Devotees of dead Christ’s statue express their sides.
DEVOTEES – Lots of devotees of the Dead Christ’s statues attributed the blessings and the miracles that happened in their lives to the image.
Based on a recent feature article in Inquirer, there are lots of “miracles” attributed to the Dead Christ’s statues who are both called Apung Mamacalulu or Lord of Mercy. Lots of believers always visit the churches were the images are.
According to the article, some of the “miracles” that were attributed to the statues are the healing of a man from a kidney problem, the saving of a farmer suspected as Katipunero from being killed by the Spaniards, and the encounter of a woman suffering from breast cancer with a Good Samaritan who funded her operation.
It was between year 1828 and year 1838 that the first statue was built. The second one was made in year 1930. Based on the article, somebody took the older image in year 1928 and it even led to a filing of charges.
The M(–foul word(s) removed–) then were banned for two decades and five years on the churches that kept the images. Despite the issues, Apu did not fail to spark devotions from the people as stated in the article.
According to writer and researcher Nina L.B. Tomen, it was Daniel Dizon, a historian, who chronicled the first miracle that was attributed to the images – the miracle of a farmer who was saved from the Spaniards.
Dizon’s account entailed that the farmer was Roman “Duman” Payumo. He was suspected to be a rebel against Spain which led to his arrest, interrogation, and physical suffering.
Payumo cried out to Apu on the 25th day of October 1897 outside a closed church. He was able to escape from the execution by the Spaniards as he ran from a loosened rope.
The farmer mistakened as rebel fell into a deep “locust trap” that kept him for several days from those who want to execute him.
Based on the article, Sister Garcia expressed that she knew about the miracles as the devotees of Apu leave letters. According to her, the devotees express gratefulness for healing, being able to pay their credits, or the opportunity to be employed abroad.
Some of the reasons behind the turning of “Tomen’s planned monograph of Apu” into a book in year 2011 are the blessings that devotees claim were given to them by Apu.
Based on the article, before a surgery, Maria Mallari visited the image. Her cyst then vanished. Efren Dizon attribute his survival from different ailments to the mercy of Apu.
Furthermore, Apu helped solve the problem of the visa of Gloria Canlas’ daughter who was to go to the United Kingdom.
Those are just some of the miracles and blessings attributed to Apu. Archbishop Paciano Aniceto lifted the ban in year 2010.