Sinulog Festival

CEBU CITY, Philippines - The prayer of a Sto. Niño devotee has been answered.

A Good Samaritan has offered to shoulder the medical expenses of her grandson who has been suffering from fever after he was bitten by a dog.

The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, called after reading the story of Marina Aranas last Saturday.

The donor offered to shoulder all medical expenses such as the series of vaccinations for anti-rabies for Aranas’ 21-year-old grandson, Eduard.

On Tuesday, Aranas, 69, and Eduard, went to the St. Vincent Hospital in Cebu City where her grandson would undergo treatment.

The donation was an answered prayer from the Holy Child Jesus, Aranas said.

Aranas was among the 15,000 devotees who flocked the National Shrine of Saint Joseph to pay homage to the images of the holy family: Santo Niño, Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, and St. Joseph on Friday.

She walked for three kilometers from her home in Barangay (village) Opao to Barangay Centro just to pray to the Holy Child Jesus who was staying overnight at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph.

She had to walk because she did not have a single centavo in her pocket.

Since she and her husband lost their job as program employees of Mandaue City last year, they had to rely on the food given by their relatives.

Her grandson, who worked as security guard, was also supporting them.

But last week, he fell ill when he was bitten by a dog.

She decided to turn to the Sto. Niño for help.

The donor read her story on Saturday.

He then called up the paper and volunteered to shoulder the anti-rabies vaccines, which would cost about P3,800 each.

Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna also visited Aranas in her house in Villa Mangga, Barangay Opao to ask her how the city could help her.

But, it was Opao barangay Secretary Ralph Mangaron, who informed the Aranas of the anonymous donor's offer.

On Monday, Aranas and her grandson Eduard went to Fortuna's house where they were given fare for their trip to St. Vincent Hospital in Cebu City.