Church Prepares New Show on Niño

After being treated to a music festival and an exhibit, devotees of the Sto. Niño can look forward to a reenactment of Kaplag, the finding of the Sto. Niño de Cebu icon by soldier Juan Camus.

The activity is being planned and prepared by the Augustinian priest of Basilica Del Sto. Niño for April.

In partnership with the University of San Carlos (USC) Sugbuanon Heritage Studies Center , the Basilica will produce an accurate presentation of Kaplag, complete with props and costumes, at the Pilgrim Center on April 28.

Louie Nacorda, of the Sugbuanon Heritage Studies Center, said Fr. Dominador Besares, O.S.A. approached him and his fellows at the center and asked them to present Kaplag to educate the devotees and churchgoers after the procession.

Fr. Besares is head curator of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño Jesus de Cebu Museum.

This year's Kaplag will have the USC's dance troupe and choristers, who will present a dance drama. It will part of the long term preparation for the celebration in 2021 of 500 years of the presence of the original Santo Niño icon.

The presentation is based on research and on the book written by an Augustinian named Gaspar de Augustine.

The production will include, among many others, USC professor Orlando Magno, Ronnie Henry Tan of Panaghoy sa Suba and historian Resil Mojares.

After thanks giving mass yesterday, certificates of appreciation were given to the exhibitors and donors of the exhibits dubbed “Sto. Niño Jesus: From Cebu to the entire Philippines .”

The exhibit aims too identify and introduce the different and iconography of the Sto. Ni ño in the country and abroad.

Fr. Besares announced that around 7,000 devotees visited the museum during the exhibit. Upon requests of schools, the exhibit was extended up to yesterday.

The Order of the Augustinians also plans a Lenten exhibit. Fr. Besares said they are toying with the idea of displaying Jesus from the “crib to the cross,” including an icon of the Sto. Niño de Pasyon. NRC