'Ang Batang Hari Ng Tondo', dokumentaryo ni Sandra Aguinaldo, ngayong Sabado sa 'I-Witness'

I-Witness: Ang Batang Hari ng Tondo

Host: Sandra Aguinaldo
Airing Date: January 30, 2021

 

May isang batang naghahari sa Tondo.

Sa loob ng 450 taon, nasaksihan niya ang ilang rebolusyon, pagsikat at pagbagsak ng mga pangulo, nakaligtas sa pagbobomba ng giyera, napagtagumpayan ang pagnanakaw at naibalik sa kanyang tahanan.

Ang kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ay tila nakatahi sa kuwento ng Sto. Niño de Tondo. Kaya naman kahit ilang siglo na ang pananatili ng poon sa Pilipinas, tuloy tuloy pa rin ang pagdami ng kanyang deboto.  Tila walang makapipigil sa kanyang hatak na magdebosyon kahit na nasa gitna ng isang pandemyang dala ng Covid-19.   Ngayong Enero sa kapistahan ng Batang Hari, bagama’t maituturing na tahimik ang selebrasyon, marami pa rin ang dinumog ang simbahan para magpasalamat.

Sa loob ng simbahan, matatanaw ang Sto. Niño sa isang pedestal na 20 talampakan ang taas.  Noong manakaw ito nung 1972, pinaniniwalaang nagdulot ito ng matinding pagbaha sa buong Luzon.  Mahigit 300 katao ang namatay.  Makalipas ang ilang araw, nahanap ang nawawalang poon at ang dating First Lady Imelda Marcos pa mismo ang naghatid sa Sto Niño pabalik sa simbahan mula Malacañang. Biglang tumigil daw ang ulan at umaraw nang maipasok ang poon sa simbahan.  Marami ang naniniwalang isa itong milagro.

Si Mark Dave Saan, isang deboto, ang nagbigay ng korona at iba pang mamahaling aksesorya sa Sto. Niño sa taong ito.  Magarbo ang kaniyang regalo –akma para sa isang hari.

Sa isang pambihirang pagkakataon, makikita ng malapitan ang itinuturing na pangalawa sa pinakamatandang “bata” sa Pilipinas—ang Sto. Niño de Tondo.  Ngayong Sabado sa I-Witness, aalamin ni Sandra Aguinaldo ang kanyang naging papel sa kasaysayan ng bayan at ang mga kuwento ng debosyon sa natatanging Batang Hari ng Tondo.

English version

There is a child who is lording it over in Tondo.

For 450 years, He has witnessed revolutions, the rise and fall of leaders, escaped unscathed from the bombing in World War 2, fell victim to theft but was brought home victoriously. 

The country’s history seems to be tied up with the story of the Sto. Niño de Tondo. Several centuries after the image’s arrival to the Philippines, it continues to draw devotees from all walks of life. This January marks the feast of the Child King and although the celebration is much more solemn because of the Covid-19 pandemic, many still trooped to Tondo church to honor their beloved Sto. Niño.

Inside the church, the image can be seen from a pedestal 20 feet high.  In 1972 when the Sto. Niño was stolen from the church, many believe that it has brought tragedy to the whole of Luzon.  More than 300 people died in what is still remembered as one of the worst flooding in the country.  After a few days, the image was recovered and it was returned to the church by then First Lady Imelda Marcos.  As the image entered the church, many claim that the rain suddenly stopped and sun came out. To them, it was a miracle.

Mark Dave Saan, a devotee, is donating the crown and other accessories of the Sto. Niño this year.  His gifts are valuable –fit for a king.  He says, everyday that you are blessed to wake up to a new day, provided with food, is already a huge miracle.

This Saturday, together with Sandra Aguinaldo, get to know the second oldest “child” in the Philippines and his role in this nation’s history.  Listen to the stories of devotees  of the “Batang Hari ng Tondo”, on I-Witness.