Actual site of Niño’s finding under debate
Teofilo Rafols stood yesterday morning outside the San Nicholas de Tolentino Parish, patiently waiting for the arrival of the Holy Child’s image from the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.
At 61, he may very well be one of the oldest devotees who woke up early to witness the “Traslacion.”
Rafols remembered what his elders told of him when he was still a sacristan at the parish.
“Gagmay pa mi, aduna’y pari nga nag-ingon nga diri gyud natawo ang Sto. Niño sa San Nicolas tungod kay diri nakit-an ang imahen,” he said, referring to late Fr. Venerando Reynes, who served as parish priest from 1942 to 1965.
The image, according to word of mouth, was found exactly on the same spot where the parish now stands in Barangay Basak-San Nicolas.
Romeo Enriquez, also a sacristan like Rafols, fondly called Reynes as “Fr. Undoy.”
Fr. Undoy would tell them about some pieces of the past, he said.
“Mao among madunggan sa mga karaan nga diri gyud nakaplagan ang imahen sa Sto. Niño. Maka-ingon sila nga ang imahen, found between two rivers,” said the 63year-old Enriquez.
He was referring to the Arrabal River and Guadalupe River.
“Kaplag” or “pagkakaplag,” which means finding, is the annual commemoration of the discovery of the image of Sto. Niño de Cebu.
Historical accounts stated that a Spanish soldier named Juan Camus discovered the image unscathed from a pine box of a burned modest house.
Rev. Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, director on the Committee on Religious Activities, said in an interview yesterday that the parish has been involved in the list of activities for the 450th anniversary of Kaplag since it was considered as the earliest convents where the Augustinian missionaries resided.
The Augustinian community, he added, also regards the significance of the parish as the then San Agustin Church, presently declared Basilica Minore, belonging to the territorial jurisdiction of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish.
Fr. Arnel Dizon, OSA, an Augustinian historian, said as they have dug up evidence, every historical account directs to the Basilica as the original site to which the wooden image was discovered.
“We (historians) look into evidences and all accounts point to the Basilica as the earliest founding place of the image,” he said.
“It has been the belief that the image of Sto. Niño was reportedly found at San Nicholas…a conducted research dated 1970 concluded that there was no archeological evidence to support that it was found in San Nicholas,” he added.
Dizon said all studies and further research had showed that the old settlement where the image was found is at the Basilica.
“There is a documentary evidence of the area that would suggest that the original founding place of the image is in the Basilica. On the description during the finding of the image, according to the official account of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, there was no nearby water or water source mentioned,” he said further.
Though they could not prevent people from setting their beliefs, Dizon expressed his respect on some claims.
“We cannot stop people and it is part of the continuing discussion regarding the actual site of the finding of the original image,” he said. MANDAUE PREPS UP
Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Police Office, the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue and the Coastguard Mandaue district have beefed up their security measures in preparation for the Traslacion and fluvial procession parade for the 450th Kaplag celebration.
With these events happening in the city, the MCPO is on “red alert status” with 200 police personnel set to be deployed this coming Sunday and Monday to give ensure security of the pilgrims devotees.
Senior Police Officer 4 Lino Baylosis of the MCPO Operations Division said that police personnel will be deployed in Barangay Subangdaku wherein devotees, city officials and church leaders from Mandaue City will meet those from Cebu City at around 10 a.m. on Sunday.
But since there will be no welcome activities in Subangdaku, pilgrims will continue with the procession passing through A.O. del Rosario Street then to the National Shrine of St. Joseph.
Upon arrival at St. Joseph Shrine, Panagtagbo cultural dancers will be presenting performances to be immediately followed by a mass to be officiated by Reverend Father Benjamin Cortes.
Glen Antigua, the assistant chief of operations of TEAM, said although their office will not enforce a rerouting scheme during the Traslacion, he advised motorists not to pass Lopez Jaena Street and M.C. Briones national highway between 9 to 11 p.m. this Sunday so they will not be trapped during the activity.
Pilgrims will be allowed to have vigil at the St. Joseph Shrine.
At 4 a.m. on Monday, a mass will precede the foot procession where the image of the Holy Child will be brought to the Ouano Wharf for the fluvial procession back to Cebu City.
The galleon carrying the pilgrim image will pass by Muelle de Osmeña Wharf in Lapu-Lapu City before it will proceed to Cebu City.
Chief petty officer Roy Enarion, commander of the Coastguard Mandaue district, said that motorboats and other sea vessels must register at the Marina office if they wish to join the fluvial parade so they could be given a special permits. This is also for them to ask the Coastguard to guide them on the placement and load inspection.
Enarion said during the fluvial parade, they will be deploying their sea marshals, special operations units, rescue team and K9 units to ensure the safety of the passengers during the fluvial parade.