CEBU, Philippines - The Fiesta Señor celebration formally concluded yesterday with a Holy Mass at the Pilgrim Center where hundreds of devotees still flocked despite being held at 4 o’clock in the morning.
“Hubo,” meaning “undress,” is a ritual performed every Friday after the Fiesta Señor where the vestments of the image of the Holy Child are being replaced.
It is also the only time of the year where the original image is shown to the public as most of the time it is kept and well-guarded in a glass case and the ones shown publicly are its closest replicas.
The annual changing of the vestments is done immediately after the reading of the Gospel and the homily.
Following the removal of the old vestments, the image is bathed in scented water and the new vestments worn.
In his homily that preceded the ceremony, Basilica rector Fr. Jonas Mejares named the types of Sto. Niño devotees, including the struggling students, those whose loved ones have departed, the loveless, the aged, and even the pickpocketers which he included in jest.
“Ang tawo adunay kasinatian ug buhi ang iyang pagtoo diha kang Sr. Sto. Niño. Dayag kini sa atong makita nga bisan dili pyesta, puno ug pagalinyahan ang atong basilica ug Pilgrim Center,” Mejares said.
The Boholano priest tasked to shepherd the basilica added that devotees must change the notion that the water where the original image was bathed should be collected as a lucky charm for any endeavor.
“Ang hubo dili aron makabaton kita ug tubig nga bininditahan gikan sa gikaligo sa Niño kun dili, makakita kita og bag-ong kahulugan sa atong pagkabinunyagan,” continued Mejares.
Just like in any special occasion of the church, the “singing priest” offered a song entitled “Lupa.”
Immediately following the “Hubo” ceremony was the traditional Sinulog dance led by Lumad Basakanon and the Sinulog Foundation Inc. of the Cebu City government. — Jessa J. Agua/JMD (FREEMAN)