Pinoys' faith in Santo Niño moves Augustinian leader

CEBU, Philippines - The deep devotion of Cebuanos to the Santo Niño de Cebu and the warm welcome of Filipino Augustinians continue to impress the worldwide leader of the Augustinian Order.

"Coming here in the Philippines is always a joy for me," said Rev. Fr. Alejandro Anton Moral, prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine, as translated by his interpreter Fr. Nestor Bandalan Jr., OSA.

The 60-year-old Moral of Spain is the prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine.

He came to Cebu for third time primarily to grace the closing ceremony of the 450th anniversary on the finding of the wooden image of the Child Jesus last April 28.

Despite his recent operation, he extended his stay for the quadrennial gathering of the heads and representatives of the Filipino Augustinian clergy this week.

"He was surprised with our devotion especially the gentleness and the joy that he feels whenever he sees the devotees of Cebu… In the presence of God through the image of the Child Jesus, it helps the people to receive the grace of the love of God," Bandalan said.

Moral shared that he had the opportunity to view the original image of Santo Niño de Cebu.

"When he found the image of the Child Jesus, he had the sense of interior silence of having that joy of seeing the Child Jesus but it was more of a personal experience," Bandalan said.

Bandalan said Moral believes the virtues of respect, joy, and humility of Augustinians are reflections of the values shared by Filipinos.

Closely tied to the 450th anniversary of "Kaplag" is the 450th year of the Augustinian presence in the Philippines. The Augustinians are recognized historically as the first Christian missionaries to reach the country.

In 1565, the first five Augustinian friars arrived along with Miguel López de Legazpi.

In the same year, one of the soldiers named Juan de Camús discovered the wooden image of the Child Jesus that was given by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan to the local queen of Cebu in 1521. This event in history has been commemorated annually and is known to the locals as "kaplag," or discovery.

Moral said the presence of the Augustinians in the country is a "gift of God."

"The Filipino people are a gift to the Augustinians, for us, and the Augustinians are the gift to the people," Bandalan quoted Moral as saying.  (FREEMAN)