Pit Señor!

I would like to greet my fellow Cebuanos "Pit Señor" and I join you in prayers during this feast of the Santo Niño de Cebu. As I always tell my American friends here in the US, we Cebuanos have the longest Christmas season, not just in the Philippines, but probably in the world, as we stretch out our Christmas season up to the third Sunday of January for our feast day. The whole of Cebu prides itself not just in the pomp and pageantry but more significantly, in the total and utmost devotion to the Holy Child.

Our faith has made us stronger in the face of the challenges and difficulties of the pandemic, calamities, financial insecurities, and social and political changes. We each have our own personal stories to share on why and how we established our relationship with the Santo Niño. I remember when I was still a young child, my grandmother used to take me to the Basilica on Fridays and a group of women selling candles and novenas would pin my shirt with "agnus" and my poor grandmother would end up paying for it. Returning it was considered a bad sign. And of course, the long line of devotees patiently waiting for their turn to venerate the image while a sea of lighted candles on the side aisle illuminates the hopes and prayers of the faithful.

As a young attorney then working at the Cebu City Attorney's Office, the basilica was a refuge after a stressful day and just gazing at the Santo Niño confiding and pouring out all your troubles seemed like talking to a friend. Even here in the US, whenever I see a video of the novena Masses or the faithful singing the Gozos I’m always reminded of those memories and homesickness starts to afflict me.

I am not alone feeling the melancholy. I know a lot of Cebuanos here in the US who could not go home to Cebu, yet still find a way to celebrate. Filipino communities in various parts of the US hold their own activities in observance of this feast day. Our devotion and love for our hometown bind us together and make us feel connected to the present celebrations happening right now in Cebu.

About three years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I requested a good friend of mine, a very well-known artist in Cebu, Mr. Jojo Gubalane, to paint what I thought was the best representation of our unique Cebuano devotion. We agreed to name the painting “Sagrada Familia de Cebu”. It depicts our Santo Niño, flanked by St. Joseph of Mandaue and the Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu. It is laden with obvious representations of Cebu and subtle details that only a gifted and masterful artist like Jojo can execute.

May our devotion to the Santo Niño de Cebu continue to flourish not just in our time but for many generations to come.

Kanatong tanan, Pit Señor!