7,000 witness ‘undressing’ of Sto. Niño

AROUND 7,000 devotees attended the traditional “Hubo” mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

The “Hubo” mass, or the annual tradition of the changing of the vestments of the image of the Sto. Niño, signified the end of this year’s Fiesta Señor.

Fr. Nelson Zerda, the rector of the Basilica, led the mass.

During the ceremony, the Basilica’s priests led by Zerda removed the festival garments of the image of Señor Sto. Niño, bathed the image in water laced with perfume, and clothed it with ordinary vestments.

The ceremony symbolizes purification and cleansing to “renew ties with God.”

In his homily, Zerda reminded the public of the importance of giving, which he said leads to unity.

“The theme of the celebration of Hubo mentions primarily the generosity of the Lord. The Lord took off the glory of his Lordship and became a human being, joining us,” he said.

Two Sinulogs

Meanwhile, organizers of the 458th Fiesta Señor urged devotees to preserve the solemnity and essence of commemorating the feast of the Holy Child amid two Sinulog celebrations being organized.

Fr. John Ion Miranda, media liaison of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, said wherever the public chooses to celebrate the feast, be it in Cebu City or in Carmen town, the important thing is to strengthen their faith in the Child Jesus.

Carmen town in Cebu is holding on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, its “Sinulog sa Carmen,” a week after Cebu City’s celebration of the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Festival.

The Sinulog in Carmen will feature 27 contingents, while only 16 contingents joined the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City after eight contingents from Cebu Province and the contingents of the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu withdrew from the competition.

“Wherever we celebrate the Sinulog, it is the manifestation of our faith and devotion to Señor Sto. Niño. We are only urging that all of us will be in unity so that we will always develop our faith in God, especially in the Holy Child,” Miranda told reporters.