Sinamar ti Namnama ita Paskua ( A Ray of Hope in Christmas )
'Apo Lakay, espalen na kami!' Residents of Ilocos Sur beseech the Senyor Santo Cristo Milagroso de Sinait, or 'Apo Lakay,' for the same miracle that he provided to the province 400 years ago. It was the same prayer their ancestors prayed when a cholera outbreak swept through Vigan in 1882, The next year, Apo Lakay came in Vigan, and a daily novena was organized. The number of cholera deaths progressively decreased. People said that the fatalities ceased on the final day of the novena. And it is at this point that I am reminded of the birth of our Savior. This is the season that we need to give thanks to our Lord, and pray that our recovery from this pandemic would continue. Our Lord and Savior was born in a manger to a mother and a father. His visitors included a shepherd, a few animals, and the three magi. It's a heartfelt reminder of the genuine meaning of the season. This year has been challenging for all of u...