Sto. Niño

The Sto. Niño is known for its holiness. It is the representation of a child Jesus otherwise known as the “holy child”. Many feasts are celebrated usually in the month of January. The image of the Santo Niño is the oldest religious image in the Philippines. The wooden image, made by Flemish artisans, was brought to the island by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, just like the Magellan cross. Magellan gave the image Santo Niño to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift.

Walk with Jesus

The devotees started to flock at the FuenteOsmeña as early as 2 a.m. for the procession, which started at 4:30 a.m. going to the Basilica del Sto. Niño. Thousands of devotees joined the penitential foot procession, also called “Walk with Jesus. They are carrying candles and images of the Sto. Niño, prayed the rosary and sang the traditional Sto. Niño hymn "BatoBalanisaGugma.

Sinulog Festival

The Sinulog festival is one of the grandest, most distinguished and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. The major festival is held each year on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus. Participants clothe in bright-colored costumes dance to the rhythm of drums and native gongs. The streets are generally lined with vendors and pedestrians all wanting to witness the street-dancing with the heat of the sun. Recently, the cultural event has been commercialized as a tourist attraction and instead of traditional street- dancing from locals.Sinulog also came to mean a contest highlighting groups from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is traditionally held in the Cebu City Sports Complex, where most of Cebu's major provincial events are held.

‘Hubo’ mass at Basilica del Sto. Niño

The mass was held at the Basilica del Sto. Niño and was attended by hundreds of faithful Catholic. The annual fiesta celebration of the Sto. Niño in this city ended with a “Hubo” mass at the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica del Sto. Niño. During the mass, Basilica rector Fr. Rodolfo Bugna explained that according to St. Augustine, "Hubo", which denotes naked in English, means humility. Bugna urged the Sto. Niño devotees to perform penance and confess their sins in order to be healed. The ritual conducted during the “Hubo” mass included the removal of the Sto. Niño’s crown, followed by the orb, the scepter and the armlet, the bands, cape, tunic, the inner garments and boots. The naked image of the Sto. Niño was immediately dipped in perfumed water. The Sto. Niño was dressed up again while prayers were recited.

burning huts, one of his soldiers named Juan

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (F-1598)

P. Burgos St., 6000 Cebu City

Tel. 253-6422

Titular: Holy Guardian Angels

Patron: Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8

Parish Priest: Rt. Rev. Msgr. AdelitoAbella, HP

Parochial Vicars: Rev. Marnell Mejia

Rev. Felipe Diacosta

Rev. Arturo Navales

Resident Priests: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jose Alojipan, HP

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Cesar Jose Alcoseba, HP

Rev. Vicente Tupas Jr.