FROM UCA NEWS:
The city of Cebu in the central Philippines came alive as millions of devotees gathered to honour the Señor Santo Niño, the country’s oldest Christian icon, during a 10-day celebration. Marking 460 years since its introduction in 1521, the festival blended faith, culture, and history in a grand display of devotion and gratitude.
The celebrations, culminating on 24 January, drew more than 4 million attendees, with the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño serving as the spiritual heart of the festivities. Pilgrims filled the church’s plaza and surrounding streets, offering prayers of thanksgiving and seeking divine intervention for personal challenges. The hymn Batobalani sa Gugma resonated throughout, as the faithful expressed joy and reverence for the Christ Child.
Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma reflected on the enduring significance of the Santo Niño, describing the image as a source of hope and love that unites believers in times of hardship. He urged the faithful to embrace God’s grace by sharing it with others.
A series of religious and cultural activities highlighted the event. The fluvial procession, involving 500 boats, recalled the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines through Spanish explorers. Other highlights included the Solemn Foot Procession, the nine-day Novena, and the Penitential Walk, all uniting Cebuanos in a vibrant expression of faith.
The Sto. Niño feast coincides with the Sinulog Festival, a secular celebration of music and dance. While rooted in the same devotion, Sinulog embraces contemporary elements, including rhythmic street performances and cultural showcases.
Cebu’s long-standing devotion to the Sto. Niño carries historical and social weight. The image, gifted by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 to Rajah Humabon and his wife upon their baptism, has remained a symbol of the nation’s Catholic heritage. It resides at the Basilica, cared for by the Augustinians since the 16th century.
Despite challenges in recent years, including violence during the Duterte administration, the festival endures as a beacon of unity and resilience. The celebrations in Cebu also signal the start of similar feasts across the Visayas region, with cities like Iloilo and Aklan hosting their own festivals in honour of the Christ Child.
For Filipinos, the Sto. Niño embodies faith, history, and hope—a symbol that continues to inspire millions across the nation.
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