Public Story
Chicho: La fe que nació del terremoto
Un hombre que trabajaba como mototaxista, era familiar del dueño de las cabinas de internet donde se encontraba el niño y comentó que todos se mantuvieron juntos al primer movimiento. Cuando pensaron que la tierra dejaría de vibrar, una réplica los hizo entrar en desesperación. Junto a los demás, José Luis huyó hacia su casa y al cruzar la pista una pared cayó sobre él.
'Chicho', como lo llamaban familiares y amigos, fue encontrado sin vida mientras un medio local entrevistaba a su madre, la enfermera Edith Peñavásquez. Después de encontrar el cuerpo inerte del último de sus tres hijos bajo los escombros, se echó a llorar, pero aún así intentó revivirlo en una camilla desde su casa. No perdía las esperanzas.
Un vecino de la calle Ayacucho le sugirió poner una cruz en el lugar donde 'Chicho' había fallecido. La señora lo hizo así. Al pasar dos meses y medio, Edith encontró a una anciana rezando y dejando flores a la tumba de su hijo. Le preguntó si lo conoció en vida pero no fue así. La mujer le contó que regresaba triste a su casa porque un técnico de electrodomésticos no pudo arreglar su radio y le recomendó comprar una nueva. Al pasar por la tumba del niño, le pidió que le hiciera compañía, ya que sin su equipo de sonido, sus días serían más solitarios. La anciana asegura que esa misma noche, el artefacto se encendió solo y al día siguiente también. Así que confirmó que 'Chicho' había intervenido. Tiempo después, más personas se acercaban a la tumba de 'El Niño del Terremoto'. Una de ellas fue la madre de una niña con leucemia. El médico le había dicho que debido al cáncer terminal, le quedaba aproximadamente tres meses de vida. La mujer acudió a la mamá de 'Chicho' y le pidió una foto suya para que acompañara a su hija y la salve. Edith solo encontró una gorra suya y se la dio. Once años después, Anita es fiel devota de 'Chicho y le agradece el haberle salvado la vida.
Vianka lleva tatuado en la espalda a 'Chicho' y asegura que el niño del terremoto le concedió dos milagros importantes en su vida. Primero, necesitaba con urgencia un lugar para vivir mejor. Así que se acercó a él, como se lo recomendaron, le pidió que la ayudara a encontrar un terreno.Días después, al salir del mercado donde trabajaba, encontró un anuncio, llamó a la dueña y ésta le pidió que se quedara con 26 lotes para administrarlos. No dudó en compartir su 'milagro' con familiares y amigos. En agradecimiento le construyó una gruta con una estatua de tamaño real con la apariencia de 'Chicho' ya no tan niño, sino adolescente, como si hubiera crecido después de muerto. Años más tarde le detectaron cáncer. Asistió al hospital Neoplásicas en Lima y una mujer que se sentó a su lado le recomendó encomendarse a 'Chicho' antes de entrar a la consulta, sin saber que ya era devota. Dos meses después, Vianka ya no tenía cáncer. Por más que regresaba al consultorio de prevención, los médicos no encontraban peligro en su salud. La enfermedad había desaparecido y no se explicaba el motivo. Todos los años celebran una misa en su honor, los devotos asisten desde temprano para encontrar un espacio libre durante la misa. La asistencia de fieles sobrepasa el aforo y casi es imposible salir. Algunos demuestran su agradecimiento repartiendo por su cuenta imágenes y cuadros en la puerta del templo. Los asistentes se desesperan por recibir al menos un llavero. Los padres de 'Chicho' asisten siempre al cementerio a visitar su tumba para su cumpleaños y también el día que falleció su hijo. Llevan pocas flores porque siempre está llena hasta el extremo de ocultar su foto. A diario, Edith cambia de ropa a la imagen de su hijo en la capilla de madera. La que ya ha tenido puesta es llevada a su casa para que sea frotada por el cuerpo de las personas que lo deseen. Todo eso acompañado de una oración. No es tarea fácil vestir la estatua, menos vigilar que no roben las prendas que lleva puesta. La familia comenta que ha sucedido un par de veces. A pesar de que la fe al niño es considerada santa por la gente va en aumento, existen muchas críticas hacia la familia. Gente no creyente acusa de aprovecharse del dinero de limosnas y donaciones. Miembros de la iglesia protestante le atribuyen fama al 'diablo'. La señora Edith responde a eso abriendo la puerta de su casa todos los días. Afirma que todo el dinero recaudado es empleado en estampas que se reparten todo el año en su casa y no permite que se lucre con la imagen de su hijo. Es común toparse con una estampa de 'Chicho' en los taxis y mercados de la zona. La gente le agradece los milagros y el haberles devuelto la fe. Cada vez hay más seguidores de 'Chicho', solo hace falta ver el interior del templo de madera, no hay más espacio para colocar más fotografías de familiares de devotos que llegan con la esperanza de que el niño que está cerca de Dios los ayude.
(English)
On the night of August 15, 2007, a strong earthquake shook the south of Peru for three minutes. In the midst of misfortune and despair, an intermediary was born between the men of Ica and the god of the Christians, according to his devotees. Jose Luis Tipacti, was a child of ten years old. His favorite pastime was playing marbles and he always carried some in his pocket.
A man who worked as a motorcycle taxi driver was a relative of the owner of the internet booths where the boy was and commented that they all stayed together at the first movement. Just when they thought the earth would stop vibrating, an aftershock sent them into despair. Together with the others, José Luis fled towards his house and when crossing the track a wall fell on him.
Chicho', as his family and friends called him, was found lifeless while a local media was interviewing his mother, nurse Edith Peñavásquez. After finding the limp body of the last of her three children under the rubble, she burst into tears, but still tried to revive him on a stretcher from her home. She did not lose hope.
A neighbor on Ayacucho Street suggested that she put a cross in the place where 'Chicho' had died. The lady did so. Two and a half months later, Edith found an old lady praying and leaving flowers at her son's grave. She asked her if she knew him in life but she did not. The woman told her that she was returning home sad because an appliance technician could not fix her radio and recommended that she buy a new one. As she passed by the boy's grave, she asked him to keep her company because without his stereo, her days would be lonelier. The old woman assures that that same night, the device turned itself on and the next day as well. So she confirmed that 'Chicho' had intervened. Some time later, more people approached the grave of 'El Niño del Terremoto'. One of them was the mother of a little girl with leukemia. The doctor had told her that due to the terminal cancer, she had approximately three months to live. The woman went to 'Chicho's' mother and asked for a picture of him to accompany her daughter and save her. Edith only found a cap of his and gave it to her. Eleven years later, Anita is a faithful devotee of 'Chicho' and thanks him for saving her life.
Vianka has 'Chicho' tattooed on her back and says that the earthquake boy granted her two important miracles in her life. First, she urgently needed a place to live better. So she approached him, as he was recommended, asked him to help her find a plot of land.Days later, when leaving the market where she worked, she found an ad, called the owner and she asked him to take 26 lots to manage them. He did not hesitate to share his 'miracle' with family and friends. In gratitude, he built a grotto with a life-size statue of 'Chicho', no longer a child, but a teenager, as if he had grown up after death. Years later he was diagnosed with cancer. She attended the Neoplasicas hospital in Lima and a woman who sat next to her recommended that she pray to 'Chicho' before entering the consultation room, not knowing that she was already a devotee. Two months later, Vianka no longer had cancer. No matter how many times she returned to the preventive clinic, the doctors could not find any danger in her health. The disease had disappeared and they could not explain why. Every year they celebrate a mass in her honor, the devotees attend early in order to find a free space during the mass. The attendance of the faithful exceeds the capacity and it is almost impossible to leave. Some show their gratitude by handing out images and pictures at the door of the temple. The attendees are desperate to receive at least one key ring. Chicho's parents always go to the cemetery to visit his grave for his birthday and also on the day their son died. They bring few flowers because it is always full to the point of hiding his picture. Every day, Edith changes the clothes on her son's picture in the wooden chapel. The one she has already had on is taken home to be rubbed on the body of those who want it. All this is accompanied by a prayer. It is not an easy task to dress the statue, let alone to make sure that the clothes it is wearing are not stolen. The family comments that it has happened a couple of times. Despite the fact that faith in the child is considered holy by the people is increasing, there is a lot of criticism towards the family. Non-believers accuse the family of taking advantage of alms and donation money. Members of the Protestant church attribute fame to the 'devil'. Mrs. Edith responds to this by opening the door of her house every day. She affirms that all the money collected is used in prayer cards that are distributed throughout the year in her house and she does not allow anyone to profit from the image of her son. It is common to find a prayer card of 'Chicho' in cabs and markets in the area. People thank him for his miracles and for having given them back their faith. There are more and more followers of
On the night of August 15, 2007, a strong earthquake shook the south of Peru for three minutes. In the midst of misfortune and despair, an intermediary was born between the men of Ica and the god of the Christians, according to his devotees. Jose Luis Tipacti, was a child of ten years old. His favorite pastime was playing marbles and he always carried some in his pocket.
A man who worked as a motorcycle taxi driver was a relative of the owner of the internet booths where the boy was and commented that they all stayed together at the first movement. Just when they thought the earth would stop vibrating, an aftershock sent them into despair. Together with the others, José Luis fled towards his house and when crossing the track a wall fell on him.
Chicho', as his family and friends called him, was found lifeless while a local media was interviewing his mother, nurse Edith Peñavásquez. After finding the limp body of the last of her three children under the rubble, she burst into tears, but still tried to revive him on a stretcher from her home. She did not lose hope.
A neighbor on Ayacucho Street suggested that she put a cross in the place where 'Chicho' had died. The lady did so. Two and a half months later, Edith found an old lady praying and leaving flowers at her son's grave. She asked her if she knew him in life but she did not. The woman told her that she was returning home sad because an appliance technician could not fix her radio and recommended that she buy a new one. As she passed by the boy's grave, she asked him to keep her company because without his stereo, her days would be lonelier. The old woman assures that that same night, the device turned itself on and the next day as well. So she confirmed that 'Chicho' had intervened. Some time later, more people approached the grave of 'El Niño del Terremoto'. One of them was the mother of a little girl with leukemia. The doctor had told her that due to the terminal cancer, she had approximately three months to live. The woman went to 'Chicho's' mother and asked for a picture of him to accompany her daughter and save her. Edith only found a cap of his and gave it to her. Eleven years later, Anita is a faithful devotee of 'Chicho' and thanks him for saving her life.
Vianka has 'Chicho' tattooed on her back and says that the earthquake boy granted her two important miracles in her life. First, she urgently needed a place to live better. So she approached him, as he was recommended, asked him to help her find a plot of land.Days later, when leaving the market where she worked, she found an ad, called the owner and she asked him to take 26 lots to manage them. He did not hesitate to share his 'miracle' with family and friends. In gratitude, he built a grotto with a life-size statue of 'Chicho', no longer a child, but a teenager, as if he had grown up after death. Years later he was diagnosed with cancer. She attended the Neoplasicas hospital in Lima and a woman who sat next to her recommended that she pray to 'Chicho' before entering the consultation room, not knowing that she was already a devotee. Two months later, Vianka no longer had cancer. No matter how many times she returned to the preventive clinic, the doctors could not find any danger in her health. The disease had disappeared and they could not explain why. Every year they celebrate a mass in her honor, the devotees attend early in order to find a free space during the mass. The attendance of the faithful exceeds the capacity and it is almost impossible to leave. Some show their gratitude by handing out images and pictures at the door of the temple. The attendees are desperate to receive at least one key ring. Chicho's parents always go to the cemetery to visit his grave for his birthday and also on the day their son died. They bring few flowers because it is always full to the point of hiding his picture. Every day, Edith changes the clothes on her son's picture in the wooden chapel. The one she has already had on is taken home to be rubbed on the body of those who want it. All this is accompanied by a prayer. It is not an easy task to dress the statue, let alone to make sure that the clothes it is wearing are not stolen. The family comments that it has happened a couple of times. Despite the fact that faith in the child is considered holy by the people is increasing, there is a lot of criticism towards the family. Non-believers accuse the family of taking advantage of alms and donation money. Members of the Protestant church attribute fame to the 'devil'. Mrs. Edith responds to this by opening the door of her house every day. She affirms that all the money collected is used in prayer cards that are distributed throughout the year in her house and she does not allow anyone to profit from the image of her son. It is common to find a prayer card of 'Chicho' in cabs and markets in the area. People thank him for his miracles and for having given them back their faith. There are more and more followers of
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