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| The transition of the image of Sr. Sto. Niño for centuries |
So what is Sinulog Festival?
We know that the first man who discovered that the world is round is Ferdinand Magellan from Spain. When he landed in the Philippines, Visayas Region, he specifically got in Cebu area.
Way back March 16, 1521, Magellan brought Christianity in Asia. The first Christian nation in Asia is the Philippines and we Cebuanos in Visayas area are very proud because our place was chosen as the starting point for Christianity.
Magellan at that time brought a small image of The Holy Child or in Spanish "Señor Sto. Niño" or "Sto. Niño" and was given to the Queen of Cebu that time, Queen Juana, which is still existing these days and lots and lots of pilgrims from all over the Philippines and around the world gather today, Jan. 15 to celebrate the feast day of Sto. Niño.
The Image of Sto. Niño de Cebu
During that time, native Cebuanos celebrated a mass with the Spanish people and celebrate native dances to honor the Holy Child. There goes the SINULOG FESTIVAL.
Many tourists are attracted to the dances and parades attended by many groups of contenders in different categories from all over Philippines.
As a Cebuano, I am very happy to celebrate the Little Jesus' feast day. The Vatican has been so glad in the strong devotion of Filipinos to the Catholic Religion in the Philippines in spite of the poverty faced.
I still remember when my grandmother told me that long time ago this little icon of Child Jesus was lost, burned in WW1 and WW2, misplaced and yet found and still intact. This is a miraculous image. Before, this image can be touched and kissed but now it is placed in a glass case to prevent damage since the image is very very old, about 500 years old.
So many people everyday from every corners of the earth are visiting the image of the Holy Child and many prayers have been answered from the Sto. Nino, ops, I forgot the ñ, the Sto. Niño.
The Sto. Niño Church is located right the Cebu City center area.
The whole Cebuano people are also having their thanks giving and joyful prayers for the Sainthood or Canonization of a Cebuano Saint, Saint Pedro Calungsod. A young martyr, a loyal servant of a missionary priest in Guam and miraculous saint.
Here are some of my pictures taken just yesterday and today. Enjoy!
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