I.The feast of the Sto. Nino is one of the biggest celebrations or feasts, which is unique and only in the Philippines. The Holy See granted it permission to be celebrated every 3rd Sunday of the month of January.
It is celebrated not only in Cebu, which we call “Sinulog”, not only in Iloilo, which we call “Dinagian”, and not only in Aklan which we call “Ati-atihan”, but rather it is celebrated throughout the country.
And also the devotion to Sto. Nino is so popular among Catholic Filipinos that you can see the images of Sto. Nino almost everywhere, in their homes, in their places of work such as in the markets, stores, shops, offices and even in their vehicles such as cars, passenger jeeps, buses and ships.
There are also variations in the size of the images, from the smallest size to the biggest size. Variations in color also, we can find black images and white images.
Sometimes, devotees dressed their images with different cloths (as if like a Barbie doll), such as Sto. Nino in school uniform, in police uniform, doctor’s uniform, battle dress attire, basketball attire. There is Sto. Nino who is farmer, a baker, a fireman etc. all of these only goes to show that the devotion to the Sto. Nino is deeply embedded in the ordinary day to day living of Catholic Filipinos.
II. And there are many reasons why this devotion is so popular among Filipinos, some of these are:
1. This devotion is as old as Christianity in the Philippines, brought by Magellan himself when he arrived in 1521. the image of the child Jesus was later known as Sto. Nino de Cebu.
2. We Filipinos are nation of young people. The population of Filipino young people and children are much larger compared to that of the older Filipinos. And for us, the child Jesus serves us a model and example for the young.
3. For us Filipinos, it is much easier to approached, to ask and to pray to the child Jesus. We believe that children are easier to talk to than with the old ones. Just be kind and a child will give in almost to everything you want.
4. We Filipinos are naturally fond of children. Not only with making children but also with children themselves.
III.Now, what are the qualities that we Filipinos like most in a child?
1. Innocence. Children are sinless, without sin. They are not yet capable of committing any sin, because of the absence of full knowledge, full understanding and comprehension of things and thus they cannot be held liable for any serious wrongdoing such as sin.
2. Capable of loving in return. Children are capable of loving back. Show them love and they will love you. Be kind to them and they will be kind to you.
3. Simplicity and openness. In Philosophy, the brain of a child is likened to an empty tablet, “tabula raza” in Latin. And because it is empty you can write anything in it, and what you write is its content. Kung ano ang sinabi mo, ‘yon na ‘yon para sa kanya. He will believe almost everything you say and almost everything is possible to him. So when you say, “Let’s go to the moon”, he will say “When?” At kung ano ang ipinakita mo, ituro mo, ‘yon na yon parasa kanya. He will imitate or mimic your every action. And even your wrong doing becomes right to him.
IV. In the Gospel, what is the quality of a child that Christ wants us to follow or have? Total trust and total dependence on God. Recognition of our weaknesses, shortcomings and our need for God, that we are indeed in need of God.
That, I think is the significance and importance of our devotion to the Sto. Nino, to recognize our being a child in front of God. It means, recognizing our weaknesses, our shortcomings, our nothingness and our need for God, and to show our total trust and full confidence in his goodness and great love for us.
On this feast therefore, we are invited to discover the child in us and to imitate Jesus in his childlike qualities: innocent, capable of loving in return, simple and open minded, totally trusting and totally dependent on God.
“PIT SENOR!!!”
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