Señor Sto. Niño's fiesta takes on a new look this year. This is because, in addition to the pandemic, Cebu has been severely impacted by the recent typhoon. Because the organizers and faithful must first deal with the inconveniences of lack or having no food, water, electricity, internet connection, and other necessities, initial plans are likely to have some little and large revisions. Even yet, the faithful continued to celebrate, mostly giving gratitude to the miraculous Child for another year of life, reminding them that despite the many tribulations, life is still worth celebrating.
In major Cebu churches like the Saint Joseph Shrine in Mandaue City and the Virgen de la Regla Shrine in Lapu-lapu City, the traditional practice of dropping by for a night was no longer practiced; however, thousands of devotees flocked to the major streets of the cities of Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue and Lapu-lapu, including Cordova, waited for the Grand Mobile Procession of the Holy Child Jesus’ image which indeed has shown their ardent devotion. It was a manifestation, a great translation of one’s unwavering faith, and a symbol of optimism that things will turn out better.
The celebration's trappings were no longer the main focus of the event; instead, it was all about the faith. When we are in dire need of something, this is without a doubt the ultimate embodiment of finding our way to the appropriate spiritual path. This is, without a doubt, a concerted attempt to assist others in their recovery, whether it's physically, financially, socially, or morally. In order to start a new life, we need another chance to recover.
While we are pushed to our limits, faith keeps us hopeful. We are motivated and inspired to keep doing what we are doing because of hope. Surrendering or giving up will never be an option if we hang on to what we believe that will give us strength. Strength that runs through a tiny line connecting us to higher dimension, to spiritual existence.
Faith is a lot more than just a belief that we have. Our acts, our way of life, are a reflection of our faith. If we trust and believe in Jesus Christ, we can be inspired to follow His perfect example. We can be inspired by the power of faith to do good things, keep the commandments, admit our mistakes and repent.
In order to overcome misfortune, we can rely on our faith. Our life will be transformed by the Lord if we believe. Through trust in Jesus Christ's atonement, we can be healed both spiritually and physically. When faced with misfortune, faith can give us the strength to endure and overcome our obstacles. We can find peace and hope in the Savior even when the future appears to be uncertain.
In the eyes of our brothers and sisters who have been left homeless and without a source of income as a result of the recent storm, faith shines through. In the eyes of those who are still struggling as a result of the pandemic, faith is seen and felt. Children who have lost parents or loved ones have faith in their eyes.
Our efforts will bear fruit in the long run. It will, indeed, be a tree of hope that will bear fruit in the form of long-term happiness. The fruit of our efforts will be to build our relationships with others in our hearts as well as our spirituality with our Almighty Creator, with great devotion, conviction and hope.