Parishioners of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu blissfully celebrate the annual Sto. Niño festival in honor of the child Jesus. Colorful costumed bands play different lively music, people throwing away candies for the children and loud chants of “Viva Sto. Niño!” graced the festivity. It is the time of the year when people bring their own Sto. Niño images to be blessed in the church and it wouldn’t be such a surprise if most of them have a story behind their devotion like Mrs. Macaria de Guzman.
Mrs. Macaria de Guzman, a 71 year old resident in Guinayang, San Mateo, Rizal, brought her three images of Sto. Niño just like all the other participants in the festival carrying each of their own and as a matter of fact, she was a Niño devotee for so long that she already couldn’t specify when she even started. When asked about her Niño story, she couldn’t help but shed in tears in gratitude to Sto. Niño for what had recently happened to their home, “Nagpapasalamat ako dahil niligtas niya ako.” Their house was devastated by fire in October and to her surprise, the image of Sto. Niño appeared to be untouched by the blazing fire that consumed most of their belongings and even a box containing most of her valued things were safe during the blaze. The incident further strengthened Mrs. Macaria’s faith to the image that despite her old age, she never fails to participate in the Sto. Niño festival, and she even shared that whenever she joins the procession for the festival, all of her body pain apparently fades away.
Mrs. Macaria de Guzman’s devotion story is truly an inspiration for those who are currently spiritually lost and just one of the many untold stories of strong devotion to Sto. Niño on how it helped them from overcoming their life difficulties. Viva! Pit Señor, Santo Niño!
Mariele Aquino
Junior Writer, Website Team, Media Ministry
Mariele R. Aquino is a member and website writer of the NSDA’s Media and Public Information Ministry, an aspiring future medical specialist and currently a STEM senior high school student in the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas. Her principle in life is that genuine success is something achieved through a path and battlefield of dodging a thousand bullets without the course of self-centered desires and conducts for temporary existential accomplishment. As a form of simple youthful religious fervor, Mariele used her skills, talent and dedication in writing to serve her Lord but also to grow not only intellectually but more on spiritually.
