CEBU CITY – Treat the Sto. Niño with reverence and respect.
DACORON'S controversial costume at Bb. Pilipinas. (FB)
The Augustinian Friars of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu made this call following the controversial wearing of the Sto. Niño vestment of Cebu province’s candidate for Bb. Pilipinas.
The pageant's Facebook page was flooded with negative comments after it posted a photo of Cebu’s Bb. Pilipinas bet Joy Dacoron clad in Sto. Niño vestment for its national costume competition.
Dacoron also wore a red cape, crown, scepter, and a globe, which are also seen in the images of the Sto. Niño de Cebu.
In her Instagram account, Dacoron explained that wearing the Sto. Niño costume symbolizes her faith in the Holy Child.
"When I lost my father to an accident last year, I questioned God: "Ngano man, Lord (Why Lord?). The Sto. Niño paved the way for me to shed off my doubts and made me realize that everything happens for a reason. In gratitude, I am sharing this faith on the national stage,” she said.
"Thus, with pride and deep respect for our heritage, I wear this costume that signifies faith and gratefulness. Viva Pit Senyor!" she added.
According to Dacoron, she was permitted by the Archdiocese of Cebu for the shoot, a claim that Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo denied.
Labajo said what was asked to feature was the churches as background.
"I have no idea that they will promote the vestments of the Holy Child as national costume, and especially the Augustinian priests also do not know about it," Labajo said in a statement.
The Augustinian Friars for their part admitted that wearing of Sto. Niño vestment is an expression of faith.
“The devotion to the Holy Child, Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu, is one of the most popular devotions in the Philippines. As an expression of the people’s faith in the Child Jesus, devotees would visit the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu, specifically the Sto. Niño Marble Chapel, attend the Friday novena masses, offer prayers and intentions through lighting of candles, pa-Sinug, singing and dancing Sinulog, while others dress their children as Niños during the Fiesta Señor celebration every January,” the Augustinian Friars said in a statement.
“The wearing of Sto. Niño vestment to children is one of the expressions of faith by parents in order to help them understand and grow their faith in the Child Jesus. Children are the direct manifestations of the Holy Child – special blessings that hold the family together. For parents as the first teachers of faith, it is part of their duty to let their children be closer to Jesus,” they added.
The Augustinian Friars, however, reminded that “it is also important to keep in mind the appropriateness of our actions.”
“As Cebuano Catholics, the Sto. Niño has a profound religious and cultural importance to us. Let us approach and treat the Sto. Niño with reverence and respect in order to avoid conflict and misunderstanding. As one Catholic community, let the Sto. Niño be our source of peace in our walk of faith,” the Augustinian Friars said.