The Wedding

Written by Esther Ho

Photographs by Melissa Chia

   A coronation of a boy and a wedding of two pageant winners meets a Mass. A trip down to San Jose Church in downtown Iloilo reveals an evening of liveliness and sanctity that reflects a lot more than one extraordinary sunset Mass.

San Jose church

THE CORONATION 

“Face Forward!” barked the sergeant, and a dozen navy soldiers in crisp white uniforms snap into position. 

     As do several other little boys scattered across the church pews, their mothers and families carefully adjusting the faux-bejewelled crown and red-and-gold detailed cloak that marks each boy as a Niño in the Santo Niño Ambassador’s entourage. It is the final moments before the coronation of Niño ceremony begins here at the San Jose Church, Iloilo, and a few questions led me to meeting a lady whose son will be crowned Santo Niño Ambassador 2013 - Christine Desacado, whose aunt is the leader of the Cofradia del Santo Niño de Cebu, Iloilo Chapter. 

Interviewing Christine Desacado

     The coronation of the Santo Niño Ambassador is coupled with the reenactment of the wedding of Princess Isabel to Sergeant Calafeta, both held within a Mass. This has been the tradition of the San Jose Church since 1968, Desacado tells me, and the church is expected to have over 2000 people in attendance for this religious-cultural event. Desacado promises an event that is “grand, elegant, alive!” before attending to her son Acy Libero-Desacado. The little Santo Niño Ambassador, aged four, cannot find his crown.

The church slowly fills up

Acy (Santo Niño Ambassador 2013) and the little girl bearing his official sash

     The coronation began at 5.30pm with a march-in by the navy soldiers. The procession began with an introduction and grand entry of the Hermana and Hermano Mayor, organizers, and the priest. Next came the formal introduction of the Santo Niño Ambassador 2012, Master Joel Cambe Jr., who marched beneath the sword salutation of the soldiers to take his throne. After him came the 20 Niños- all boys under 10 years old, dressed in the raiments of Santo Niño- an entourage for this year’s Santo Niño Ambassador.

Some of the boys in the Santo Niño entourage, including Master Joel, Santo Niño Ambassador 2012 (second row, left)

   Then came Acy, the Santo Niño Ambassador 2013. Upon arrival at the altar, the previous ambassador turned over his orb and scepter, a symbolic act of transition from one Santo Niño Ambassador to the next. Acy was then presented the official sash bearing his new title by his parents. Finally, the Santo Niño Ambassador 2012 gave his crown to the priest, who in turn requested that Hermana and Hermano Mayor crown Acy, the Santo Niño Ambassador 2013.

The two Santo Niño Ambassadors

     This tradition, held on the 8th day of the Novena for the Feast of Santo Niño is said to be held in reverence and celebration of Santo Niño coming from Cebu Island as well remembering the devotees’ faith. The grandiose ceremony, holy yet lighthearted in nature (The Santo Niño entourage left everyone smiling fondly) I believe aptly expressed the sanctity and youthful innocence of Santo Niño. The coronation ended with an intercession for protection, guidance and thanksgiving to Santo Niño. 

THE REENACTMENT OF THE WEDDING 

     After a brief homily by San Jose Parish Church Priest Reverend Father Raymund Alcayaga, the festivities continued with the reenactment of the wedding of Princess Isabel and Sergeant Calafata. This wedding, held in Cebu during 1865, marks the beginning of Christianization of the Philippines, and according to the Cofradia, the first wedding of a native Filipino and a foreigner, as well as the first Christian wedding in Asia. It also celebrates the finding of the Santo Niño. 

     The wedding was a burst of life and color, beginning with a procession of Ati dancing into the church to their high-octane percussions. Next came the groom’s entourage, consisting of the Friar, the General, the Chronicler, a Santo Niño figure, flag bearers, soldiers and Sergeant Calafata. At last, Princess Isabel, the beautiful bride walked down the aisle. The couple were happily wed, and both bride and groom had their sashes (Miss Princess Isabel 2013 and Mr. Sergeant Calafata 2013 respectively) pinned on. Next, the General, touted as Ferdinand Magellan and godfather of Sergeant Calafata, presented the figure of Santo Niño to the newlywed couple. Finally, the wedding closed with a reprise of the Ati traditional dance, and normal Mass resumed, beginning with the offertory.

Soldiers march in

Hermana and Hermano Mayor

Here comes the bride

Princess Isabel and Sergeant Calafata are wed by the Spanish Friar

     Upon reflection, I am grateful for the experience of this historical re-enactment. It is, as my Catholic friends tell me, a most bizarre sort of Mass, one they’ve never experienced- part sacred, part performance. However, as a liberal arts student, I’m personally delighted to experience first-hand the traditional annual celebration of a middle ground between the sacred and secular. The pageantry of the young Niños, and the clear effort put into selecting the right people to play these culturally and religiously important roles may appear too secular for the holy solemnity of Mass, but I think to myself: Is that not a reflection of what Santo Niño Himself embodies? Santo Niño is a child, embodying innocence, childlike frivolity; yet He is also God, bearing in his hands the globe of the world and the scepter of kingship rule. To me, this event in San Jose Church has shown me not just the possibility of a middle ground in two supposedly mutually-exclusive things, but also the truly passionate piety and lighthearted nature of the Filipinos.


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Esther is a newly-grad who uses her life as a social experiment: Just how far can a romantic life view take a person? Will the sight of 'Gender Studies' on her resume scare off employers? How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? It's all terribly perplexing...