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Santo Niño Exhibits in Cavite

January marks the month-long celebration dedicated to the feast of the Holy Child or better known to many as the “Santo Niño”. Normally, the celebration is always associated with colorful festivities, cheerful street parades, fluvial processions, and other festive rites all over the country. Especially this year 2021, we are celebrating the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines. Most of us were probably thinking of huge festivities to commemorate with this historical event until Covid 19 came and merely changed everything. In observance of the global pandemic, mass gatherings and huge social events were highly prohibited. Yes, it could have been more festive and it could have been more cheerful but everyone should follow the safety protocols laid down by the government for our own good.

The celebration for the Feast of Santo Niño this year might be a little different but this pandemic will not stop Filipinos from expressing their overflowing devotion for the Holy Child. In fact, these challenges made our faith even stronger. We may not able to witness any colorful parades or processions this year but some of the parishes and devotees managed to come up with some “covid-friendly” activities that people can attend to while social distancing and other safety protocols are still being implemented effectively. Some of which includes special novena masses, online religious activities, and Santo Niño exhibits.

A Collection of Santo Niño Images

The Devotion to Santo Niño

The devotion of Filipinos to Santo Niño is simply immeasurable and it all started 500 years ago when the image of the Holy Child was given as a baptismal gift (1521) to Rajah Humabon’s wife by Spanish explorers led by Ferdinand Magellan. The arrival of the Spanish in the country also gave birth to Christianity in the Philippines. The image of Santo Niño (now known as the Santo Niño de Cebu) is now the oldest Christian artifact in the country. The venerated and miraculous image is now enshrined in the chapel within the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño de Cebu. Cebuanos usually venerate the image with colorful outdoor activities including their well-known Sinulog Festival that often attracts millions of devotees all over the country. It is undeniable that Santo Niño is one of the most beloved and recognizable cultural icons in the country. Santo Niño de Cebu is also one of the only four canonically crowned Christological images in the world along with Santo Bambino of Aracoeli (Italy), Bambino Gesu de Arenzano (Italy), and Santo Niño de Praga (Czech Republic).

Sinulog Dance from Cavite City Street Dancing exhibition

Why Santo Niño has Many Titles?

The image of Santo Niño is replicated in many parts of the country and most were given with different titles. Much like how Filipinos are venerating Mary and how she get her titles in different parts of the world (Check: Intramuros Grand Marian Procession), Santo Niño receives titles based on a number of factors. Some titles came from the place they are venerated (there’s the image of Santo Niño de Tondo, Santo Niño de Pandacan, Santo Niño de Romblon, etc.). Some titles are based on different depictions or portrayals of Baby Jesus (there’s the Sleeping Santo Niño, Santo Niño de Passion, Santo Niño de Belen, and more).

Interestingly, Filipinos are also fond of providing unique titles to Santo Niño based on their profession and other unique concepts. There’s a Santo Niño Panadero, Santo Niño Labrador, Santo Niño de Mananahi, and more. Camareros of Santo Niño often dress up their images in many different ways depending on how the Santo Niño is depicted. Bambino de Aracoeli, for instance, is often swaddled in golden fabric, wearing a crown, and adorned with various gemstones and jewels donated by devotees while the image of Santo Niño de Cebu is often depicted as a Spanish Monarch that wears fine vestment, gold crown, orb, and scepter. So when you visit a Santo Niño exhibit, don’t be surprised to see a great number of Santo Niño titles. Despite the overwhelming number of titles and different depictions, we all know that we are only referring to one Holy Child Jesus.

Santo Niño Exhibits in Cavite

Amidst the pandemic, most parishes in Cavite managed to organize small Santo Niño exhibits that will showcase some of the prominent Santo Niño images in the country. These exhibits were held in a very limited time where safety protocols were strictly implemented. Before entering the premises, the body temperature must be checked, visitors must sanitize and they should be wearing face masks and face shields. Social distancing was also strictly implemented and visitors are also not allowed to touch any of the images.

Diocesan Shrine of Saint Augustine in Tanza, Cavite

The parish of Santa Cruz de Malabon (Diocesan Shrine of San Agustin) held their Santo Niño exhibit from January 7 to January 17. The exhibit highlights some unique Santo Niño titles including their very own Santo Niño de Tanza, Santo Niño de Sabtang of Batanes, a unique depiction of Santo Niño Panadero (baker), Santo Niño de Acolito (Acolyte), Santo Niño de Pinatubo, and more. Here are some of the images from the recently concluded Santo Niño exhibit in Tanza, Cavite.

Santo Niño de Tanza

Santo Niño de Pandacan

Santo Niño de Chino

El Niño Jesus Panadero

Santo Niño de Sabtang

Santo Niño de Acolito

Santo Niño de Pinatubo

Santo Niño dela Regla

Santo Niño del Santissimo Sacramento

El Divino Niño Jesus, Esperanza De Sevilla

Santo Niño dela Soledad

Santo Niño, Hijo de San Jose

St Michael Archangel Parish in Bacoor, Cavite

The parish of Saint Michael Archangel of Bacoor held their Santo Niño exhibit on January 13 and it will run until tomorrow (January 31). It comes with a theme ” Sto Niño: Sandigan at Gabay ng mga Mananampalatayang Pilipino sa Loob ng 500 Taong Pagmimisyon”. The exhibit highlights some locally-recognized Santo Niño images like the Santo Bambino de Bacoor, Santo Niño del Rosario de Caracol, Santo Niño de Molino, and other replicas like Santo Niño de Basco from Batanes, Santo Niño de Batangan of Batangas, a sleeping Santo Niño de Cebu and more.

Santo Bambino de Bacoor

Santo Niño de Tacloban

Santo Niño de Atocha

Sleeping Santo Nino de Cebu

Santo Niño del Pilar

Santo Niño de Basco

Santo Niño de Batangan

Santo Niño del Mar

Santo Niño de Fatima

Santo Niño de Sacristan

Nuestro Señor del Santissimo Rosario Rei de Caracol

Santo Niño dela Compassion

Saint Mary Magdalene Parish in Kawit

Kawit Church held their Santo Niño Exhibit from January 17 to January 30. Kawit is known for their grand and colorful festivals. Aside from their famous Maytinis Festival (apparently postponed last year due to pandemic), Kawit also celebrates the feast of Santo Niño in a very festive way. There’s a grand karakol of Santo Niño showcasing a great number of Santo Niño images carried in colorful and highly decorated andas and carozzas (ChecK : A Festive Grand Karakol of Santo Niño in Kawit). It’s an event that will not just showcase the overwhelming devotion of Kawiteños but also highlights their impressive creativity and craftsmanship. We may not witness these colorful parade this year but the creativity was still reflected in the recently concluded Santo Niño exhibit. It highlights images like Santo Niño de la Paz, Sto Niño de Consolacion, El Capitan General De Las Islas Filipinas, Sto Niño de Atocha, and more.

Santo Niño dela Paz

Niño Divino Jesus

Santo Niño De Consolacion Y Correa

Santo Niño de Bancaan

Santo Niño De Sagrada Corazon

Santo Niño de Agnus Dei

Santo Niño De los Flores

El Capitan General Delas Islas Filipinas

Santo Niño del Cuidador del Gallo

Santo Niño de Atocha

Santo Niño dela Paz

Santo Niño de Cebu

Santo Niño de Kawit

Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Porta Vaga/ San Roque Parish in Cavite City

San Roque Church kicked off their Santo Niño Exhibit starting January 23 until tomorrow (January 31). Normally, the parish celebrates the feast of Santo Niño with various festivities like Karakol and other youth programs like Ati-atihan street dancing exhibition, and more. (See: Ati-atihan and Street Dancing Competition in Cavite City). The exhibit highlights different Santo Niño images including a replica of Santo Niño dela O of Pangil, Laguna, Santo Bambino de Aracoeli, Santo Niño de Cebu, Santo Niño de Padua, Santo Niño de Aranzazu, Santo Niño dela Merced, and more.

Santo Niño dela Merced

Santo Niño de Consolacion

Santo Niño de Passion

Santo Niño de Padua

Santo Niño de Romblon

Santo Niño dela O

Santo Bambino de Aracoeli

Santo Niño de Ternate/ Santo Niño dela Rosa, Santo Niño de la Paloma

Santo Niño del Santissmo Rosario

Santo Niño de Aranzazu

Santo Niño de Alahero/ Santo Niño desamparados/ Santo Niño de Passion

Santo Niño de Tondo

Santo Niño of San Roque Parish