Sr. Sto. Niño de Kalibo

In the editorial column of Madyaas Pen, Panay’s Reliable Newsweekly, written by Mr. Ernesto T. Solidum, dated June 14, 2013, he asked, “What is the truth about Sto. Niño Festival and Datu Kalantiao?” He started with a very heart-breaking introduction for the Aklanons especially for the Kalibonhons. To quote in verbatim, he stated, “Pres. Ambeth Ocampo of the National Historical Commission six years ago said that based on their exhaustive study, investigation and documentation, the existence of the Barter of Panay and the Kalantiao Code are hoaxes.”

A relative and a neighbour at Rizal Street Kalibo, Aklan, the late Tay Roman A. dela Cruz, who happened to be our local historian and author, of course, came to defend what we used to believe as historic and historical. I could also recall that one of the defenders of our local history at that time was my professor in the College of Law, former Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, Hon. Plaridel Morania. But in their defence, they had no available evidence in their hands. Even the written account about the baptism of the one thousand natives which some Aklanons believe as the origin of the Ati-Atihan festival was put in question.

Now, how are we affected by this historical controversy or controversy about our local history? How are we affected particularly as Kalibonhon? How are we affected also as a Catholic Kalibonhon?

As Kalibonhon, we have lost our contact with our historic past. This culture which we believe we inherited from the past generations, which we maintain in the present and which we shall hand over to the future generation is not true. It is considered a deliberately made-fiction presented as facts. If we follow the National Historical Commission’s discovery and conclusion, it means it is not true that the Barter of Panay is the origin of Kalibo Ati-Atihan. It is fake news!

But as a Catholic Kalibonhon, it does not change anything. Rather, it even boosts our faith. If Kalibo Ati-Atihan did not originate from the Barter of Panay, the direct, natural and logical conclusion is that what we celebrate every third Sunday of January is not a festival but a feast. It is not about the ati but it is all about Jesus, our dear Sto. Niño. It is not just a merry-making and street-dancing, but also a joyful procession because Jesus, our dear Sto. Niño holds our world in His hand. It is not just a cultural heritage because above all, it is a devotion to the Sto. Niño.

This devotion to the Sto. Niño is the origin of our celebration. What is my evidence in saying this? Our devotion to the Sto. Niño is handed to us by our forefathers and foremothers. For my generation and contemporary generations, we used to hear these before: “musyon ma-Sto. Niño kita sa Kalibo and masadsad panaad kita sa Kalibo.” We also heard people shouting, “Viva kay Sr. Sto. Niño!” These are expressions of our devotion to the Sto. Niño. Devotion is a form of worship. It is an expression of faith. Well, this is enough when presented as evidence for those who seek to believe.

Therefore, being a devotion, we should not say our celebration is better than the celebration in Ibajay, in Makato, in Batan, in Altavas, in Malinao and in Naile. Rather, we rejoice that the devotion to our dear Sto. Niño spreads all over our province. Being a devotion, we should not try to compete against the celebration in Cebu or in Iloilo. Rather we rejoice because they too are our co-workers in spreading this devotion to the Sto. Niño. We should not accuse or ask “who copied from whom”, because in Tondo and even outside the Philippines, Aklanons started to share this devotion to the Sto. Niño with the beat of their drums. So we must rejoice because of this development. 

Finally, being a devotion, let us be careful in saying, “this is OUR Sto. Niño". There is now a danger when we put emphasis on the word OUR. Because Sto. Niño is OURS, we tend to celebrate the feast on OUR own way even if it means OUR way is not pleasing to God. Instead of just saying "this is OUR Sto. Niño,"  why not say, "Sto. Niño, let us be Yours". By this, we mean to listen to Sto. Niño telling us WE ARE ALL HIS as He holds our world in the palm of His hand. Because Sto. Niño claims us as His own then we celebrate His feast according to God's way and not on our own way. 

To end, let us rejoice and be merry because Sr. Sto. Niño blesses us!” 

Viva kay Sr. Sto. Niño!