Christmas is for the children for it is the day Jesus Christ, the redeemer, was born. As part of the Christmas celebration in the town of Pangil, located in the fourth district of Laguna province, is the celebration highlighting the birth of the child Jesus. This event is locally called “OO” wherein the Santo Nino de La O is being danced and sang by the children and mothers carrying their infants.
| Santo Nino De La O |
During the celebration, Santo Nino de La O depicts the child Jesus and He is dressed in gold with red robe. He wears a crown and on his left palm rests a golden sphere. He is hoisted on a wooden pole with a silver circle representing the womb of his mother, Mary.
The “OO” is being celebrated for nine days. It starts from December sixteen and ends on December twenty-four like misa de gallo. It is usually takes place at around four to five in the afternoon at the Navidad dela Virgen Maria church in Pangil, Laguna. At that time, a lot of children will be in the church to partake the dancing and singing of the Santo Nino de La O. Once it is started, the children will sing the “OO” and then the image will be walked through the church’s aisle back and forth followed by the children. Many people believe that “OO” has been derived from the Latin devotional verses that start with “O”, like: “O Maria! O Mater Nostra!”.
It is said that putting up the image during the celebration was a privileged task in which people line up for years. They also said that if the person who will bring the image has sinned, he would find the statue heavy; if not, the statue would be light.
The image was donated by King Carlos III of Spain as a sign of gratitude for the hospitality of the Pangilenos when he stayed and lived in this town of Pangil when he was still a young prince.
During my childhood days, I was also fond of participating in the celebration because of its uniqueness. I only found there that kind activity wherein the image of the child Jesus is being danced and I enjoyed it.
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