via Sunstar/Yahoo, 16 April 2021: A religious community in the Philippines rebuffs attempts to declare a sacred image as a National Cultural Treasure.
THE Augustinian community of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño (BMSN) de Cebu cited custodianship and religious value as the main reasons why they chose not to allow yet the blessed image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu to be declared a National Cultural Treasure (NCT) by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) this year.
In an online media conference on Friday afternoon, April 16, 2021, Fr. Ric Anthony Reyes, official spokesperson of the BMSN, told Cebu reporters that during the time they were invited to sit and negotiate with the NMP, they also had to reflect upon and discuss if there is a need to make the blessed image of the Child Jesus as NCT.
“First and foremost, the Augustinians would like to make them understand that the image is more than just a cultural treasure because it is a religious icon,” he said.
Source: Augustinians want to keep custody of Sto. Niño image
