A ‘miracle' in Suba

IKNEW it. In fact, I've suspected all along. It only took a widow and her neighbor in Barangay Suba, Cebu City to uncover what global pharmaceutical companies have been conspiring for decades, nay, for centuries to conceal.

I'm talking about the cure for arthritis, and Fe Mangubat is giving it away for free.

Her journey began eight years ago when she agreed to take in an orphan turtle. You see, its owner was leaving the country and couldn't take it with her so she had to give it away.

The Mangubats are known to be animal lovers. Fe already had a turtle, so it was no surprise that she would welcome the new addition to her menagerie of pets with open arms.

Over the years, the orphan turtle— let's call it Clarkann, a portmanteau of Clark Kent and Annie since I couldn't figure out if the source of all this fuss is a he or a she unless, of course, it's a transgender and that's another matter—grew up to be a strong, healthy, uhmm, eight-year-old reptile.

Last Monday, Fe and her neighbor were giving Clarkann the rubdown when they made a startling discovery. Startling because, according to Fe, it made the hair on her body stand up.

They found what appeared to be the image of our beloved Señor Sto. Niño, with his hands up in both sides on the shell, prompting Fe to make the sign of the cross.

You think I'm joking? Well, Fe initially thought so, too. That was why she admitted she had mixed emotions, “of both shock and joy,” when she first saw it.

Her daughter immediately took a photo of the image and posted it on Facebook. Of course. I don't know if it had gotten viral but it certainly captured the attention of Sun.Star Cebu staff reporter Justin K. Vestil.

Last Thursday, Justin and Sun. Star Cebu photographer Allan Defensor went to the Mangubat residence on Magsaysay St. to take a look for themselves.

And surely enough, Clarkann bears the mark, and Allan took several photos to prove it.

Fe told Justin that she has been receiving several visitors, including pilgrims, who hope Clarkann would cure them of their ailments.

Some had even asked to bring home samples of the water from Clarkann's white plastic tub. The same water that would, I presume, contain Clarkann's poop and pee.

Fe was more than happy to oblige. “I just give it to them so I can replace the water in my pet's bathing pool,” she told Justin in Cebuano.

A neighbor gave her testimony to the water's healing powers, saying the arthritic pain in her hand disappeared when she rubbed the water on it. I wonder what would have happened if she had an upset stomach.

Anyway, this neighbor, who asked not to be named, and her coterie of friends have been urging Fe to sell the water as a holy item. But Fe put her foot down.

It was a blessing, she said, that Clarkann with the marking on its shell would appear in her house. She wouldn't want to lose that.

However, if she does change her mind, maybe she should wait until a week before the Sinulog. Hundreds of thousands of devotees will be gathering in Cebu to honor the Holy Child. I'm sure some of them will be curious enough to try the “miraculous” water from Clarkann's toilet bowl.

You never know, if word does get out, Fe's house on Magsaysay St. might become a new pilgrimage center.

And if she's not comfortable turning Clarkann into a cash cow, she doesn't have to charge entrance. She can always accept donations.

And I'm sure her neighbors would also want in on her windfall. They can always sell snacks or bottled water for hungry and thirsty pilgrims. Or peddle petition candles in different colors symbolizing different ailments.

I mean, isn't that how it started in Sibonga?