Sinulog Festival

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Many of those who walked behind the carosa of the Sto. Niño in Saturday’s solemn foot procession in Cebu City or paid homage in the basilica have a story behind their devotion.

Gery Dinoy, 40, credits the Holy Child for turning his vice-filled life around.

Others come to Cebu City in thanksgiving for blessings received – the welfare of a child, good health, peace of mind.

Dinoy was jailed for illegal drug use in 1991 and released two years later.

Today he lives a simple life as caretaker of a family’s home in Cebu City.

He told Cebu Daily News that at a young age, his life was full of uncertainty and that he got involved in vices and petty crime. This eventually landed him in jail for two years.

But it was only when he started his devotion to the Sto. Niño that his life turned a page.

One day, while he was cleaning up his employer’s backyard, he found an image of the Sto. Niño among burned garbage.

Surprisingly, the statue was untouched by the fire.

He said he took the medium-sized image and brought it to his room, where he cleaned it up and took care of it.

Dinoy said he felt he owed it to the Holy Child for what he had done in the past. He once stole his family’s image of the Sto. Niño and sold it to fund his vices.

Since the discovery of the icon, Dinoy said he has kept the image in his room.

Over the years, said Dinoy, he has strived to change his ways and lean on the mercy of God.

But it was not until 2000 when he was able to shed off all his vices and make it a point to attend Mass every Sunday, he said.

He said he has come to love the Sto. Niño because the Holy Child has provided for his needs, among them renewed health after his body was weakened by vices.

“Nag-ampo ko nga tagaan ko niya og kaisog, kadasig, maayong panglawas, og permanente nga trabaho (I prayed for strength, inspiration, good health, and a permanent job),” Dinoy said.

He got all of it.

Now, he prays to the Sto. Niño to also help those who, like him years before, have gone astray.
“Ga-ampo ko alang niadtong naa sa kangitgnit, nga ilayo unta sila sa Ginoo sa dili maayo og taggan sila og kadasig sa kinabuhi (I pray for those who live in darkness, that God would keep them away from bad things and inspire their lives),” he said.

Dinoy, who is single, said living in God’s embrace has given him true joy.

“Nindot kaayo ang kahayag. Malinaw, malipayon kaayo ko bisan wala nakoy pamilya (The light is wonderful. It’s so bright and I’m happy even though I no longer have a family),” Dinoy said.

His parents passed away in 1989 and 2004.

Dionisia Chavez, 31, of Davao City travelled to Cebu City to pay homage to the Child-king.

She said she came to know about the Sto. Niño de Cebu when she visited the city for a seminar in 2006.

Chavez, who used to be a domestic helper, said she promised to come back to Cebu because her prayers were answered by the Holy Child.

The woman had lost her baby three days after she gave birth.

Today she said she prays that the Sto. Niño would grant her good health and work.

Sometimes the devotion to Cebu’s patron is as simple as a long-running love.

Lourdes Arcilla, 72, said she has been in love with the Sto. Niño since she was 31.

She said she promised the Holy Child that she would attend His feast day every year.

Considering her age, she even attends even if no one accompanies her, she said.

Arcilla, a single woman who lives with her cousin in Talamban, Cebu City, said sometimes she couldn’t go to feast day activities because she had no money for jeepney fare. This year she made sure she would be present.

She said the Sto. Niño was responsible for healing her of illnesses. She said the Holy Child would always be there to help his children.