Devotees of the Señor Santo Niño raised their hands in prayer, many holding small images of the Child Jesus, as the carroza carrying the Santo. Niño pass through the junction of Colon Street and Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City during the afternoon solemn procession on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, the eve of Fiesta Señor. Photo by TONEE DESPOJO / Cebu Daily News
CEBU CITY — In solidarity with the poor, the Augustinian fathers of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City will not stage any firework display on the eve of the Fiesta Señor.
Fr. Pacifico “Jun” Nohara, OSA, rector of the centuries-old Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, said they deemed it proper to donate the money intended for the fireworks display to the underprivileged sectors of the community.
“The fireworks were costly. Like we did last year, I think it would be better to forego any fireworks display so that we can use the amount to help our brothers and sisters who are in need,” he said.
In previous years, the Basilica spent at least P130,000 for the fireworks display after the one-hour traditional Sinulog dance at the church’s Pilgrim Center on the eve of the Fiesta Señor.
In 2018, however, the Augustinian fathers—the caretakers of the Basilica and the original image of the Sto. Niño—decided not to hold any firework display and instead donate the money for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City, for the typhoon victims, and for the renovation of a church in Leyte province.
In 2019, they also had the same arrangement.
For this year, Nohara said the money meant for the fireworks display would be used to help the victims of Typhoon “Ursula” in Kinatarcan Island in Santa Fe.
The island is one of the mission stations of the Augustinian community.
Kinatarcan is one of the areas in the province that was badly hit by Ursula last month.