The Santo Nino de Cebu idol was originally produced by Flemish artisans, according to

a hagiography, based on a vision of Teresa of Avila a mystic of the 16th century.[12]

In early 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, in the service of Charles V of Spain,
was on his voyage to find a westward route to spice islands. In April 7 1521, he landed in Limasawa,
and met local ruler named Raja Kulambu, who introduced him to the ruler of Cebu island
named Rajah Humabon (some records refer to him as Sultan Humabon[13]) and his wife Hara
Humamay. On April 14 1521, Magellan presented them with three gifts, a cross, an image of Mary
and Santo Nino de Cebu as a part of their baptism, and a strategic alliance for territorial conquest.
As the host ruler adopted the Catholic faith, he took the Christian names of Carlos (after Charles V),
and his wife took the name Juana (after Joanna of Castile, Charles' mother).[14][15] According to
Pigafetta – Magellan's companion and memoir writer, along with the ruler, about 500 males there,
along with the Sultana and 40 women were also converted by Father Valderrama. At the ceremony,
for example, the Raja Kulambu of Limawasa also converted and was renamed as Don Juan, while
his Muslim captain was renamed Don Cristobal.[13]
A few days after the baptism, Magellan undertook a war expedition on the behalf of the newly named
Carlos,[16] attacked Mactan Island, burning down hamlets who resisted.[13]The residents led by Lapu
Lapu defended Magellan's attack with force, and Magellan died on 27 April 1521 in the Battle of
Mactan, about three weeks after he had arrived in Philippines.[17] After Magellan's death, his Spanish
colleagues left.[18]
The next Spanish expedition arrived on April 27, 1565, again to gain a foothold for a colony to trade
spices, and this was led by Miguel López de Legazpi. He attempted a peaceful colonization, but
these efforts were rejected. He opened fire on Cebu and burnt the coastal town down destroying
1500 homes and possibly killing 500 people.[19] In the ruins of this destruction, the Spanish mariner
Juan Camus found the image of the Santo Niño in a pine box. According to the local legend, the
survival of the statue was seen as a sign of miracle by the colonizers, and ever since it has been
believed to have miraculous powers.[20]
The image of the Santo Niño is the oldest surviving Catholic relic in the Philippines, along with the
Magellan cross.[21] A church to house Santo Niño was built on the spot where the image was found
by Juan Camus. The church was originally made out of bamboo and mangrove palm and claims to
be the oldest parish in the Philippines. It was reconstructed later, and Pope Paul VI elevated it to the
status of Minor Basilica on its 400th anniversary (Spanish: Basílica Menor del Santo Niño).[7]

Feast[edit]
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Devotees flock to the Basílica Minore del Santo Niño during the novena masses.

The feast, locally known as Fiesta Señor, starts on the Thursday after the Solemnity of
the Epiphany. Each year, the celebration starts with a dawn procession wherein the replica image
of Santo Niño de Cebu is brought down to the streets. It is then followed by the novena Masses,
which span nine days.
On the last day of the novena, another dawn procession is held wherein the image of Nuestra
Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu removed from its shrine to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de
Cebu. After the procession, it will stay for a while in the Basilica. Then, the images of Santo Niño de
Cebu and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu are brought to the National Shrine of St.
Joseph in Mandaue City to be reunited with the church's namesake, thus forming the Holy Family.
This transfer, which is common in fiestas throughout the country, is called Traslación.
On the morning of the vesperas ("eve", i.e., the day before) of the feast, the images of Santo Niño de
Cebu and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu are brought back to Cebu City in a fluvial
procession that concludes with a reenactment of the first Mass and baptism in the islands. It is then
followed by a grand yet solemn foot procession in the afternoon, culminating in a Pontifical Mass
concelebrated by bishops and priests. The grand Sinulog Festival is then held on the following
Sunday.

The Hubo rite[edit]

The Sinulog procession includes dancing and fiesta in reverence of Santo Nino. Above, a Sinulog participant
carrying a copy of the Santo Nino statue.

The festival officially ends on the Friday after the icon's feast day, and it is marked with the
traditional Hubo (Cebuano, "undress") rite. During a Mass, the basilica's priests and sacristans
ceremonially strip the Santo Niño of its festal vestments and regalia.
There is a strict order of divesting the icon: first the crown is removed, followed by the orb and
sceptre; then the bands, cape, tunic, inner garments; and finally, the boots. The priest performs the
removals, preceding each with a short petition. Each removal is accompanied by a festive drum roll,
and ends with the priest chanting Christe exaudi nos (”Christ graciously hear us”).
The priest then carefully immerses the icon in a basin of scented water, wipes it dry, and dresses it
in simpler everyday robes. He then replaces the icon's accoutrements in the reverse order of the
undressing, each time ending with a prayer and leading the congregation in singing Christus Vincit;
Christus Regnat; Christus, Christus Imperat.
The rite is said to highlight Christ's humility, and symbolizes a spiritual change that should occur in
the individual believer. It was only in 1990 when the Augustinians in charge of the icon first made
known and opened the rite to the public; it is now performed in other churches as well.[22]

Pontifical approbation[edit]
The original feast date for the image was April 28, but in the 18th century, the following changes
were made:

 Pope Innocent XIII moved the date to avoid conflict with the Eastertide. In addition, he approved
special liturgical texts for use during the local feast of the Santo Niño in the Philippines, set on
the third Sunday of January, followed by the Sinulog festival.
 Pope Paul VI issued a Canonical Coronation for the image on 28 April 1965 via his Papal legate.
Through the Papal bull "Ut Clarificetur", the same Pontiff raised the sanctuary a Minor
Basilica on 2 May 1965.
 Pope John Paul II gave his papal endorsement for the image in his Mass for Families in 1981.[23]

Military Honours[edit]
During the Spanish colonial era, the Santo Niño was given the high military rank of Captain-General,
with the full title of "Celentísimo Capitán General de las Esfuerzas Españolas en Filipinas" (The Most
Esteemed Captain-General of the Spanish Forces in the Philippines).[24] For this reason, the statue is
vested in a red cape and sash, symbolising the rank of a general, and military boots.[25]
The image was later honoured by the Philippine Navy with the title "Lord Admiral of the Sea" during
the 446th anniversary of the image's Kaplag ("finding" or "rediscovery") in 2011.[26][27] This was done
in acknowledgment of Christ's "lordship over seafarers, mariners and the marine ecology." The
image was taken aboard the naval ship BRP General Emilio Aguinaldo (PG-140) for a fluvial parade,
marking the first time its own naval ensign bearing its coat-of-arms was flown by a Philippine naval
vessel. The honour was a joint effort of the Naval Forces Central, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu
District, Cebu Ports Authority, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, among others.[28]

Patronage[edit]
Our Lady of Guadalupe of Cebu, Patroness of Cebu

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The Santo Niño was popularly considered the official patron of Cebu, but the Church in the
Philippines suppressed the notion and clarified that it is not the representation of a saint
that intercedes to God but rather God in the person of Jesus. Instead, the Archbishop of
Cebu, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, declared Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebú as the principal patroness
of Cebu in 2002.
The devotion to the Santo Niño is common with worldwide veneration of the Infant Jesus of Prague.
The image is found in many houses, business establishments, and public transportation.
Traditionally, the image is often dressed in one of two colours: red is common for domestic images,
while green – symbolising luck – is worn by those enshrined in businesses. It is also often dressed in
miniature costumes that often reflect the profession of its devotee such as physicians, nurses,
policemen, or teachers. Another popular variation is the Santo Niño de Atocha which in the country
is uniquely in a standing pose rather than seated as with the Spanish version.