VIVA PIT SEÑOR! San Beda University (SBU) celebrates the feast of Sto. Niño de Praga, an image of Jesus Christ depicted as the Holy Child, every fourth Sunday of January. Essentially, this event is more than a mere commemoration of festivities.
But before we kickstart the lively activities, it begs the question—“Why do Bedans commemorate the Pista ng Sto. Niño?” After all, we are a Benedictine institution whose name comes from St. Bede the Venerable.
The celebration of the image of the Holy Child is deeply entrenched in the country and the University’s vibrant cultural and religious upbringing is not exempt from the Sto. Niño’s reach, with the original image going as far back as the pre-colonial period of the Philippines.
A Vibrant History
To begin with, the actual image of the Holy Child dates back to the year 1521, as a gift to Queen Joanna of the Zubu (Cebu) by the Portuguese-born Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan.
While this only applies to the Sto. Niño de Cebu, other versions of this Holy Child are quite familiar to the average Bedan. We can distinctly see another image of the the Child Jesus in the form of Sto. Niño de Praga that seats at the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat.
On January 17, 1904, El Colegio de San Beda commemorated the inaugural feast of Sto. Niño with a framed picture of the Holy Child used for the celebration. This event followed the establishment of the Confraternity of the Infant Jesus by Bedan students on December 13, 1903.
The Benedictine monastery was transformed in 1924 when it became an abbey. Subsequently, it was relocated to Mendiola, where a wooden image found its home in the Abbey of the campus in 1926. This image has remained in the Abbey to the present day.
Annual Celebrations
Since 1975, the Pista ng Sto. Niño in San Beda has remained true to its long-standing tradition, as showcased in a Triduum celebration consisting of an opening ceremony, Eucharistic celebration, solemn procession, as well as activities spearheaded by student organizations within three days.
However, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, SBU held its Pista festivities virtually in 2020. But following the total easing of public health measures and restrictions last year, the University has again opened its gates for the 2024 celebration.
The depiction of Jesus as the Holy Child holds great importance in the Christian faith, symbolizing the virtue of child-like enthusiasm and the act of seeking divine blessings and prosperity through supplication. This representation highlights the significance of approaching God with a pure and innocent heart and serves as a reminder to maintain a child-like faith in the face of adversity.
As Bedans and Filipinos, the celebration of the Pista ng Santo Niño is a given. The image of the Infant Jesus has since become synonymous with the country’s unending devotion as a predominantly Christian country, also reflecting upon the University’s mission of inculcating prayer and work, ora et labora.
(with Thirdy Pabilico)
Artworks by Jannine Salinas