Cebu's Child

CEBU, Philippines - Magellan may not have realized it but the moment he gave the image of the Child Jesus to Hara Amihan Rajah Humabon's wife, two innocent children met – Queen Juana as a Child of Faith and the Child Jesus as represented by the image of the Santo Nino.

It was a moment and a meeting then with auspicious beginnings: the way it is with two immaculate young children, a boy and a girl, who often seal friendship not with words but with a smile and a touch. Was it the Queen then who kissed the image? Or was it the Child Jesus who inspired the newly baptized Hara Amihan to kiss Him? Whoever it was who initiated the bond, one thing is clear: From then on, they shall be together.

And this is Cebu's singular privilege: to have been the first to accept and nurture the young faith and to have the first to take care, as it were, of the young Child Jesus. No other city in the country can boast of both favors from God.

Again, as implied above, he was Magellan's gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon, ruler of Cebu, upon her baptism as a Christian with the name of Juana. When Magellan died in the hands of Lapu-lapu, the fate of the Faith suffered. Only after 44 years after the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi did the efforts of formal Christianization begin.

On April 28, 1565, after the invasion of Santo Nino in one wooden box of a burning house – lying, supposedly, side by side with native idols. In a report entitled "Relation of the Voyage to the Philippine Islands," these words of Legaspi may be found:

"... Your Excellency should know that on that day when we entered this village (Cebu), one of the soldiers went into a large and well-built house of an indio where he found an image of the Child Jesus (whose most holy name I pray may be universally worshipped). This was kept in its cradle, all glided, just as if it were brought from Spain: and only the little cross, which is generally palced upon the globe in his hands, was lacking. The image was well kept in that house, and many flowers were found before it, and no one knows for what object or purpose. The soldier bowed down before it with all reverence and wonder, and brought the image to the place where the other soldiers were. I pray to the Holy Name of his image, which we found here, to help us and to grant us victory, in order that these lost people who are ignorant of the precious and rich treasure, which was in their possession, may come to a knowledge of Him."

The brother then prayed the "Ave" and at the words "blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus," the child said, "That is Me."

Devotion eventually revolved around the image so that, through the centuries and up to now, as a sign of reverence for the real Child Jesus, people from all walks of life dance the Sinulog. The Child, supposedly when appeased, will grant a dancer's or a supplicant's wishes. Whatever His title – the Holy Infant Child of Prague in Czechoslovakia, the Santo Nino Jesus de la Salud in Morelia, Mexico, or the Santo Nino of Aklan --- this Child, it is reported, is generous in fulfilling a devotee's prayers and supplications.

Legends attributed to the Child Jesus Himself are numerous. In Spain, according to a story, a Carmelite monastery was invaded during the battles between the Moors and Christians. Only four monks were rescued. One was called Joseph who had a special devotion to the Child Jesus. Once as he worked in the monastery's yard, a child suddenly appeared to him and asked to pray with him. The brother then paryed the "Ave" and at the words "blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus," the child said, "That is me."

Then the Child disappeared but His face was engraved in the brother's memory. The brother longed immensely to see the Child again. He wanted to produce a likeness that wuld remind him of the Child Jesus but his efforts were without success. For many years, he struggled to make a portrait. Until one day, the Child appeared again. At that time, the brother was already very old.

"I came down to show myself again to you so that you could finish the sculpture according to my likeness," said the Child. He finished the face like in a dream. He was happy! When he finished the work, the Child just vanished.

The brother was very tired. He fell asleep and never woke up again.

In Aklan, it is said that the devotion of the Santo Nino and the eventual celebration of the Ati-atihan, began with the appearance of a wooden image of the Santo Nino to a childness couple in Sitio Boboc-on, Naile. This couple regularly prayed to their god for a child. One evening, the man, Hangeo, took his bamboo basket and net into the river as he always would whenever he saw a school of fish. But each time, the net came up with nothing but a piece of driftwood, which he would throw back into the water. The third time, he placed the piece of wood in his basket and then his net ws finally filled with fish.

That night, the couple was awakened by strange noise, which they realized, were coming from the features of the Santo Nino crudely marked on it. From then on, the image performed miracles for them.

One of the most important miracles in Aklan attributed to the Santo Nino was that it warded off Muslim invaders. Every time an attack was imminent, a small boy walked up and down the seashore, brandishing a shining sword.

Henceforth, the townspeople would place the image of the Santo Nino and a sword on the seashore whenever they sighted the Muslim boats.

Cebu's Child then is certainly one and all of the above: a Child who answers the prayers of the people who ask for His help, making them dream of His face one night, or catch a glimpse of His cape one bright morning, or get struck by a glimmer of His crown one evening, as and assurance of hope to their faith in Him.

There is a writer in Cebu whose first national award was about the Santo Nino and whose life has been enriched by the devotion to the Santo Nino, In more ways than one, therefore, Cebu Child's is not only a weaver of dreams – the way most children are – but also an intimate friend who can make those dreams come true.

This article was originally published in http://sinulog.ph/. Please visit the website for more information about Sinulog 2015.