santo nino

Santo Niño, High King!!!

          “In every feast there’s a hidden message and in every message is a gift” Johanna Fe Guevarra.

The Santo Niño of Cebu has always been our protector since time immemorial. He existed even before we are born and was there before the creation of the world. For one of His verses said, “Me and My Father are one. Whoever believes in me will have an eternal life”.

And as one of the follower of Santo Niño, I make my own story of the song “Bato Balani”.

‘Bato Balani sa gugma, sa daan tawo palangga

Kanamo maluoy ka unta nga kanimo nangilaba”

            Jessie was an orphan who lives near the church. Everybody loves him for he has this ability to make someone smile. Everyday he sell sampaguita outside the church so that he can feed the known species in his tummy. One day, he saw a family man driving his car and its way towards him.  Devotees founds out that the man loses its breaks and was speechless when they saw that Jessie was trapped on the front of the car and was dead on the spot.

“Dinhi sa syudad sa Sugbo, ang matahom mong larawan

Sa imong mga misyonero, sa usang balay hipalgan

Kanila ikaw nagpakita, gikan da sa imong gugma”

Due to hemorrhage, Jessie loses its life that instant. All who know him became sad and mourn. Because of conscience, the family man took Jessie’s picture in the morgue and planned to put it where the accident happened. As he put the portrait, he saw something that’s very impossible to happen.

‘‘Giludhan ikaw gisimba, niadtong mga kaparian

Sa tanan nga katawhan, sa punuan nila

Kay sa pagtan-aw kanimo, ulipon sila nahimo”

            The family man saw that Jessie’s image smile. Instead of getting afraid, he shouts for joy because he just can’t imagine his feelings towards the photo. He kneels to the picture and instead of worrying what people say towards him, he shout “Jessie, thank you for your forgiveness.  From now on, I am your servant!” and he kissed the laminated image.

“Ang simbahan gipatindog, niadtong mga tawhanan

Aron ang larawan nimu, dunay usang puluy-anan

Ug didto gihangyo nila nga kaloy-an nimu sila”

The family man offered everything including his wealth, sacrificed his own family for Jessie. Everyday he visits the place where the incident happens. Then he noticed something to Jessie’s photo. When he first saw it, he thought it was nothing but when he take it a closer look, Jessie’s hand were now holding a cross and earth. He just realized that both are what he offered during his funeral. So he built a home where Jessie’s photo will not get too exposed under the heat of the sun and for the people to know about Jessie’s life and mystery.

“Nangayo kami kanimo nga ang matahom mong larawan

Sa sulod sa kalag namo, makahimong puluy-anan

Kay sa tanang kinahanglan, ikaw ang among dalangpan”

All of Jessie’s’ miraculous behaviors were spread. People who believe in him got fine just looking at his face even if their condition was worst. Some wished to have a better life, a stable job, family, salvation of souls, forgiveness, thanks giving and so on. And so people offered the Sinulog Festival because they offer everything to Santo Niño for giving them everything including the pain and happiness.

My First Foreign Interface

“When I first saw you, I never thought that you’d be my friend like what you are right now. I may not be expressive in what I feel but to tell you honestly, you’re one of the best people I share my smiles with”.

                                                        

            Our teacher Mr. Jayson, who is always unpredictable with his decisions of what shall we do next and has full of surprises every time we meet for our class schedule, drop a hot potato in front of us when he announce that we will meet 11 Korean students. Since we’re almost half of their population, so we have to choose a partner. He explains some rules to us to avoid negative feedback to some teachers and one of it was not to shout or cheer when we will meet them in person. Well, I guess sir was right when he warned us because seeing them walking from a distance was like watching Korean actors and actresses in real life; face to face.

            And so we gathered in the oval and Mr. Jayson together with their teacher tell us to take care with them and I am assigned to Mr. Byun-Jae-Hoon. Since they also have their own questions, they asked us first. Their questions are common to us but not to them. Some examples where; what is your name? Who is your mother and what she likes? Actually, I really had a hard time understanding this question because it has another meaning that’s why I don’t answer it. He’s having a hard time reading the questions but he’s doing great when almost everything were answered. And so it was my turn to ask him. Here are some of his answers and my observations about Jay.

Byun-Jae-Hoon, the man I met last January 7, 2012. He’s 24 years old, with one brother who is 18, parents who are both in their 50’s and he lives in Seoul Korea. He loves listening music and love songs in particular. His number one favorite sport is soccer, followed by swimming and singing. To become an engineer is really his dream and it was supported by his family.

Well, he thinks he’s cute when I ask him about what he thinks of himself and it’s a little bit true. His physical attributes explains everything; eyes that says, “Hey, please stop asking me that question because I don’t know what you’re talking about,” or “Excuse me, can you talk slowly?”, so in short, he has eyes that express what he wants to imply. A face that will launch a thousands boats of friends. With a skin almost as white as a snow, (well I guess it’s normal for a Korean citizen to have a complexion like that) and he’s height, just normal for his age.

At first, there’s a little bit of “shyness” or “awkwardness” when we first met but later on, we were already smiling because of his actions when he can’t recognize my questions to him. So I have to ask him slowly until he gets what I mean. He will act like; he looks down, smile and say, “I’m sorry, I don’t know”. But I like him because he’s very honest.

Even though we were given a short period of time to spend time together, asking hanging questions but still it feels like a part of me knows almost half of him. It’s not much but it feels good to have known a person like Jay. So, all in all, my day at that time is kind of unique because it doesn’t follow any routine or schedule, doesn’t track on steps that’s almost boring.