SANTO NINO DE MALOLOS: CELEBRATING 37 YEARS OF FAITH, LOVE AND DEVOTION

SANTO NINO DE MALOLOS

CELEBRATING 37 YEARS OF FAITH, LOVE AND DEVOTION

Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in Cebu shores led to this grand religious spectacle in the country– a wooden image of the Sto. Niño was given as a gift to Hara Amihan (Queen Juana), wife of Rajah Humabon (King Carlos) – the two with the early Cebuano community were later baptized into the Catholic faith.

One of the carrozas featured during the Grand Procession

The image of the Sto. Niño is said to be the oldest religious image in the Philippines that was brought by the Agustinian Fathers. The very first image of the Sto. Niño known as the Sto. Niño de Cebu is now enshrined in the Basilica Minore de Sto. Niño in Cebu – being the patron saint of the province.  The Sto. Niño, being a representation of the child Jesus, is exemplified by the Roman Catholic Church to celebrate its incarnation and humility.

Aside from the Cebuanos' Sto. Niño de Cebu, many other images and versions of the Sto. Niño were given life in the various festivals dedicated to the holy child. These replicas are also dressed elegantly by devotees and are paraded during the celebrations.

The province of Bulacan known for its Holy Week processions and other grand religious festivities like the Pulilan Carabao Festival, San Rafael Angel Festival, Pagoda Festival in Bocaue, Sayaw sa Obando in Honor of Santa Clara, San Pascual Baylon and Virgen Nasalamabao and the Horse Festival in Plaridel to celebrate the feast of Santiago Matamoros also pays tribute to the Santo Nino through its Santo Nino De Malolos Festival.

Santo Nino Peregrino

Now on its 37^Th year, the 10 day celebration started January 20, 2012 with the traditional "Panaog" of the image of Sto. Niño coming from the Tantoco Family residence—the "recamaderos", to the City Hall of Malolos. The City Mayor Honorable Christian Natividad, together with the City Council and the City Tourism Officer welcomed the image and joins in the procession to the Templete de Sto. Niño where the First Novena Mass will open the nine-day "novenario" for the Sto. Niño.  An exhibit featuring hundreds of Santo Nino Images in various sizes and titles also followed the Panaog. It was held at the Museo Diocesano at Barasoain Church.

Santo Nino Dormido during the Exhibit at Museo Diocesano, Barasoain Church, Malolos

To cap off the celebration, a Grand Procession was held last January 29 featuring less than a hundred carrozas depicting Santo Nino all over the world and those bearing Marian titles.