Pit Senior! Sto. Nino de Cebu visits Velez College
As the celebration of the Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival draws closer and religious and festival preparations brim with it, students and faculties of Velez College busied themselves with the image of Sto. Niño De Cebu’s arrival in the vicinity of the institution last January 9, 2024.
NEWS
Edrian Batiles & Kylle Nicole Bonga
1/14/20242 min read
As the celebration of the Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival draws closer and religious and festival preparations brim with it, students and faculties of Velez College busied themselves with the image of Sto. Niño De Cebu’s arrival in the vicinity of the institution last January 9, 2024. Velezians hurried to find their places at the school chapel in attendance for the Holy Mass offered to the Holy Child Jesus. The venue filled with balloons and flaglets of gold and red welcomed the image with adoration.
Rev. Fr. Raphy Catane, SHF presided over the mass together with Rev. Fr. Nelson G. Zerda, OSA as the concelebrant. The mass attendees raised their voices ecstatically by singing Sto. Niño Gugma Ko and Batobalani sa Gugma with veneration. Their hearts were filled with faith and passion, raising their right hand and waving it gracefully like the wind and ocean that brought the faith in Cebu while singing the chorus of Batobalani sa Gugma. The latter, also known as ‘Gozos’ in its existing Spanish version, when sung is often accompanied with waving the right hand as a genuine act of saying hello to the image and a gesture of getting the attention of the Holy Child to consider their personal intentions.
After the holy mass, dancers put on their outfits with pink, gold, and floral details, preparing themselves for the dance offering to Senior Sto. Niño. Pre-colonial culture and Catholicism entangle with each step and wave of the Sinulog queen, endearingly holding an image of Senior Sto. Niño.
The Holy Hour took over thereafter, conducted by the people from the Admin, CIM, OPD/Business office, and OT departments; they kneeled faithfully and solemnly to honor Mary and her son, the Holy Child Jesus. The Holy Rosary Mysteries left their mouths with their wishes.
With candles in their hands, the devotees held a procession of the image as they continued singing Batobalani sa Gugma. The Sto. Niño visited the Velez Hospital and went to the Arts and Science Building for Velezians to say their goodbyes.
Two altar servers readied the book of prayers, incense boat, and thurible for the final blessing. One last wave of the Batobalani sa Gugma and a send-off dance were offered to the Child Jesus as the attendees bid their goodbyes.
Niño’s visit animated the inspiration, purpose, and meaning behind the song Batobalani sa Gugma— which translates to Magnet of Love in English. The Child Jesus attracted love and adoration from the attendees throughout the event as shown in their presence, praises, offerings, and faithful prayers.
The visit of the Niño may have only lasted a few hours, but the patronizers hold on to their faith with fulfilled prayers and hope for wishes to come true. Within their hearts remained the undying flame of faith, and in their souls the golden blessing of Senior Sto. Niño.
