Veneration and blessing

Devotees of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu, or the Holy Child Jesus of Cebu, come in droves for the feast day of the Divine protector of the Philippines that is celebrated in January.

This year, Frs. Naring de la Cruz, Gigi Caraig, and Bonsoy Erexima, with the Manaloto sisters, Manay, Eding Reyes and Mension, Elsie Hinlo and Excuse Moi were invited to Cebu for the occasion.

We went to the Our Lady of Rule Church and the Basilica Minore de Sto. Niño to hear Mass. The basilica was built on the place where the image, venerated by Filipinos through the centuries had been found.

We stayed at the 10th floor of Keppel Condominium, courtesy of Ramon Manaloto that had a view of Cebu City.

In Negros Occidental, thousands of Catholics in the cities of Kabankalan, Cadiz and Bacolod also flocked to churches during the feast. Among the devotees are Lina Manaloto Lim, Roseller Ciocon, Inday, Mars Locsin, Marrisa Montelibano, Cora Trebol, Willie de Asis and their families and friends.

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Basix celebrated its 14th year by renovating its store at the 2nd level of Robinson's Place in Bacolod City, recently. Ami Lizares, the lady behind it, felt there was need to refurbish the outlet.

The store, which has Nikki Dabao, daughter of Malen Dabao, as image model, was renovated in baby pink and bleached white laminated wall panels designed by Dindin Coscolluela.

Msgr. GG Gaston officiated at the blessing.*

Remember: "Great is your gladness and rich your reward when you make life's purpose the choice of the Lord."