STO. NIñO de KALIBO

It is more fun in the Philippines! –This is a new brand campaign of the Department of Tourism to attract visitors to the country. It is said that the new slogan not only invites visitors to see what’s in the Philippines but to join in the fun “and it’s the Filipinos that will make the difference,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said.

This is true today as we celebrate the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo. Foreign and local tourists can see what is in Kalibo and they too can join in the fun. People dance on the street with the non-stop rhythmic and mesmerizing drumbeats and lyre. Many wear their colorful costumes and masks. Some paint their bodies with black ash to look like the Aetas. There is drinking and revelry (noise) to the extent that our celebration is even called the “Filipino Mardis Gras”. There is indeed more fun!

But what difference can our celebration make to the tourists? We have given them the fun they are looking for. We have welcomed them. For sure, they will have a good impression of our celebration and encourage others to experience the fun. But the question is –have they welcomed Sr. Sto. Niño in their hearts? Does the image of Sr. Sto. Niño leave a lasting impression on them? Above all, have they seen our expression of faith?

In celebrating our feast of Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo, we Akeanons have to make a difference. This is our religious feast! We do not need to promote that much to attract visitors which only leads to commercialism and consumerism. Rather, we have to attract them because of the testimony of our faith. Look at the feast of the Most Holy Black Nazarene. The devotion to the Black Nazarene has attracted huge following among the public. Many come from all over Manila to throw towels or handkerchiefs to the people guarding the statue and ask them to rub them on the statue. Why? It is because the testimony of faith of those who receive miracles from God makes the devotion popular and not the media. This is at least what we have to understand in celebrating religiously the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño. This is a religious feast. This is our show. This is our time. But this is not show time. This is a show of faith.

To end, I would like to share to you something about a testimony of faith. I remember in 2004 a teacher who was from Iloilo approached me and asked me if I could be one of the godparents of her baby. I said yes. Then she told me that sometime in January of 2003, she heard me saying in my homily that people who want their wishes be granted by Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo, they have to join the “sadsad” or merrymaking in the street and glorify our Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo. She told me that she followed it. She and her husband joined the “sadsad” that year. After some months, she was happy to find out that she got pregnant. Her child is a gift from Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo, she claimed. This shows my dear friends that it is our body that dances, but our spirit rejoices. Our celebration is a religious feast. And so instead of saying –It is more fun in the Philippines, why not say –There is greater faith in the Philippines. Amen.