The Sto. Niño

This is the actual Santo Niño given from Magellan to Rajah Humabon (Carlos) and Hara Amihan (Juana) in 1521.

The Sto. Niño
by: Joy H. Gefes

History would tell us that the original Sto. Niño is the one found in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City. The Sto. Niño or the Holy Child is a Roman Catholic depiction of the Child Jesus, quite similar to the Infant Jesus of Prague.

A Portuguese explorer who discovered the Philippines in 1521, Ferdinard Magellan gave the image of the Sto. Niño as a baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon after he has persuded Raja Humabon to pledge allegiance to Spain and later baptized them and 800 of his subjects into the Catholic faith, and giving the couple the names Carlos and Juana. However, Magellan died in the Battle of Mactan.

When the Spaniards returned in 1565, 44 years before a new group came and started formal Christianization of the islands. Cebu was the first stop of then Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. He defeated the nephew of Rajah Humabon, Rajah Tupas and destroyed the village in the process. In one of the burnt-out dwellings, the Sto. Niño was found inside a wooden box relatively unscathed by one of his soldiers named Juan Camus found lying side by side with native idols.
The event was acknowledged as miraculous, and a church was later constructed on the purported site of the discovery. The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is an important historical and religious landmark in Cebu, with devotees forming long line up to pay their respects to the Holy Child.
The Feast of the Sto. Niño in the Philippines has been granted special liturgical texts for use during its feast with approval by the Holy See. This is set on the 3rd Sunday of January.
Filipinos has always been a devotee of the Sto. Niño. They venerate his image in their houses and stores with great belief that the Sto. Niño will protect them from harm always.
In celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño, Cebu celebrates Sinulog simultaneous with Kabankalan City’s version Sinulog celebration that was started by some residents that migrated in the said place from Kalibo. Kalibo in Aklan also has their Ati-atihan Festival on the third Sunday of January which is believed to have started in 1212 and Iloilo City has its Dinagyang Festival on the fourth Sunday of January.