This coming 3rd Sunday of the month, one of the most popular fiesta celebrations in the Philippines will be commemorated. Sinulog festival will be held in honour of the Holy Child. Not just being celebrated by the local Cebuano people, but this festival is so popular that it annually attracts many visitors every time that it is held. Sharing with you here a short history of the Holy Image.
" The Santo Nino de Cebu (Cebuano: Balaang Bata sa Sugbu, Filipino: Batang Bana ng Cebu, Spanish: Santo Nino de Cebu) is a Roman Catholic title of a statue of the Child Jesus in Cebu City of Philippines. The image is venerated as miraculous by many Filipino Catholics. It is one of the oldest Christian relics in the Philippines, originally given in 1521 as a gift by explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon and his wife when he landed on the island.
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The statue measures approximately twelve inches tall, is made of a dark wood in baroque style and depicts the Child Jesus as a king dressed like Spanish royalty. The statue is clothed in rich fabrics, wears jewelry such as gilded neck chain and bears imperial regala including a gold crown, globus cruciger, and various sceptres mostly donated by devotees. (Source: Wikipedia- the Free Encyclopedia)
It is said that this image of the Holy Child is a miraculous one thus many devotees come and visit it at the Basilica Menor del Sto. Nino. These devotees believe that whatever prayers, needs, thanksgiving etc. that they extend to the Holy Child will be heard and answered. Nowadays, this festival is becoming so popular that it is now celebrated outside of Cebu like in Melbourne, Australia and other places.
