Talking Santo Nino, Taxi, and Mactan Airport at Cebu City

It was a breather hearing the news about the “Talking Sto. Niño” lately discovered by three children at Mactan, Cebu.  Not sure what’s your take on this phenomenon.  This must have been another attempt to drum up the latest festive Sinulog celebrated at Cebu and all over.  Probably too cover-up taking the country hostage by different calamities and scandal happening the country. 
If true what a development given the set backs the country suffered lately from Bohol and Cebu earthquake,  Zamboanga City siege,  Yolanda devastation of Samar and Leyte bringing into the sidelines political circus involving  PDAF, DAP, SARO and all graft and corruption related cases.

Unfortunately, the Archdiocese is still undergoing an investigation to look into the bottom line of the incident. The catch however is, faithful has  already been trooping the chapel housing the Sto. Niño with makeshift shanties all over.  I could see what follows after this incident.  Selling religious items like candles, hats, handkerchief, towel and maybe Sto. Niño replica would be up for display. How fast the folk belief draw people wanting to be healed, blessed or just visiting there even without waiting the result of a confirmation from an investigation is of course suspect.  I know Archbishop Jose Palma could not just allow such unconfirmed talking Sto. Niño taking the faithful by storm  making their  day without the imprimatur of the incident.  In fact ABS-CBN news by Rico Lastimosa ended with a categorical “No it was not true!” taking the word of the children retracting that it was all hoax.  Who knows hungry stomachs made possible false revelation by concerned children.

     The apparition of Virgin Mary at Fatima to Bernadette, Lucia and a boy was only made official until exhaustive investigation about the incident interpreting the trance when the three children were allegedly listening and talking to Mama Mary and all that.  Well, I am not surprised on the incident at Cebu given the culture pervading among Cebuanos. The obvious difference however is this time it’s the children doing the antics, this if the phenomenon is not validated.

     When would this hoax end?  No one ever know.  What this story suggests is that Filipinos are that gullible people that any slightest incident involving spiritual phenomenon, they are ready accepting it as gospel truth hook, line and sinker even in the absence approval of the Church authority.  How many similar incidents Filipinos have been treated feeding on their religiosity.  Remember the crying image, or icon crying with blood not actually learning that a con guy must have tampered a portion of the head and put there salt, blood and all that.  Or what about dead bodies didn’t decay because of probably medical treatment poured into them before they were sealed in a coffin many decades past?  Too many highly contestable phenomenon indeed but were patronized by innocent nominal or  occasional Christian believers.

     Whatever happened to Cebu progressing and yet retaining their prized heritage trapping you in a fix culture.  Take taxi to Mactan Airport and you would be treated to a joyride around the city until that driver secured  his boundary fee before you would be dropped to your destination.  Not surprising for this perpetual modus.  That happened to a passenger ranting to me at Mactan Airport sharing that familiar anecdote.  To secure your hard end money, better ride a PUJ.

     But here is the funniest anecdote.  Are you a musician?  Better leave your guitar home or be ready of paying separate fare for its safety.  Not sure who’s fooling whom but plane bound for Manila are not demanding additional charge of your instrument although the law is applicable  to all. Those bound for Cagayan de Oro City bear the burden of paying the prohibitive add-on charge incidentally even if you can hand carry it. Reason, carrier like PAL, Cebu Pacific are maybe losing their operation that they practically charged to the passengers even manageable instrument as guitar.

     Cebu as your tourist destination? Better go to other places.  Your day might be another bad trip as you are always caught in an ordeal treating you to a nightmare instead of  dream making and fulfilling your day.

            (30^th Entry – My 500 Words Daily Challenge. January 30, 2012)