The messages of the Santo Niño to us
It would be a pity to attend the Sinulog and go home without understanding the meaning of it all. I contemplated on what would the Holy Child wants to convey to all Filipinos and those joining the Sinulog celebration. My reflection told me the Santo Niño wants us to receive three messages. First, that this celebration, just like the celebration of life itself, is not just about fun, it is about faith. Second, that despite all the sufferings and wrongs, there is still hope for all of us. And third, when given the choice between hatred and love, between war and love, we should choose love.
The first message should not escape all of us witnessing the Sinulog either on TV, radio, or online. It is a reminder that the Sinulog is not just a pageantry of colors, music, and motion. It is really a renewal of faith, of our trusting belief in the promise of salvation, which was conveyed by the Holy Child. The Filipinos are perhaps the most religious among all Asians. The Sinulog is one of the most popular expressions of Filipino spirituality. The Holy Child wants to remind us all that the Sinulog is not much about street dancing, eating, and drinking. It is about our faith in God who gives us His only begotten son, the Santo Niño.
The second message is that despite poverty, hunger, social injustices, and material want, the Santo Niño gives us a message of hope. We should never surrender to forms of escape like drugs, crimes, sex, alcohol, and other vices. We need to remember that after the darkest hours of the night, there shall always be morning. We should never forget that after the storms, typhoons, and floods, there will always be sunny days. Hope is the message of the Holy Child that shall always keep us moving on, walking forward, and never surrendering to despair.
The third message is the most important; if given the choice between hate or love, we should choose love. If given the choice between going to war or to work for peace, we should choose peace. If choosing between taking revenge or forgiving, we should always forgive. If choosing between telling the truth or to lie or to cheat for money or for malice, choose to be true. The message of the Santo Niño is for us to exercise our judgments to glorify the Father. If we receive, understand, and believe in these three messages, then our Sinulog celebration shall indeed be the best of all. Pit Senyor to all of you dear readers.
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