The Cebuano Faith in Santo Niño

Cebuanos, the Filipinos living in the Visayan city of Cebu, are known for their deep devotion and great affection for the Holy Child Jesus locally known as the Santo Niño. The image of the Holy Child was brought to the island during the 1500s when the Spaniards first came to the Philippines.

Through the hundreds of years that have passed by since its introduction, the image has been considered by the locals as their constant protector from all harsh calamities both natural and man-made. As a sign of their veneration and gratitude for the blessings of the Holy Child, Cebuanos never fail to visit the Santo Niño church to offer their prayers. The highlight of this devotion is marked by the annual Sinulog Festival, which is held very January in celebration of the feast of the people’s beloved Santo Niño.