Pit Senyor 2025!

The continuing return of worshippers and devotees to Cebu, year in and year out, point to the faith, hope in and thanksgiving for the Santo Niño.

The stories of these million devotees can inspire just as many write-ups and books, art, film, many more, to be produced.

How many of the million dreams and supplications of the millions of devotees have been fulfilled/unfulfilled? How has the Santo Niño responded to their dreams and petitions? Have their lives been transformed by their devotion and faith, how?

Some Black Nazarene devotees in Quiapo shared that they were there for their families first and for themselves as well. Stories of healing, of answered prayers, of still unanswered prayers were shared.

What a wealth of narratives can be harvested and shared as well by the Santo Niño devotees, both for the present and future generations!

Many have asked: can the faith and prayers of millions include not only those for personal and family intentions? Can the millions be encouraged and guided to collective prayers for good, honest, sincere governance for our nation, for our cities, for our provinces?

From this Sinulog onwards, can we include unified prayers for our needy millions to have better lives, to be uplifted from their poverty and need because governance is no longer abusive and corrupt?

Shall we claim this from the Lord – “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

During Sinulog, not only are two or more gathered in God’s name, but millions are gathered.

Can the Church and interfaith leaders and followers unite together and pray:

“Viva Santo Niño! Thank You for Your continuing presence, love and care for us all!

“We join all in lifting to You everyone’s personal prayers, petitions, supplications raised to You this Sinulog.

“This time, we urgently elevate to You our concern and our prayers for our nation – especially for the millions of Filipinos whose poverty and need are widening and deepening because of the greed, abuse and corruption of mortals who consider themselves gods who flaunt their ill-gotten wealth and undeserved power and prestige.

“May You touch our needy people, through our Holy Spirit, to realize that You have empowered them to choose genuine public servants, IF they do not sell their votes or allow political dynasties to continue to reign, IF they will elect genuine public servants finally.

“May You lead and enlighten Your Church officials as well to boldly take their stand in convincing the followers to denounce and expose, in words and in deeds, all corruption, abuse, injustice, bad governance and environmental destruction.

“May You release Your divine justice and strike those who have abused and plundered public funds for themselves, depriving millions of Your people their food, jobs, homes, quality education/health and their protected/protective environment.

“Dear Santo Niño, both the needy millions as well as the abusive and corrupt will join in worshipping You during this period.

“Please allow Your Light to overcome the darkness affecting and perpetuated by the arrogant/shameless, abusive few .

“May You defeat the evil forces that influence the abusive, greedy and corrupt.

“Kindly also unite contending forces to go beyond their own agenda, to move together as one, to genuinely advocate for the uplifting of the lives of the needy millions and to fight as a unified, cohesive, solid force vs corruption, abuse, lies, injustice and inequality.

“May You also humble all so that soon, our land will heal, Your glory, truth/goodness, justice and love will reign among all the millions now here in Cebu, those in Quiapo, elsewhere in our country and throughout the world.

“Come, Lord Jesus, come!

“Our dear Santo Niño, all these prayers we raise now to our God the Father through Your intercession, Your name, with our Holy Spirit, amen!”