Devotees welcome Sto. Niño de Molo
Fr. Tom Delicana (carrying a Sto. Niño
image), parish priest of Molo, and his
assistant Fr. Angelo Colada join the
procession.
The parish of St. Anne Molo district launched its very own Sto. Niño de Molo last Sunday, January 15, coinciding with the feast of the Sto. Niño (child Jesus).
The launching was highlighted by a procession participated by the clergy, led by parish priest Tom Delicana, and devotees who brought along their own Sto. Niño images.
Two Dinagyang tribes from Molo district - Tribu Silak and Tribu Kalubihan - also joined the procession.
The Sto. Niño de Molo which measures about 2 ½ feet tall was actually sponsored by businessman Rolando Layson.
Rolando Layson (extreme right), sponsor
of the Sto. Niño de Molo, with PRO 6
Regional Director Cheif Supt. Doroteo
Reyes II (from row, 4th from right) and the
officers and members of the Knights of
Columbus Molo Council join the
procession.
Layson told The News Today that the idea of making a Sto. Niño image for Molo Church merely came into his mind in a snap. He, however, intimated that he is a firm believer of the Sto. Niño with whom he owes the safe delivery of his youngest daughter's first child.
It came to his mind that for the past three years that the Molo parish celebrate the feast of Sto. Niño, it does not have its own Sto. Niño image.
Children joining the procession bring
small Sto. Niño images.
He then sought Fr. Delicana's blessing about his plan. The priest openly approved it.
Layson then commissioned Carlos Marañon, one of the popular sculptors in Iloilo, to make a wooden Sto. Niño image.
He likewise tapped the services of well-known designer Poly Abastillas to make the dress for the image. The image's crown, on the other hand, was bought in Metro Manila.
Tribu Silak
Fr. Delicana expressed gratefulness to Layson's benevolence in sponsoring the creation of the Sto. Niño de Molo.
He said the image would be displayed in the church altar for all the devotees. There would also be regular novena for the Sto. Niño de Molo.
Also, Fr. Delicana said the procession with the Sto. Niño de Molo would be made a yearly activity.