Santo Niño de Cebu - The Eternal King of the Philippines
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| Sto. Nino de Cebu |
The most revered image in the Philippines - Santo Niño de Cebú is an image of the Child Jesus much venerated as miraculous by the majority of Filipino Catholics and revered as the symbol of the Catholic Faith in the country. The oldest Christian image in the Philippines, it was originally given in 1521 as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Hara Humamay, the chief consort of Rajah Humabon, along with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and a bust of depicting Christ as Ecce Homo.
The image is one of the most celebrated in the country that is highlighted through the celebration of Sinulog Festival every Third Sunday of January, its Liturgical Feast and on Kaplag every April 28th, its Original and Traditional Feast, to commemorate the rediscovery of the image by Juan Camus. Miracles have recorded through his help that he continues to shower his devotees up to the present.
Features of the Image
The image measures approximately twelve inches tall, and is believed to be originally made in Flanders, Belgium. The statue is clothed in rich fabrics, and bears imperial regalia including a gold crown, globus cruciger, and various sceptres mostly donated by devotees.
The Santo Niño image is replicated in many homes and business establishments, with different titles reinterpreted in various areas of the country. The Holy Child's feast is liturgically celebrated every third Sunday of January, during which devotees carry a portable Santo Niño image onto the street fiesta dancing celebrations. The image is one of the most beloved and recognizable cultural icons in the Philippines, found in both religious and secular areas. It is permanently encased within bulletproof glass in a chapel at the Basílica Menor del Santo Niño.
History
In April 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, in the service of Charles V of Spain, arrived in Cebu during his voyage to find a westward route to the Indies.He persuaded Rajah Humabon and his chief consort Humamay, to pledge their allegiance to Spain. They were then baptized into the Catholic faith, taking the Christian names Carlos (after Charles V) and Juana (after Joanna of Castille, Charles' mother).
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| The giving of the Sto. Nino de Hara Humamay later baptized as Reina Juana |
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| The Rediscovery of the image by Juan Camus and company |
According to Antonio Pigafetta, Italian chronicler to the Spanish expedition, Magellan handed Pigafetta the image to be given to the newly-christened Queen Juana right after the baptism, officiated by Pedro Valderrama. It was Pigafetta himself who personally presented the Santo Niño to the newly baptized Queen Juana as a symbol of their new alliance; to her newly christened husband King Carlos, It is reported that Reina Juana was in tears upon receiving the image. Magellan presented the bust of "Ecce Homo", or the depiction of Christ before Pontius Pilate. He also presented an image of the Virgin Mary, the Virgen delos Remedios de Cebu, to the natives who were baptised after their rulers. Magellan died on 27 April 1521 in the Battle of Mactan. Legends say that after initial efforts by the natives to destroy it, the image was venerated as one of their pagan deities. Many historians consider the facial structure of the statue made from Belgium, where Infant Jesus of Prague statues were also common.
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| From Left: Sto. Nino de Cebu, Birhen sa Kotta (Virgen delos Remedios),Senor Ecce Homo de Humabon |
Writer Dr. Resil Mojares wrote that the natives did so for fear that the Spaniards would demand it back. The natives’ version of the origin of the Santo Niño is in the Agipo (stump or driftwood) legend, which states that the statue was caught by a fisherman who chose to get rid of it, only to have it returned with a plentiful harvest.
The statue was later taken out for procession, afterwards which Legazpi then ordered the creation of the Confraternity of the Santo Niño de Cebú, appointing Father Andrés de Urdaneta as head superior. Legazpi instituted a fiesta to commemorate the finding of the image, and the original celebration still survives.
The Minor Basilica of Santo Niño was built on the spot where the image was found by Juan Camus. The church was originally made out of bamboo and mangrove palm and claims to be the oldest parish in the Philippines. Pope Paul VI elevated it to the status of Minor Basilica on its 400th anniversary.
MiraclesSeveral miracles were recorded that are attributed to the Sto. Nino that it will take volumes to record its prodigies that he brough to his devotees. On the day of his discovery itself, the image was not scatched when the house were he was located was burning. The Nino is also known for his nocturnal visits to different places helping his poor devotees from joining them on their fishing activities and ends up catching much fish for livelihood. He also helped on farmers and other businesses by visiting them disguising as a boy with brown skin with curly hair.
There also numerous stories that surrounds the Holy Child of Cebu that spawned for centuries. The most popular of these which every devout Cebuano learned by oral tradition from their parents and forebears is the one about the Nino being a fishmonger.
Story goes that early one morning, a fish vendor was walking by the Basilica carrying a load of fish on a rattan tray on her head, locally called “lirong.” Some call it “nigo.” A boy whom she described as dark-skinned and with curly hair called her from the convent and told her that he would like to buy some fish but that she would have to come back for the payment a little later in the day as the priests were still asleep. Trustingly, the woman gave the child a string of fresh danggit (rabbitfish), a popular fish variety in Cebu. Later that day, the vendor went back to the convent and asked the Padre Cura for payment. But the priest denied having a dark-skinned, curly-haired boy for a servant, more so ordering anyone to buy fish. A little search led them to the image and there the string of fish was, resting by the feet of the miraculous icon. The Padre could argue no more.
Another manifestation had it that a certain Colonel C.F. Sharp was surprised by a Cebuano volunteer who came to him in Fort San Pedro used as a military headquarters during World War II. Sharp described the volunteer as no more than a boy with dark skin and curly hair. This story was noted by Cebuana newspaper writer/editor Conching Briones who saw first hand the horrors of World War II in Cebu. She was quoted to have reported this in her column Dateline Cebu in “The Evening News” (1961). The story circulated in 1943. Sharp was an American officer of the United States Army in the Far East (USAFE). The USAFE was officially closed down in 1942, but it secretly continued recruiting patriotic volunteers to fight the Japanese invaders.
Still another story is that of his being a speedy boater, perhaps one of the most touching of his manifestations. Testimony was written by the recipient himself, a sailor named Fernando Saavedra de Gracia. In his letter posted from Manila, dated Sept. 26, 1877 addressed to his Cebu-based friend, one Don Fidel Maas y Matti, de Gracia narrated that on the morning of Sept. 3, he hurriedly left the church of San Agustin (now the Basilica) and rushed to join his ship – Barcelona – at the port.
Much to his chagrin, however, the Barcelona had already left for Manila and was already at some distance from the pier. Then a boy approached him and spoke to him in fluent Spanish, just like a native speaker and told him he knows where the sailor is going. And that he could catch up with the ship, that had just left port, through his baroto (dug-out canoe).
While seated in the boat, de Gracia noticed that though the boy was not paddling, the baroto was sailing very fast. They caught up with the ship. A rope ladder was lowered for de Gracia by co-workers onboard. When he asked the boater how much the fare was, the boy told him to donate the money to the Hospicio de San Jose in Manila. When he asked the boy his name, the boy purportedly answered: “I am Jesus de Cebu.”
There is a story too that the Santo Nino walked along the shores of Old Cebu at night, and in the morning the image would smell of seawater and that dried amor seco weeds get stuck at the hem of the icon’s cape. So the priests assigned the sacristan mayor to check the icon regularly, have the weeds removed before the church opens for Mass.
The sacristan, tired of removing the amor seco weeds this time, complained “My goodness, you wandered again last night, hope you brought me some coins so I can buy myself tuba (coconut toddy).” Indeed, after he had cleared the cape of weeds, he found some coins by the feet of the image.
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| An artistic depiction of the Sto. Nino de Cebu |
Another manifestation had it that a certain Colonel C.F. Sharp was surprised by a Cebuano volunteer who came to him in Fort San Pedro used as a military headquarters during World War II. Sharp described the volunteer as no more than a boy with dark skin and curly hair. This story was noted by Cebuana newspaper writer/editor Conching Briones who saw first hand the horrors of World War II in Cebu. She was quoted to have reported this in her column Dateline Cebu in “The Evening News” (1961). The story circulated in 1943. Sharp was an American officer of the United States Army in the Far East (USAFE). The USAFE was officially closed down in 1942, but it secretly continued recruiting patriotic volunteers to fight the Japanese invaders.
Still another story is that of his being a speedy boater, perhaps one of the most touching of his manifestations. Testimony was written by the recipient himself, a sailor named Fernando Saavedra de Gracia. In his letter posted from Manila, dated Sept. 26, 1877 addressed to his Cebu-based friend, one Don Fidel Maas y Matti, de Gracia narrated that on the morning of Sept. 3, he hurriedly left the church of San Agustin (now the Basilica) and rushed to join his ship – Barcelona – at the port.
Much to his chagrin, however, the Barcelona had already left for Manila and was already at some distance from the pier. Then a boy approached him and spoke to him in fluent Spanish, just like a native speaker and told him he knows where the sailor is going. And that he could catch up with the ship, that had just left port, through his baroto (dug-out canoe).
While seated in the boat, de Gracia noticed that though the boy was not paddling, the baroto was sailing very fast. They caught up with the ship. A rope ladder was lowered for de Gracia by co-workers onboard. When he asked the boater how much the fare was, the boy told him to donate the money to the Hospicio de San Jose in Manila. When he asked the boy his name, the boy purportedly answered: “I am Jesus de Cebu.”There is a story too that the Santo Nino walked along the shores of Old Cebu at night, and in the morning the image would smell of seawater and that dried amor seco weeds get stuck at the hem of the icon’s cape. So the priests assigned the sacristan mayor to check the icon regularly, have the weeds removed before the church opens for Mass.
The sacristan, tired of removing the amor seco weeds this time, complained “My goodness, you wandered again last night, hope you brought me some coins so I can buy myself tuba (coconut toddy).” Indeed, after he had cleared the cape of weeds, he found some coins by the feet of the image.
During the last World War, a bomb fell inside the church, but the image was found unscathed. It was one of the numberless miracles and powers attributed to the Holy Image.
He is also credited for saving Cebu from different calamities and invasions especially on "sheilding Cebu by his cape" that Muslim pirates and other enemy ships were dumbfounded to find out that the island was vanishing or out of sight.
Feast
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| Sinulog Festival |
The feast, locally known as Fiesta Señor, starts on the Thursday after the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Each year, the celebration starts with a dawn procession wherein the replica image of Santo Niño de Cebu is brought down to the streets. It is then followed by the novena masses, which span nine days.
On the last day of the novena, another dawn procession is held wherein the image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu removed from its shrine to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu. After the procession, it will stay for a while in the Basilica. Then, the images of Santo Niño de Cebu and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu are brought to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City to be reunited with the church's namesake, thus forming the Holy Family. This transfer, which is common in fiestas throughout the country, is called Traslación.
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| Solemn procession of the image |
On the morning of the vesperas ("eve", i.e., the day before) of the feast, the images of Santo Niño de Cebu and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu are brought back to Cebu City in a fluvial procession that concludes with a reenactment of the first Mass and baptism in the islands. It is then followed by a grand yet solemn foot procession in the afternoon, culminating in a Pontifical Mass concelebrated by bishops and priests. The grand Sinulog Festival is then held on the following Sunday.
The Hubo rite
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| The "Hubo" rites |
The festival officially ends on the Friday after the icon's feast day, and it is marked with the traditional Hubo (Cebuano, "undress") rite. During a Mass, the basilica's priests and sacristans ceremonially strip the Santo Niño of its festal vestments and regalia.
There is a strict order of divesting the icon: first the crown is removed, followed by the orb and sceptre; then the bands, cape, tunic, inner garments; and finally, the boots. The priest performs the removals, preceding each with a short petition. Each removal is accompanied by a festive drum roll, and ends with the priest chanting Christe exaudi nos (”Christ graciously hear us”).
The priest then carefully immerses the icon in a basin of scented water, wipes it dry, and dresses it in simpler everyday robes. He then replaces the icon's accoutrements in the reverse order of the undressing, each time ending with a prayer and leading the congregation in singing Christus Vincit; Christus Regnat; Christus, Christus Imperat.
The rite is said to highlight Christ's humility, and symbolises a spiritual change that should occur in the individual believer. It was only in 1990 when the Augustinians in charge of the icon first made known and opened the rite to the public; it is now performed in other churches as well.
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| The Canonical Coronation of the image |
Pontifical approbation
The original feast date for the image was April 28, but in the 18th century, Pope Innocent XIII moved the date to avoid conflict with the Eastertide to its current Feast day. In addition, he approved special liturgical texts for use during the local feast of the Santo Niño in the Philippines, set on the third Sunday of January, followed by the Sinulog festival.
Pope Paul VI issued the Bull of Canonical Coronation for the image on 28 April 1965 via his Papal legate. Through the Papal bull "Cubanula Religionis", the same Pontiff raised the sanctuary a Minor Basilica on 2 May 1965. Pope John Paul II gave his papal endorsement for the image in his Mass for Families in 1981.
Military Honours
During the Spanish colonial era, the Santo Niño was given the high military rank of Captain-General, with the full title of "Celentísimo Capitán General de las Esfuerzas Españolas en Filipinas" (The Most Esteemed Captain-General of the Spanish Forces in the Philippines).For this reason, the statue is vested in a red cape and sash, symbolising the rank of a general, and military boots.
The image was later honoured by the Philippine Navy with the title "Lord Admiral of the Sea" during the 446th anniversary of the image's Kaplag ("finding" or "rediscovery") in 2011. This was done in acknowledgment of Christ's "lordship over seafarers, mariners and the marine ecology." The image was taken aboard the naval ship General Emilio Aguinaldo 140 for a fluvial parade, marking the first time its own naval ensign bearing its coat-of-arms was flown by a Philippine naval vessel. The honour was a joint effort of the Naval Forces Central, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu District, Cebu Ports Authority, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, among others.
Patronage
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| Minor Basilica of Sto. Nino de Cebu |
The devotion to the Holy Child of Cebu shares its worldwide veneration of the Infant Jesus of Prague. Colloquially referred to as Santo Niño, it is found in many residential homes, business establishments and public transportation. It is often found two traditional vestment colors, a red garment for the residential home, while a green garment for business locations. It is also often found with interchangeable clothing, whereas the devotee may choose to associate their own uniform to the statue, such as physicians, nurses, janitors or teachers.
The devotion to the Sto. Nino is a great testament of our unique Filipino Catholic Faith for Christ took the hearts of the Filipino nation in a form of an innocent child. Through the Sto. Nino, Jesus is teaching us that we should implore God with a childlike confidence. As Pope Francis said in his homily during the Papal Mass in Quirino Grandstand during his visit in 2015 in the country that the Santo Nino "reminds us of our deepest identity. All of us are God’s children, members of God’s family...For children, as the Lord tells us, have their own wisdom, which is not the wisdom of the world. That is why the message of the Santo Niño is so important. He speaks powerfully to all of us. He reminds us of our deepest identity, of what we are called to be as God’s family."
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DeleteViva Santo Nino
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