ochavo. (I've been joining this since high school and I don't intend to stop).

As the thousands of devotees converged for yesterday's penitential walk with Mary, the weather also cooperated. It did not rain like it did during the walk with Jesus last week.

Msgr. Jose Montecillo, in his homily, stressed that as devotees of the Miraculous Child Jesus, people should journey with faith, hope and love.

“To be a true devotee is to be kind to others. We show our love through the immeasurable sacrifice by giving convenience to others. We should let our faith, hope and love with Sto. Niño grow in our hearts,” said Montecillo.

Right after the Mass, the devotees, bringing along with them the images of the Sto. Nino and Mama Mary, danced the Traditional Sinulog Dance as they completed the nine-day Novena Mass.

Following the 5:30 Novena Mass was the Misa de Traslacion presided by Rev. Fr. Roman C. Cañon, OSA.

During the Walk with Mary, the carrosa bringing the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe was guarded by the Knights of Tepeyac.

The image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe arrived at the Fuente Osmeña around 4:30 a.m. Devotees carried with lit candles and images of Mary and Sto. Niño while praying the rosary and sang religious songs.

It took more than an hour for the carrosa to travel the one-kilometer distance between the church and Fuente Osmeña.

The Misa de Traslacion was also celebrated after the first mass of the 9th day novena.

After the mass, a motorcade was held where the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sto. Niño were taken to the National Shrine of St. Joseph. – (FREEMAN)