Basilica Minore del Santo Nino Cebu where the image of
Santo Nino was found is the oldest Catholic Church of the 16th Century
in the City of Cebu and the first monastery to be established in the
Philippines. Upon the discovery of the image of Christ Child inside a burning house
by the troops of Legazpi, they considered the finding of the image as a
good omen making them built their first house in Cebu. Thereupon the
founding of the image of Santo Nino marks a history.
The Church’s Structure
The façade of the church is made from cut-coral stones with the images of saints which were believed to be quarried from Panay. The spacious church has an image of two Chinese-style lion. A mix influences blends the façade of the church from Muslim, Neo-Classical according to Agustinian historian Father Pedro Galende and Romanesque.
A three-level belfry attached to the end of the façade on the northern. At its south is the two-level monastery. A pilgrim houses the Agustinian Province of Santo Nino de Cebu. The pilgrim was built in the early-1990s.
The Altar
A carved multi-level wooden altar screen features particular Agustinian saint or blessed. The altar originally had four altars which includes two on the sides of the transept but were removed after the renovation on 1965 for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christianization in the Philippines. Gone also during the renovation was the 18th century pipe organ but on the year 1966, another pipe organ was installed by Jose Loinaz. The organ itself was manufactures in Germany by the Laukhuff Orgelbau, Weikersheim. But what highlighted the most in the altar is the 480-year old image of the Santo Nino.
Visiting the image of Santo Nino in the Basilica Minore, lighting of candles inside the church are strictly prohibited. However, touching the image of Santo Nino is possible as long as you follow the line from the outside of the ambulatory between the church and the convento.
The Convent
Strictly prohibited for anyone to enter the second story of the convent, the first floor is occupied by Parish offices. A carved stairway leads to the spacious aula or living room, were painting of Agustinian saints is displayed.
The façade of the church is made from cut-coral stones with the images of saints which were believed to be quarried from Panay. The spacious church has an image of two Chinese-style lion. A mix influences blends the façade of the church from Muslim, Neo-Classical according to Agustinian historian Father Pedro Galende and Romanesque.
A three-level belfry attached to the end of the façade on the northern. At its south is the two-level monastery. A pilgrim houses the Agustinian Province of Santo Nino de Cebu. The pilgrim was built in the early-1990s.
A carved multi-level wooden altar screen features particular Agustinian saint or blessed. The altar originally had four altars which includes two on the sides of the transept but were removed after the renovation on 1965 for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christianization in the Philippines. Gone also during the renovation was the 18th century pipe organ but on the year 1966, another pipe organ was installed by Jose Loinaz. The organ itself was manufactures in Germany by the Laukhuff Orgelbau, Weikersheim. But what highlighted the most in the altar is the 480-year old image of the Santo Nino.
Visiting the image of Santo Nino in the Basilica Minore, lighting of candles inside the church are strictly prohibited. However, touching the image of Santo Nino is possible as long as you follow the line from the outside of the ambulatory between the church and the convento.
Strictly prohibited for anyone to enter the second story of the convent, the first floor is occupied by Parish offices. A carved stairway leads to the spacious aula or living room, were painting of Agustinian saints is displayed.
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| Me myself and I having a selfie photo in the crowd of devotees at Basilica Minore Del Sto. Nino De Cebu Church, houses of the most sacred Christian relics in the Philippines; Sto.Niño de Cebu (the infant Jesus) during the Sinulog 2014
The Festival
Sinulog is the name of the festival in Cebu. Taken from the Visayan word “suug” which means water current. The festival is a combination of dancing and prayers which were believed to seek the favor of Santo Nino to carry out the prayers of the community. Outside the Basilica, women selling candles dances while holding a handful of candles as a part of the tradition of praying to Santo Nino. |
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