This comes as a sort of redundant celebration since two weeks ago, the Philippines just ended the longest Christmas celebration the world over. Epiphany is celebrated on the 6th of January in Spain, while here, we hold the feast on the first Sunday of January. In the west, gift-giving is not during Christmas day but on the feast of the Three Kings. This is in recollection of the Magi who gifted the Holy Child with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
So after Christmas, we honor the Black Nazarene (every 9th of January), then we have the feast honoring the Sto. Nino. No, no, no! It's not Christmas all over again... Unlike Christmas, we do not honor the birth of Christ. What we honor is the historical act when the first Spanish explorers arrived in our shores and gifted Rajah Humabon's wife an image of the Holy Infant Jesus. The chief's wife was supposedly so taken by the beauty and vulnerability of the image, she allowed herself to be converted into Catholicism.
Since then, she took on the name Dona Juana. She also convinced the local folk to be converted as well. Thus started the long tradition of venerating the Christ child in Cebu. From there, the practice took on a life of its own. The veneration of the Holy Infant Jesus caught on in other areas like Aklan, Tondo and Pandacan. This is the reason why Pinoys paint their faces with soot and don loincloths and huge headdresses... drink themselves silly... and scream "Pit Senyor!" (Cebu) or "Hala Bira!" (Manila) and "Viva, Senyor!!! (Aklan). It's a re-enactment of their mass conversion, no less!
Those who can afford it fly off to Cebu and Aklan... I was stuck here (does that tell you something?) so I went to Tondo. Of course, I heard Mass in Quiapo first then after a zesty brunch in New Toho Restaurant in Dasmarinas Street. Mother June REcto and I then proceeded to Divisoria where we walked to the Basilica in Tondo. Incidentally, on our way back from Church, we passed the Plaza La Liga Filipina which has a monument to commemorate the loose aggrupation of Filipino learned elite who were fighting for representation in the Spanish Cortez.
It was packed with people! Men, women and children were in and outside of the church brandishing all sorts of Nino images of all sizes and accoutrements. Some priests find it offensive to dress the Child Jesus in less than royal clothing. Some do get out of hand, really and I see their point. Who wants to venerate a Sto. Nino de Karaoke? Anyone? and what petition do they ask for? To win a karaoke sing-along contest? Ridiculous!!!
Nonetheless, the church was packed with devotees... The interiors of the church were refurbished with flat-screen monitors. More for the congregation to actively take part in the Mass. As we stepped out, the congregation with images had them blessed with Holy Water from lay ministers who were randomly sprinkling it at the brandished images....
By the time we got back to June's house, it was already two o'clock p.m.
