Legends of the Sto. Niño de Cebu

(Part 10)

Manuel Enriquez dela Calzada originally wrote this in Cebuano, it was translated into English by Martin Abellana. It was published in 1965. It was Consuelo Enriquez Uy, a descendant of the Dela Calzada, who donated copies of the book to the Cebu City Library.

Numerous entries on the legends of the Sto. Niño de Cebu are contained in the book. CEBUpedia is running a series of selected stories in the book, with the hope that the Cebu City government, in coordination with the family of Manuel Enriquez dela Calzada, will reproduce the book so it can be distributed to the public schools in Cebu City.

“While everybody tried to fathom the mystery, as if he had just awakened in his own quarters, Victoriano opened his eyes without in the least being aware of all the people around him, He stood up and, before anybody could think what he would do next, Victoriano saluted the general whom he saw in front of him. Simultaneously he said, ‘Sin novedad, mi General!’ Everybody held their breath. This was not the Victoriano they knew. How clearly and distinctly he pronounced the words!

“The general, suppressing his surprise, asked, ‘How do you feel now, Victoriano?’

“‘Fine, mi General, fine,’ answered Victoriano fluently.

“The general twisted his mustache. ‘Victoriano, your friends want to know what happened to you. Can you tell them anything?’

“‘What happened to me? Nothing happened to me, mi General.’ How distinctly and fluently he spoke! Everybody around commented.

“‘I want you to tell the truth, Victoriano,’ the voice of the general was now grave and dignified. ‘What happened here last night?’

“‘None, tranquilidad, todo tranquilidad, mi General. No hubo novedad.’

“‘If that is the case, then why did you go to the turret? What did you do there? Try hard to remember, Victoriano.’

“Victoriano looked up, a frown appeared on his face, while his eyes winked repeatedly and soon he smiled and said, ‘Now I remember, mi General, I remember clearly what happened last night. Perhaps that was only a dream. Or perhaps it actually happened. I cannot exactly tell.’” (To be continued)