Cebu's three kings
The young children, ages one to 12, of the members of the Casino Español de Cebu, gathered at the club’s Salon de España to await the arrival of the Three Kings which is celebrated on the first Sunday of January.
The anticipation is prolonged as the Three Wise Men paraded on some of Cebu’s most traveled streets distributing candies and chocolates to all along the way.
Their only traditional stopover is Barangay Parian where they shared good tidings, toys, snackfood and candies with the street children.
As the kids’ patience stretched to its limits, the bearded Three Kings, in flowing satin robes and capes of green, gold and red, represented by Louie Moro as Melchor, Paco Jarque as Baltazar, and Eduard Loop as Gaspar, looking majestic and regal on horseback, arrived in all their pomp and glory.
Tamara with parents Monique and Paco Jarque The association’s general manager Mary Jovy Pastor Ay-ad called out the names of the kids one-by-one to come up on stage. All the innocent faces lit up. Some went up on stage alone, others with their parents, elder siblings or yayas marched up to collect beautifully wrapped packages.
One caught a glimpse of the ageless Milagring Sembrano lovingly escorting her great granddaughter Isabella Iway to claim her gift. Dotting grandparents likewise took time off to be with their grandchildren. Civic leader Pilar Puno was busy looking after Sabine, Lia and Rianne while glamorous grandma Nenita Chiongbian was happy watching over petite Sophie tinker with her new toy.
Eduard Loop as King Gaspar with Milagring Sembrano and great grandaughter Isabelle Iway Proud parents Anton and Mari Paz Perdices cheered-on their energetic boys Renzo and Yano as they went solo while pretty daughter Karolina, all of two years old was carried by her mom.
For all the children present, Christmas is not over until the Three Kings make their annual appearance at the Casino Español de Cebu. The Dia de los Reyes annual tradition of gift giving ended with lots of laughter and fun games.
