For donning vestment of Santo Niño: Pageant bet draws flak

CEBU, Philippines — Inappropriate but not sacrilegious.

This is how an Archdiocese of Cebu official described the use of Santo Niño vestment by a candidate in the Binibining Pilipinas 2023 Pageant. Mary Joy Dacoron, representative of Cebu Province, has been bashed on social media after triggering religious sensitivities with her donning a Santo Niño-inspired gown as her national costume in the competition.

Her official photo which Bb. Pilipinas posted on its Facebook page made the rounds online.     

Father Japhet Geonzon, vice chairman of the Commission on Worship of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said it was inappropriate to use a religious vestment outside of its context.

“The religious vestment is not intended for pageantry and for anything outside sa iyang context,” Geonzon told The Freeman.

However, Dacoron’s dressing up as Santo Niño in the national beauty contest could not be considered a sacrilege.

“Dili siya sacrilege kay ang iyang costume nag-depict raman, she was not wearing exactly the vestment nga blessed… If ang sanina sa usa ka santo gisuot sa pageantry or outside any religious activity mao na siyay sacrilege,” Geonzon explained.

The Archdiocese official said that Dacoron and her team may have the purest intentions albeit mishandled.

“Kung maghisgot ta’g bisti sa Sto. Nino sa religious nga side… It was mishandled. There is a proper place and time for it…. And vestment sa Sto. Nino is for religious purposes… We are talking of propriety kung asa siya haom… Siguro ilang intention is good, but not properly handled,” Geonzon stressed.

According to him, there are a lot of ways that a pageant candidate can depict the uniqueness of Cebu other than the use of the vestment of Santo Niño.

For the chairman of the Commission on the Laity of the Archdiocese of Cebu, Fe Barino, respect of culture and religion should be considered while trying to be creative.

“Ang creativity kinahanglan ubanan sab unta og lamdag gikan sa Espiritu Santo aron mogawas ang tinood nga beauty of God's creation...Kinahanglan ang pag respeto sa kultura ug religion,” Barino said.

On the argument that Dacoron’s use of Santo Niño vestment is no different to Sagala during Flores de Mayo, Geonzon said the latter is acceptable because it falls within the context of religion. This is also the same in Sinulog, Christmas and other religious activities.

Bishop Ruben Labajo, auxiliary bishop of Cebu, said Dacoron asked permission to have a pictorial with some of Cebu’s churches as background. But Labajo said the Bb. Pilipinas candidate did not ask permission to use Santo Niño vestment as her national costume.

“Ang pananghid ni Joy nga magpa Kodak (picture) siya diin ang background mao ang mga simbahan dinhi sa Sugbo. Wala koy idea nga i-promote diay ang vestment ni Sto. Niño as national costume, ug labaw nang wala kahibaw ang mga kapariang Agustino ana. Mao nga diha ra na siya sa gawas nagpa kodak, dili sulod sa Basilica,” said Labajo.

According to Labajo, Dacoron and her team paid him and Father Roland Angel Anthony Torres a visit since she is from Balamban town.

“Si Joy taga Balamban man gud mao nga niduol diri namo ni Padre Tata…pero si Joy lang ug ang iyang manager mao lang ang patubagon kon nganong kana gyud,” Labajo said.

The Augustinian friars of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino also issued an official statement yesterday in relation to the controversial costume stressing the propriety of one’s action.

“The devotion to the Holy Child, Señor Santo Niño de Cebu, is one of the most popular devotions in the Philippines. As an expression of the people’s faith to the Child Jesus, devotees would visit the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu specifically the Sto. Niño Marble Chapel, attend the Friday novena masses, offer prayers and intentions through lighting of candles, pa-Sinug, singing and dancing Sinulog, while others dress their children as Niños during the Fiesta Señor celebration every January,” read part of the statement.

According to the Augustinian friars, wearing of Sto. Niño vestment to children is one of the expressions of faith by parents in order to help them understand and grow their faith to the Child Jesus considering that children are the direct manifestations of the Holy Child.

“Despite the many expressions of faith and devotion towards the Sto. Niño, it is also important to keep in mind the appropriateness of our actions. As Cebuano Catholics, the Sto. Niño has a profound religious and cultural importance to us. Let us approach and treat the Sto. Niño with reverence and respect in order to avoid conflict and misunderstanding.”

The Bb. Pilipinas 2023 coronation night is set on May 28 at the Araneta Coliseum where Dacoron will be competing against 39 other candidates vying for the title. - with Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon and Rowena Capistrano, FPL (FREEMAN)