The Ever Royal Santo Niño de Malolos

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Santo Niño de Malolos

In the ever historic city of Malolos, the capital of Bulacan province, is known for it's famed Barasoain Church - an important landmark of the First Philippine Republic and other known devotions of the province from Santisima Trinidad of Barihan, Sta. Maria Salome of Caniogan, La Inmaculada Concepcion of Malolos Cathedral, La Niña Maria of Santa Isabel among others.

During the month of January, Malolos became an important center of pilgrimages because of the strong devotion to arguably to the most important Patron of the city, the ever Royal Santo Niño de Malolos. The poised image of Santo Niño de Malolos gained much popularity over the years and became part of the pious life of the people within and outside Malolos, Bulacan.

Santo Niño de Malolos
The image

The image of Santo Niño de Malolos is the image of the Child  Jesus presented as a young royal patterned after King Louis XV of France. The face of the Child is that of innocence yet royalty with dreamy eyes, a smile, rosy cheeks which would later gain the reputation as one of the most handsome image of the Santo Niño in the Philippines. Standing on a base, the Child wears a royal shirt, shorts, velvet cape, bib, golden boots, a crown and the diagnostic scepter and globus cruciger - symbols of power and dominion.

The Origins

The origins of the image of the Santo Niño de Malolos is somehow linked to the rich history of Malolos, Bulacan for the image is said to be commissioned by Francisca Tantoco, who along with the ladies from the Tiongsons, Uitangcoys and the rest of the 20 women who pushed for the foundation of an evening school for women who wished to be taught of Spanish language in 1888, despite of the disapproval of the Spanish friars of the area. This is where Dr. Jose Rizal wrote his famous letter for the brave women of Malolos where he praised the bravery of these women who sought for quality education for women that was elusive during that time.

Santo Niño de Malolos circa 1913
Francisca had a special devotion to the Santo Niño that she realized that it would be better if there would be a bigger image of the Sto. Niño aside from the small ivory image of the Sto. Niño venerated at the chapel. Thus, she commissioned the processional image which is now known as the Santo Niño de Malolos.

The task as the recamadero of the Santo Niño was transferred to Felisa Tantoco and then later to Dr. Angel Tantoco Sr. During the time of Dr. Tantoco, his son, Angel ‘Ulay’ Tantoco Jr. and it's heirs assumed this responsibility as of this writing. A chapel dedicated to the Santo Niño de Malolos was established known as the "Templete de Santo Niño de Malolos" and became one of the most frequently visited chapels in Malolos City.

Due to the popularity of the devotion to Santo Niño de Malolos, the name of his dominion Barrio Kamistisuhan (the place was the enclave of the mestizos de Sangley merchants grouped after the British invasion of 1762) changed it named to "Barrio Santo Niño".

Santo Niño de Malolos
The Festivities of old and it's present form

The festivities in honor of the Santo Niño de Malolos was already one of the most anticipated during the pre-war years yet it was halted during the ravages of the Second World War. It is said that the Santo Niño would accompany the image of Immaculate Concepcion of Malolos Cathedral on her feast day. In 1966, the fiesta of the Santo Niño de Malolos as revived through the efforts of Dr. Luis Santos and a few years later, the Santo Niño de Malolos foundation was established in 1975 which aims to further propagate the devotion to the Santo Niño. Aside from the propagation of the devotion to the Holy Child, the Sto. Nino de Malolos Foundation Inc., also organizes and runs noteworthy charity and advocacy projects for the needy.

One of the means of the foundation to propagate the devotion is the nationally renowned Santo Niño Exhibit that is held during the novena days at the Museo Diocesano at the Barasoain Church which showcases different images of the Santo Niño from different families, devotees and members of the foundation that are carefully curated and became a benchmark to all exhibits of holy images in the country.

Santo Niño de Malolos during Dapit
The festivities of the Santo Niño de Malolos begins with Panaog where the original image of Santo Niño de Malolos will come out from the Tantoco residence and a procession with bands and devotees going to the Templete to begin the novena then two days later, the Santo Niño Exhibit will open at the Barasoain Museum. On the last day of the novena, the Dapit procession will take place where the some of the participating images from the exhibit will go on procession that will come from different residences and selected locations until it reached the Chapel, this time with the Santo Niño de Malolos decked in his carozza then the last day novena Mass follows and the Solemn Traslacion to Malolos Cathedral will take place in preparation for his grand feast day.

The fiesta of the Santo Niño, held every fourth or last Sunday of January, is one of the most celebrated and much awaited in the city of Malolos for the two processions took place on that day, the Morning procession with children as the main participants and the Grand Procession with almost 250 carozzas accompanying the image of the Santo Niño through the historic streets of Malolos.

Santo Niño de Malolos on his Fiesta procession
The devotion

The devotion to the Santo Niño de Malolos made a significant impact in an already established culture of Malolos, Bulacan and the faithful in the country that it inspired some devotees outside of Malolos to have their own group that was patterned to that of Malolos like the Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre del Niño Jesus of Manila, the Congregacion del Santo Niño de Santa Maria Bulacan among others. Devotees, among them those who attribute to him numerous miraculous cures, women unable to wear children, actors, businessmen, fashion designers, and other devotees from different social classes, would continue to make pilgrimage to Malolos, most especially during the January festivities.

The Santo Niño de Malolos and it's enduring devotion is became the symbol of Malolos City because of it's colorful history, curated by time and its ever evolving culture and stands proudly to face the world with God guiding the people to it's brighter future.

Reference:

Castro, Alex, The Santo Niño de Malolos, ca. 1979, Retrieved from httpndalltheangelsandsaints.blogspot.com/2014/01/181-ninos-of-malolos-ca-1979.html?m=0 on January 19, 2019.
Catanghal, Arthur, The King of Pariancillo, Retrieved from https://m.facebook.com/groups/150295005047390?view=permalink&id=1595613147182228 on January 23, 2019.
Santo Niño de Malolos Fiesta 2016 (Souvenir program), Santo Niño de Malolos Foundation Inc, Malolos, Bulacan, 2016.
Santo Niño de Malolos Fiesta 2017 (Souvenir program), Santo Niño de Malolos Foundation Inc, Malolos, Bulacan, 2017.

Photo:

Mr. Christopher Cunanan

Interview: 

Dr. Angel "Ulay" V. Tantoco Jr. - Chairman, Santo Niño de Malolos Foundation Inc.

Special thanks to. Dr. Angel "Ulay" V. Tantoco Jr., Chairman, Santo Niño de Malolos Foundation Inc. +AM+DG+

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