Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Exhibit celebrates different devotees’ versions of Child
SANTO Niño images now on exhibit at the Basilica del Sto. Niño show there’s an aspect of the Child for everybody, said Louie Nacorda, chairman of the exhibits committee.
There’s one for policemen, security guards, students and even journalists, depending on who believe in the Child Jesus.
“The Santo Niño is now a religion of the people and it is good for as long as this will not end up in idolatry,” said Nacorda during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Hotel yesterday.
He said the first-ever exhibit of Santo Niño images at the Basilica Museum was conceptualized by its curator, Fr. Domingo Besares.
“We have a problem with artifacts. Documentation is important. Any Tom, Dick and Harry can say that’s an old image,” Nacorda said.
The Santo Niño de Cebu image was brought here by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 as a gift to King Humabon and was first toured around the then native village in 1565.
Other places now have their own version of the image, like the Santo Niño de Tondo in Manila; the Santo Niño de Malolos in Bulacan; the Santo Niño de Pandacan in Manila; the Santo Niño de Tarnate in Cavite; the Santo Niño de Pasion; the Santo Niño de Tacloban in Leyte; and many others.
“Some Cebuanos don’t know that there are several versions of Santo Niño images in the country,” Nacorda said, adding that the exhibits can educate the devotees.
Nacorda added that as Fr. Besares wants to show that Sto. Niño de Cebu is the original image, the aim is to gather the artifacts.
“For as long as it does not fall into idolatry, for as long as we check ourselves that these are just images and not the real person and that the real person is found in the blessed sacrament, then it’s okay,” Nacorda said.
For one to be a Santo Niño devotee, Nacorda added, he has to stop being skeptical.
“The problem with some people is that they intellectualize too much,” Nacorda said. (EOB)
