THE PHILIPPINES, KNOWN for its rich cultural heritage and traditions, is also home to a wide array of religious practices. Catholicism, the largest Christian denomination in the country, has been the cornerstone of Filipino identity for centuries. This identity was born from the arrival of a prominent Holy figure that started it all—the Sto. Niño.
The Sto. Niño represents the Child Jesus, and its arrival led to the foundation of Christianity in the country. It has greatly impacted Filipino Catholics, which is why various festivals are celebrated throughout the archipelago dedicated to the Holy Child. With that being said, let’s explore the different images of Sto. Niño, along with its background and festivals that honor this beloved religious figure.
Sto. Niño de Cebu: The Most Venerated
This figure is a well-known representation of the Child Jesus in the Philippines. In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave it to Rajah Humabon and his wife, Queen Juana, making it the oldest Catholic relic in the country. The image is believed to measure 12 inches tall and is made of dark wood in a Flemish style that depicts the Child Jesus as a king dressed like Spanish royalty.
The colorful and joyful Sinulog Festival, held every third Sunday of January, symbolizes the Cebuanos’ devotion to the Sto. Niño. Millions of people flock to Cebu City to pay homage before the Sto. Niño de Cebu, while also participating in the festival that includes colorful parades, street dancing, processions, and many more. The festival emphasizes the profound influence of Catholicism in the Philippines.
Sto Niño de Praga: Czech Influence
Also called the Holy Child of Prague, this reflects the influence of Czech Catholicism on Filipino religious practices. The Sto. Niño came to Prague from Spain after 1555 as a wedding gift for one of the Spanish princesses who married a Czech nobleman, Vratislav of Pernstejn. Her daughter, Polyxena, received the statue as a wedding gift from her mother and donated the Infant Jesus statue to Prague during the Thirty Years’ War. The statue was made of wax, measured 48 cm high, with its right hand extended in blessing while its left held a golden globe.
In the Philippines, devotees pray to Sto. Niño de Praga for blessings, protection, and healing. While it may be less well-known than the Sto. Niño de Cebu, the devotion to this figure showcases the Philippines’ openness to integrating various religious influences into its cultural tapestry.
At San Beda University (SBU), the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat was dedicated to the Holy Infant of Prague when consecrated in 1926. The image of the Holy Infant, created in 1905, was positioned above the altar’s throne. Since then, SBU has incorporated the devotion to the Holy Infant of Prague into its traditions. The yearly triduum-novena and procession held on the last weekend of January are highly anticipated religious activities for both the Bedan community and followers of the Holy Infant throughout Manila.
The wooden image of Sto. Niño de Praga was nestled in the chapel on November 4, 1904, at the chapel of the Benedictine Community in Tanduay. The image was carved by Maximo Vicente and is believed to be a copy of the venerated image in the church of the Salesian Sisters in Barcelona, Spain.
Sto Niño de Tondo: Faith and Heritage
Ami Manila’s bustling streets and lively communities, the historic district of Tondo stands. Here, the Sto. Niño de Tondo holds a special place in the hearts of the faithful. According to historical accounts, the figure was transported to the Philippines by a wealthy trader from Acapulco, Mexico, in the early 1570s. It was then enshrined in a church built by the Augustinians in Tondo, Manila, now called the Tondo Church, since 1572.
An incident that remains etched in people’s memory is the theft of Sto. Niño de Tondo’s image from its shrine on July 14, 1972. According to Fr. Lorenzo Egos, with the figure in their hands, the robbers fled the cathedral after the church doors were locked at 8 p.m. The theft coincided with one of the most devastating calamities that hit the country, Typhoon Gloring, causing heavy rainfall for days that claimed millions of lives besides causing widespread destruction. The theft of the miraculous image of Sto. Niño de Tondo resulted in a disaster that most Filipinos attributed as the cause.
A suspect was taken into custody three days after Manila’s Finest sought help from informants in a theft case. Reynio Rivera, a 24-year-old suspect, listed three accomplices, and a portion of the stolen figure was recovered at several residences. The famous Santo sculptor, Maximo Vicente, was able to put the figure back together.
The Sto. Niño de Tondo festival is observed on the third Sunday of January every year. The event commences with a nine-day Novena featuring street dances and parades on the ninth day. On the feast day, a solemn procession is held where numerous devotees walk alongside the Sto. Niño de Tondo to receive blessings for their homes and businesses.
Sto. Niño de Cortes: The Hidden Sto Niño
Estimated to be 150 years old or more, there is a Sto. Niño image residing within the town of Bohol, Cortes, that is not well-known to the public because of past incidents surrounding it. In the 70s, following the surge of stolen religious objects, including the said statue, it was kept hidden from the public. The image was seemingly forgotten for three years, up until 2013 when an earthquake damaged the parish church where the repository image of the Sto. Niño was kept. This caused damage to the statue, with its paint peeling off and some parts broken.
Notably, the image of the Sto. Niño, in contrast to other images of it, was unique due to its golden hair and mestizo-like appearance, bearing a close semblance to the Sto. Niño de Malitbog (Leyte), which was also stolen and recovered for roughly ten years. With its defining features, the parish priest strongly moved for the restoration of the image. In coordination with the Parish’s Pastoral Council, efforts to restore the image were underway, including new attires inspired by the images of Sto. Niño de Cebu and Sto. Niño de Praga. Just recently, on October 30, 2022, the image of the Sto. Niño de Cortes was finally enthroned back to its rightful place at the altar of Sto. Niño Church in Cortes, Bohol.
Recognized as the first patron saint of the parish of Cortes, Bohol, the Sto. Niño de Cortes continually stands to inspire devotees all around. Its feast is celebrated annually every January 16 with a nine-day novena prior to the event. Veneration is expressed through chants, gozos, fluvial processions, and dances inspired by the Sinulog festival. Just recently, on January 16, the Municipality of Cortes and the National Museum of the Philippines – Bohol reintroduced a dance unique to the town, dubbed as Sajaw Ug Basaw Sa Sinu’og, where its origins can be traced back to indigenous rituals or thanksgiving that have evolved into a religious devotion.
Sto. Niño de San Beda: CAS’ own
Owned by the Office of the Prefect of Student Affairs (OPSA), the Sto. Niño de San Beda is a depiction of the Holy Child housed at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) OPSA office, sporting the complete uniform of the College.
Sprung from popular religiosity, the Prefect of Student Affairs, Prof. Marvin Reyes PhD., shared the history behind the image that once went viral on social media earning funny reactions, while some found it to be distasteful.
“The supplier of the uniform asked us if she [could] have a tailor-made uniform for the Sto. Niño,” said Dr. Reyes. Since 2014, the significance of the image in relation to popular religiosity lies in it serving as a guide to the Bedan community, “’yung representation niya ay para mapalapit sa Bedans ang presence, kaya siya nakasuot ng uniform,” he added.
The Sto. Niño holds a special place in the hearts of Filipinos, representing not only their devotion but also their cultural identity and uniqueness in tradition. It fosters a deep sense of spirituality and unity among Filipinos. The festivals dedicated to the Sto. Niño are not only religious celebrations but also vibrant expressions of the country’s rich cultural tapestry.