NATIONAL TREASURE. This January 2019 photo shows the facade of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu in Cebu City. Declaration of the Minor Basilica as "National Cultural Treasure" will be done on April 14, 2021 as part of the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. (PNA file photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – Augustinian friars here are closely working with the Archdiocese of Cebu and national government in preparation for four big events that will be held as part of the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.
The “big day” will have the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu as main venue on April 14.
These events include a concelebrated mass to be presided by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, and the reenactment of the first baptism, and giving of the image of the Sto. Niño to the first Christians in Cebu, 500 years ago.
The Sto. Niño image is the oldest Roman Catholic religious relic in the country. It was given as gift to Queen Juana, wife of Rajah Humabon, by Ferdinand Magellan after their baptism on April 14, 1521.
Meanwhile, the declaration of the historical Minor Basilica as “National Cultural Treasure” by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) will also be done on April 14.
Under Republic Act 10066, the National Heritage Act of 2009, a national cultural treasure refers “to a unique cultural property found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation, and officially declared as such by pertinent cultural agency”.
The activities on April 14 will be aired live via social media platforms to support the government's effort to curb contagion of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Fr. Aladdin Luzon, an Augustinian friar at the Basilica, said in a radio interview on Wednesday that their community has been collaborating with the local church officials to make the big events available to devotees who could not physically participate in the celebration.
“We will have live telecast for the entire event this April 14… This is not solely an Augustinian event. This is an event of the whole Filipino Christian community,” Luzon said.
He said despite the limited church capacity due allowed by government to avoid spread of Covid-19, people around the world can still participate, although virtually. (PNA)
