Ouanos decline token from basilica
It has been customary for officials of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City to hand out tokens and certificates to people who have contributed to the success of the Fiesta Señor.
This year, though, the Ouano family of Mandaue City is not inclined to receive such a token “until some facts and import of the grant are corrected.”
In a letter addressed to basilica rector Fr. Pacifico Nohara Jr., lawyer Rex Jesus Mario Fernandez, spokesperson of the Ouanos, said the family has decided not to accept the token because of some errors of facts relating to the grant.
“First, the service of the Ouano(s) arose from their devotion to the Holy Sto. Niño and their devotion to the Holy Child extends from the time of their grandparents and the parents of their grandparents.
“Their devotion was made manifest only when their father, Ernesto C. Ouano Sr., accepted the task and mission to become the host of the Sto. Niño in His annual fluvial procession 37 long years ago. That is near four decades ago.
“To say that their family hosting of the fluvial procession is only for two decades more is to deflate and diminish, degrade and debase their devotion to the Most Holy Child,” read Fernandez’s letter, a copy of which was furnished to The FREEMAN.
Interestingly, this is the first time the Ouanos are turning down the token and certificate from the Augustinian fathers who run the basilica. Their rejection comes after the Augustinian priests made changes to the Traslacion route this year.
Traditionally, the image of the Holy Child would be paraded from the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City to the Ouano Wharf, where it would be carried by a galleon to Pier 1 in Cebu City before being taken back to the basilica.
This year, the image will be motorcaded instead to the National Shrine of Virgen dela Regla in Lapu-Lapu City, and ushered to the Naval Forces Central in Barangay Looc before it will be ferried to Pier 1.
Fernandez said the family was “insulted” by the sudden changes.
“Considering that you have taken from them without any discussion and without respect of their feelings and situation (of) the hosting of this activity in the honor of the Holy Child, the said statement assaults their family honor and reputation,” the letter read.
“The short notice is likewise disrespectful of their family. We are therefore sorry, if no corrections are taken in your letter to them, to refuse the token and certificate,” it read further.
In a separate interview, basilica secretary Fr. Ric Anthony Reyes confirmed that the letter had reached Nohara, who in turn said he respects the decision of the Ouanos.
Reyes said the decision to implement changes in the religious activities has been agreed upon by the board and the entire Augustinian community.
The letter which the basilica sent to Ernesto “Nene” Ouano Jr. and signed by eight Augustinian priests, including Nohara, read: “January 11, 2018, at the 5:30 a.m. Mass, we are requesting for your family’s presence to accept the said token and certificate… In behalf of the Augustinian Friars of the Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu, we thank you for this opportunity to convey our deepest salutation.”