The Sinulog procession includes dancing and fiesta in reverence of Santo Nino. Above, a Sinulog participant carrying a copy of the Santo Nino statue.
The festival officially ends on the Friday after the icon’s feast day, and it is marked with the traditional Hubo (Cebuano, “undress”) rite. During a Mass, the basilica’s priests and sacristans ceremoniously and reverently strip the Santo Niño of its festal vestments and regalia.
There is a strict order of divesting the icon: first the crown is removed, followed by the orb and sceptre; then the belt, cape, tunic, inner garments; and finally, the boots. The priest recites a short petition before each removal, which is marked with a festive drum roll. The priest then chants Christe exaudi nos (Latin for “Christ, graciously hear us”).
The priest then raises the icon for veneration, carefully dips it in a basin of scented water four times, and wipes it dry. He then dresses it in a plainer set of robes, and replaces the regalia in reverse order of divesture. Upon replacing each item, he intones a prayer and leads the congregation in singing the refrain of the Laudes Regiæ: Christus Vincit; Christus Regnat; Christus, Christus Imperat (“Christ Conquers; Christ Reigns; Christ Commands”).
The rite is explained as highlighting Christ’s humility, and on the part of the individual believer, it should inspire an internal, spiritual conversion. It was only in 1990 when the Augustinian priests caring for the icon first made the rite public.[22]
CEBU, Philippines —The traditional “hubo” ritual, or the undressing of the Santo Niño image, this Friday is set to cap off the 453rd Fiesta Señor, which is an annual celebration that honors the Holy Child Jesus depicted through the highly-revered and miraculous relic.
Augustinian priest Ric Anthony Reyes, who is the Fiesta Señor 2018 secretary, said the essence of the “hubo” rite indicates that the feast has already ended formally.
“Ang hubo ritual buot nagpasabot nga humana na ang fiesta. Si Niño ilisan ug paliguan. I-ilis ang simple na nga sinina tungod kay humana man ang kapistahan,” he told The FREEMAN yesterday in an interview.
The local Augustinian community, particularly members of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, serves as the custodians of the original wooden image which was a gift from Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to the early natives and chieftain’s wife who were later Christianized.
This historical event stretched back to 1521, which marks the arrival of Christianity in the country that came first through the shores of the Cebu islands.
The image, believed to be miraculous according to several accounts, is now carrying the title Santo Niño which is a representation of the Holy Child Jesus.
Given the significance of the image, the “hubo” ritual is not just a mere re-enactment, said Fr. Reyes.
He said the rite carries a religious importance wherein undressing the image of its royal or kingly vestment means Jesus’ “self-emptying and humility.”
“Gihuboan siya sa iyang harianong sapot tungod kay deep within niya siya nagpakatawo alang kanato,” he explained.
He said the rite also has a cultural touch because dressing and bathing is an act of caring and rearing children, a value of protecting and nourishing them.
Finally, Fr. Reyes said the re-enactment is devotional in a sense as the “hubo” rite is made a part of the vast devotion of the Catholic faithful to the Santo Niño to officially close the grandest festivity in Cebu.
The “hubo” rite commonly takes place five days after the feast, which is celebrated every third Sunday of January.
This year, it is set on January 26 at 4 a.m. in a Mass that will be presided over by Fr. Pacifico Nohara, Jr., the rector and prior of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
After the homily, there will be a rite, accompanied with prayers and dances, of undressing the image of its new vestments and bathing it, then dressing it back with its ordinary vestment.
he “Hubo” ritual, or the undressing of the Sto.
Niño image, takes place five days after the Grand Sinulog Parade held every 3rd
Sunday of January.
Hubo is the Cebuano word for “to undress”. During the mass, priests ceremonially remove the festival garments of the image, bath the image in water laced with perfume, and don the image with ordinary vestments. According to Catholic tradition, the change of garments to less decorated ones symbolizes spiritual change within a person. The order of removal is as follows:
1) crown
2) orb and scepter
3) bands
4) cape
5) tunic
6) inner clothing
7) boots
The bathing of the child Jesus also has significant meaning. When the image undergoes bathing, it symbolizes purification and cleansing to “renew ties with God”. The water used to wash the image is then referred to as “holy water.” However, many devotees try to ascribe the said water with magical and miraculous powers, to the disapproval of priests. According to the clergy, the holy water ought to bring adherents to a spirit of prayer, not heal any ailments and cure diseases automatically.
source: http://amaranthsanctuary.blogspot.com/
The new, ordinary garments are also used to elicit prayer. Every piece of clothing is taken to signify an event of Jesus’ life, and a prayer is recited for it.
Catholic Cebuanos believe that just as the Sinulog festival closes the Christmas season, the Hubo mass also closes the week-long fiesta and opens the Lenten season. In the past, the Hubo ritual was held behind closed doors by Augustinian friars and select women. After the public learned of the closed ritual, the church finally made the ceremony public in 1990. Any church or parish is permitted to hold the ritual if it wishes to.
Be one with the Cebuanos as they celebrate the “HUBO” mass ritual at the Basilica del Sto. Niño, at 4 a.m. on January 22, 2010.
Anvimexy♥ 