Social media, particularly Facebook, is abuzz with reactions to the act of Cebu province’s candidate for Bb. Pilipinas, Miss Joy Dacoron, who wore the Santo Niño vestment for the national costume competition.
The adverse reactions are understandable. Countless Catholics venerate the Holy Child in this country. Some also came to her defense, saying that what she did is no different from children being allowed to wear the Santo Niño attire.
With due respect, let me share my two cents on the matter. The name Santo Niño alone will give us an idea of how Catholic teachings on the subject should be treated. “Santo Niño” is composed of two Spanish words in English, “Holy Child.” By history, we know that it was the Spaniards who brought the image of the country more than 500 years ago. Hence, the name is in Spanish.
The English word “child” has two translations in Spanish. If it refers to a boy, it is “Niño,” and if it relates to a girl, it is “Niña.” “Niño” is used in our discussion because it is a boy. It is referred to as our Lord Jesus Christ.
So comparing it to male children wearing the costume of Santo Niño, during religious activities such as solemn procession, fluvial procession, Sinulog, etc., is farfetched from an adult woman wearing the customer in a beauty pageant outside the sphere of religion. The latter is improper.
On the other hand, Cebu Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo had the impression that Dacoron’s purpose was to shoot with the churches as her background. It did not occur to him that she would use the vestment as a national costume.
In fairness to the candidate and the designer, it is worthwhile to pause and ponder whether they had a wrong motive in doing it. I think that there is none. I don’t think they intended to show contempt or disrespect towards Santo Niño.
The effect of the act, therefore, is unintended. They did not plot it.
In fact, Dacoron, in explaining the act, said on her Instagram account: “When I lost my father to an accident last year, I questioned God: “Ngano man, Lord? The Santo Niño paved the way for me to shed off my doubts and made me realize that everything happens for a reason. In gratitude, I am sharing this faith on the national stage.”
The Augustinian Friars of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu released a statement that directly speaks to the heart of the issue without being inflammatory, part of which says:
“As Cebuano Catholics, the Santo Niño has profound religious and cultural importance to us. Let us approach and treat the Santo Niño with reverence and respect in order to avoid conflict and misunderstanding. As one Catholic community, let the Santo Niño, be our source of peace in our walk of faith.”
And after we all have said our pieces on the issue, let us all go back to the fundamentals of what we are supposed to be as Christians; loving the sick and the poor, fighting for the small and the ordinary, etc.
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ,” Mahatma Gandhi said. What a great reminder.