Santo Niño de Ternate - Ternate's watchful Patron

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Santo Niño deTernate
In the town historic town of Ternate, located in Cavite province, there was this parish where it enshrines one of the well known images of the Holy Child Jesus in the Philippines - the image of Santo Niño de Ternate.

The devotion to Santo Niño de Ternate is one of the most distinct in Cavite Province, along with the Virgen de la Soledad de Porta Vaga of Cavite City, Santa Maria Magdalena of Kawit, San Agustin of Tanza, Virgen de Candelaria of Silang, Virgen del Rosario de Caracol of Rosario, San Isidro Labrador of Ligtong, Virgen del Pilar of Imus among others. The devotion of the Ternateños is proven to be strong and its surrounding tradition is still observed up to the present.

The image

The image of Santo Niño de Ternate is one of the most unique image of the Child Jesus in the Philippines for it is only this image that is known for its big eyes that captivates the beholder. The image was that of wood done in a de tallado style yet it is meant to be vested with a numerous vestments made of different fabrics that were given by devotees. The image wears a crown, holds a scepter and a globus cruciger that symbolizes His power over the earth as the King of Kings.

Facial details of Santo Niño de Ternate
The origin

 The origins of the images can be traced to Mollucas (now part of Indonesia) where in 1513, Portugese suceeded in capturing Moluccas or the so called Spice Islands, one of the most progressive part of the world and Ternate was a town of it.  Saint Francis Xavier, a Portugese Jesuit Missionary, founded a Christian Community in the said area. On the other hand, in 1574, many Christian Mollucans fought against Portugese because of their harsh government over Mollucans.  When the throne of Spain and Portugal was merged by King Philip II, many Spanish Expeditions were sent to conquer Mollucas in 1606, and they succeed in capturing Ternate, Moluccas.

On the other hand, the Spaniards were forced to leave Ternate, Moluccas, along with 200 Mardicas of the area who were baptized to the faith to embark on a journey to Manila. As a reward to their loyalty, they were given a land that was located in the northern part of Maragondon and it was named Ternate, in remembrance of their place of origins.

An old photo of Santo Niño de Ternate
On the Mardica’s arrival to the new Ternate in 1663, seven Mardicas’ clans, consists of the Nino Franco, Esteibar, Pereira, Ramos, dela Cruz at Nigoza brought along with them the image of Santo Niño de Ternate and in 1692, the first stone church was completed.

It is said that the image was already known for its miracles in Old Ternate and the Holy Child continues to shower his devout clients with many graces.

In 1769 the Archbishop of Manila conceded  indulgences to those who should devotedly recite an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" before the holy image of the Most Holy Child Jesus of Ternate.

Parish of Santo Niño de Ternate
The Church

On 1692, a church made of stone (adobe) was constructed by Father Antonio de Borja, a Jesuit priest. Then on 1700, Ternate became the visita of Maragondon but the church was forlorn. That’s why on 1845, there’s a necessity to build the church again. On 1899, the church was destroyed during the Spanish-Filipino revolution. On 1906, the church was destroyed during the revolution underwent repairs. No remnant of the former church except to the image of the Santo Niño de Ternate. 

For 30 years, Ternate was subjected of interdict of Manila Archbishop Jeremiah James Harty, when he was hit by a rock on his feet while performing a pastoral visit. The parish was resurrected and at present, the original image of the Santo Niño de Ternate was enshrined to his altar.

The traditional Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate
The Traditions and Devotion

Since the arrival of the image in the new Ternate, numerous traditions sprung up in honor of the Holy Child of Ternate. The Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate, or the Bathing of the Holy Child Jesus of Ternate, is a tradition which dates back to 1663. This annual tradition is being held every 31st day of the month of December - the last day of the year.

In this tradition, the image is bathed and changes his vestment for the upcoming town fiesta every January 5 to 6. The image will again change his vestments on January 5, after the caracol and holy mass in his honor. One of its old traditions is that giving the Santo Niño a bath annually before the New Year’s Eve. It was believed that the water that was used to bath the Santo Nino can cure many illnesses, where the perfumed water used to bathe the Santo Niño is placed in bottles and distributed to devotees.

The image of Santo Niño de Ternate is undeniably one of the most important historical treasures of Cavite for it gave us a glimpse of the past that is seldom mentioned in history books. The Ternateños devotion to the Child Jesus shows us the undying faith of our ancestors from our neighboring islands and continues to thrive at present and for generations to come.

References:

Saulo, Alfredo and de Ocampo, Esteban (1985), History of Cavite: The Mother Ground of the Philippine Revoultion, Independence, Flag, and National Anthem. Cavite
History of Santo Niño de Ternate (2002), Retrieved on September 5, 2017 from http://santoninodeternate.tripod.com/.
Mojica, Dindo F. (2016), History of Santo Niño de Barra, Retrieved on September 5, 2017 from https://dindomojica003.wordpress.com/2016/01/16/history-of-santo-nino-de-barra/.

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