A week of Epiphany

The first few weeks of this New Year have been blessed with commemorations of the Lord in His different manifestations after that of His birth in the final week of the past year. This week opened last Sunday with His manifestation, His Epiphany to the world of Gentiles represented by the three wise men, the magi from the East, who followed the Star of Light that led them to Him as a babe in a humble manger. What a truly enlightening Epiphany in our modern world apparently gone so far from that beginning, to revel in what it now proudly celebrates: modern-day achievements purportedly on its own.

Only to be brought to our senses with a continuing reminder of His humility as He submitted Himself to be baptized by John the Baptist. A voice from the heavens proclaimed His true identity to the world. And we awaken to the appalling state of our world gone haywire today with war and injustice and all forms of abuse of self and others.

This week, we are brought back to the commemoration of the Child Jesus in our celebration here in Cebu of the Feast of the Santo Niño. Thanks to broadcast media, particularly TV, I have been able to follow this week’s activities, which I used to participate in and then cover during my long years in radio broadcast.

From which, allow me to share with you a few treasured memories. The fluvial procession of the beloved icon of Señor Sto. Niño tomorrow will remind me again how faithfully our late radio dyLA station manager Cerge Remonde, an avowed Sto. Niño devotee, used to cover it live for radio from the prow of the vessel bearing the enshrined, flower-decked image of the Santo Niño. And how dyLA broadcasters used to cover live for radio all the significant religious events in the week leading up to the Feast Day Pontifical Mass at the Santo Niño basilica.

How, during the Sinulog activities under the directorship of the late Juan “Dodong” Aquino, I used to be one of the judges for one of the aspects of the Sinulog parade, the floats and higantes on stilts, which passed in front of us judges seated on the grandstand. Other judges with me decided on different aspects of the participating contingents. Judges for the actual dance presentations on stage were always respected members of Manila college and university physical education and dance departments, but they were headed by Cebuana Prof. Dolores Suzara of the University of San Carlos.

When the presentations were done later in the evening, I would stay and wait for the final decision on the award-winning contingents to be able to break the news on our station dyRC ahead of the other stations. Memories, memories. Now, at home, I can and will watch proceedings from morning till night as covered live by Cebu TV stations.

I missed the Sinulog season last year because these days were spent in San Diego to attend the wake and interment of my daughter Raquel, who died there on Jan. 2nd last year. I stayed there through the traditional 40 days or kwarenta dias observation.

This week, I remember correcting a young student who, like many media practitioners, call the culminating parade and festivities a mardi gras, which it certainly is not, the way we observe it as a religious, if celebratory activity. The mardi gras is the day before Lent celebrated, as in New Orleans, as a carnival day.

I was also struck by an article by Jose “Dodong” Gullas (of the Gullas family that is especially devoted to the Santo Niño) calling it a Sinug as Cebuanos pronounce it, linguistically dropping the medial “l” in many Cebuano words, but spelling and writing such words correctly with the “l” and pronouncing them so, usually only in formal speech.

The word does refer to the sulog or movement of waves and is originally and traditionally danced, as Gullas cites, with “one step forward and two steps backward” (or is it the other way round?). It is still danced this way by candle vendors at the Basilica del Sto Niño plaza for those who buy their candles and request them to dance while petitioning the St. Niño for their intentions. I have also witnessed Estelita “Titang” Diola, the oldest Sinug dancer once at the Gorordo Museum grounds during Sinulog Week.

I also do hope to see Ben Chua’s collection of Sto. Niño images, as well as the Sto. Niño exhibit at Ayala before it closes next week on the 17th.

And now, congratulations to Talisay City on their 11th Charter Day Anniversary yesterday, Jan. 12th.

Our Women’s Kapihan on dyLA was held Saturday last week, a week earlier than the usual second Saturday of the month due to the Sinulog celebrations this week. The theme, most timely these days, was on Violence against Women and Children. With a reduced attendance of our regular panelists due to pre-Sinulog activities, we still had a most lively and spirited discussion, considering that our panelists were involved in working with women’s and children’s organizations on the barangay level.

We discussed the various forms of violence against women and children: physical, sexual, psychological and economic, most of which have been reported in and by the media. Also, the laws covering all these, the disturbing development in Cebu of cyber pornography, and possible solutions proposed and being acted upon by our women’s organizations.

Let me take up more of this next week, in addition to a couple more of activities I have participated in on this busy, eventful week. Till then, as always, may God continue to bless us one and all!