INQUIRER Global Nation

For this year’s celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño, the faithful were reminded be trusting like a child.

“A child was seen riding a bus and he was asked if he was sure where he was going. The boy answered, ‘Of course I’m sure. The driver of the bus is my father’,” said Fr. Rodolfo Bugna, OSA, in his homily at the first Novena Mass at the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

“We hope to follow the example of a child who is trustful, unlike an grown up who has the tendency not to trust. A child is humble, not like a grown up who has the tendency to be arrogant because of the knowledge he acquires,” said the Agustinian priest.

The basilica rector challenged devotees to properly celebrate the Sto. Niño feast.

“We showed active participation by attending the procession. This is how we show that our faith in Christ is alive,” he said.

He warned, however, that the youth should not be abused in any way because they are gifts from God.

During yesterday’s novena Mass, Fr. Bugna introduced this year’s “Hermano Mayor” Alxander Tullao and “Hermana Mayor” Aida Cruz-Tullao who will take charge of this year’s fiesta celebration. They succeed last year’s couple, engineer Ireneo C. Tabasa and Delia Daclan-Tabasa.

Devotees sang “Bato Balani sa Gugma” and other praise songs during a one-kilometer dawn foot procession from the basilica, through several streets in surrounding blocks, and back to the church.

They carried candles and images of the Holy Child in the procession that kicked off the nine-day series of Masses.