“Pit Senyor Santo Nino! Hala Bira!”
After that nauseating festival of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo Manila, all eyes are set to the big Visayan festivals that honor another image of Jesus Christ. It seems that the Filipinos doesn’t want to end their Christmas early! Especially the Visayans which will prolong their celebrations all the way to the last days of January.
The Sinulog of Cebu, Dinagyang of Iloilo and Ati-Atihan of Kalibo all venerate the singlemost image that the Visayans cherish more than any other saints, in my opinion. The image of Santo Nino or the Holy Child.
April 12, 2007. Dale Mansueto of University of San Carlos and Arnold Sancover of Cebu Heritage blog alerted me one evening about this close encounter with Philippines’ oldest Spanish relic and boy it was really like a once in a lifetime close encounter with the image itself. And yeah, I was late!
Believed to be the oldest Spanish relic in the Philippines, the image of Santo Nino de Cebu was given by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 upon the baptism of Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana of ancient Cebu to Christianity. It was believed that the queen was so enamoured with the statue that the Spaniards brought with them so much, that they gave it to the natives. And after that, Magellan died and was killed by LapuLapu from the rival fiefdom of Mactan and left the image with the natives.
From L to R: Padre Bersares OSA, Dale Mansueto, Ben Chua, Arnold Sancover and yours truly
40 years later, the Spaniards came back, this time with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi with intentions of colonizing the islands. With Cebu conquered and town razed to the ground, a Greek mariner discovered in awe the image of the Santo Nino that was given by Magellan decades ago…surrounded by flowers, venerated by the ancient Cebuanos and was left undamaged by the razing.
From then on, it was kept safe by the Spanish conquistadors under the Agustinian friars and constructed the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino on the site were it was believed the image was found. Despite the re-acquisition, Cebuanos still hold to their faith to the image as they find it miraculous…and the rest was history.
The image itself is small…very mestizo if you ask me, and fragile too. Dressed in red robes, this original statue is always kept by the Agustinians dearly from damage or from unwanted beings of the corrupt society. The robes itself is actually changed yearly, I think before the Sinulog celebrations commence. And mentioning it as an important historic and cultural relic, it is only kept at Basilica and just there…the ones you see in the processions during Sinulog or the one sent to Iloilo are relics…so just like the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.
Okay okay, that once in a lifetime opportunity was only for a short 15 minutes and then was hidden by the Agustinian priests for safekeeping once again…well, touching the image is like touching the past and the culture that it emanates…At least the promotion of the Agustinians paid off, now Santo Nino is one of the most famous and beloved icon of Philippine culture and religiosity. From European to truly Filipino.
Like a magnet of love it is known (or “Batobalani sa Gugma” in Cebuano) devotees, cultural buffs and ordinary people alike were so allured with this image of the Holy Child, like Juana before us. An enduring symbol of joyous, innocence and unwavering faith to the Almighty that it represents and uniting the peoples of the islands. –BMA3.Taralets!
Some tips to visit the Santo Nino de Cebu:
- The image of Santo Nino de Cebu is enshrined at the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino which is situated right at the heart of old downtown Cebu City, near the ever-famous landmark of Magellan’s Cross (which sits beside the Basilica grounds).
- Jeepneys are very accessible from here except Fridays where they close some parts of Juan Luna Street (now Osmena Boulevard Extention), so you have to walk all the way from the corner or from Calle Colon.
- During Sinulog (or even ordinary Fridays), just face yourself with the crowd and the queue to the shrine itself is like a box office hit movie queue.
- The image itself is enshrined in a glass chamber. Pray.
- If you do not like long lines, you may still pray at the left side of the Basilica.
- Wave if you are leaving the shrine…this is quite customary especially to the Cebuanos.
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