A fluvial procession, portrayals of history, cultural dances and a Holy Mass were held yesterday to mark the 448th celebration of the rediscovery of the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.
In celebrating the annual event called Kaplag, Msgr. Trinidad Silva reminded the faithful to rediscover Christ in their lives the way the wooden icon was refound over four centuries ago in the site of the present Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, which used to be part of San Nicolas parish.
“The finding of the Sto. Niño should remind us to find God in our lives. We know we could meet Him in our hearts,” said Silva, parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish in Cebu City.
Kaplag which means “finding” in Cebuano, recalls the discovery of the Sto. Niño icon by Spanish soldier Juan Camus on April 28, 1565. He found it in a burned nipa hut after Spanish forces set fire to the village.
Camus was part of the Spanish expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to reclaim the islands after Magellan’s first visit in 1521.
The original image of the Holy Child Jesus is presently placed in a chapel beside the main altar of the basilica in downtown Cebu City.
It is the same icon that explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave as baptismal gift to Queen Juana of Cebu in 1521.
(April 28 used to be the celebration of the feast day of the Sto. Niño until the church moved it to its present date on the third Sunday of January.)
A reenactment of the discovery of the image and a Sinulog offering was made at the basilica yesterday afternoon.
“We wouldn’t have the Sinulog (and Fiesta Señor every January) if there was no Kaplag,” said Silva.
A replica of the Sto. Niño was carried in an early morning fluvial procession from the Ludo wharf to the Pasil fishport.When the image arrived at the pier, Legaspi’s 1565 arrival in Cebu was reenacted. At least four groups later offered Sinulog dances in front of the San Nicolas Church.
The discovery of the Sto. Niño also falls on the day the Cebu Archdiocese was founded.
In line with the Kaplag celebration, 10 Masses will be offered at the basilica today. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol