For Sto. Niño – new clothes, repair work and a makeover

When Sto. Niño images need repaire a new set of clothes, devotees bring them to  stalls outside the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño along D. Jakosalem Street in Cebu City.

Stall holders like Dan and his wife of  Lapu-Lapu City can can give a family’s cherished icon a makeover.

Their  services include repainting, applying varnish, restoring broken parts and dressing up the image of the Child Jesus.

A repair job can cost P500 to P1000 depending on the extent of work needed and and the size of the image.

They also sell new Sto. Niño images and  religious articles such as rosary beads and prayer books.

Dan, who has been in the business for 10 years, said many customers started coming to his stall early this week.

With the start of the novena Massess leading to the Jan. 15 Fiesta Señor, it’s peak season for small tradesmen s like Dan.

His stall is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. but  the increasing demand for repair services has prompted him and his wife  to adjust their schedule.

“Actually, I slept here the whole night since many were coming from the dawn walk,” Dan said in Cebuano.

He was referring to devotees who joined the Walk with Jesus from Fuente Osmena to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino last Jan. 5.

Dan said he expects more customers to come as the  Fiesta Senor and the Sinulog parade  draw near.

In another stall, Aurora Maglasang, 56, of barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, sells clothes that she sews and decorates for the Sto.Nino.

The price of the clothes she makes ranges from P100 to P500, depending on the size of the image.

Maglasang, who has been in the trade  for 30 years, said that she could earn up to P2,000 daily during the peak Sinulog season.

She has many regular patrons or “suki” from as far as Zamboanga, Leyte and even Singapore.

“This suki customer from Singapore is a Filipino. He brings back the image there,” Maglasang added.

Her stall is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday.

Maglasang, who is married and has a child, said her income from selling clothes for  Sto. Nino images had provided for their needs for the past 30 years.

In this year’s Sinulog, her petition is simple.

“I pray for good health for me and my family. I pray also that we can pay our debts,” Maglasang said.

Unlike Dan, Maglasang said she was have slow sales but was optimistic business would pick up once her “suki” arrives this week.