Sinulog Festival and The History of Santo Nińo Señor Santo Niño de Cebú is the venerated religious icon of the Child Jesus in Cebu. The icon was as gift of the explorer Ferdinand Magellan to the indigenous rulers of Cebu, celebrated as the moment when Christianity first arrived to the Filipino people. It is an important icon of Filipino culture and is commonly reproduced in Filipino households across the world. There is a grand celebration held annually in Cebu known as Sinulog—a fiesta in dedication to the Santo every third Sunday of January (which was this past Sunday!) in the Basilica Menor del Santo Niño. The story of Santo Niño begins in 1517. Portuguese sailor Fernão de Magalhãnes (known popularly as Ferdinand Magellan) was commissioned by the Spanish king, Carlos I to find a westward trade route to Asia. On August 10, 1519, de Magalhães and his fleet of five ships set off of Sevilla on the first ever journey to circumnavigation of the globe. When his fleet reached the Pacific Ocean, they landed on several islands including Guam, before eventually reaching what is now the Philippine Islands. They reached the island of Sugbo (the Cebuano word for Cebu) and were welcomed by the Raja Humabon (leader of Cebu). The rajah and his wife pledged their allegiance to the Kingdom of Spain and were received into the Roman Catholic Church. They were baptized by Padre Pedro Valderrama, taking the names Carlos, after the Spanish king, and Juana, after the previous Queen of Spain. According to the account of Antonio Pigafetta--the Venetian chronicler on the Spanish expedition--the image of Santo Niño was given to the rajah's wife, Juana, as a baptismal gift. The rajah himself was presented with a bust of "Ecce Homo," which is the depiction of Christ before Pilate. Magalhães also presented the converted natives with an image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebú (Virgin Mary) and planted a cross, now known as Magellan's cross, on the island. The original image was lost at some point after the first Spanish expedition, but was rediscovered by the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi, who would become the first Spanish Governor-General of the Philippine Islands. Legazpi instituted a fiesta in commemoration of the finding of the image. This is now what we know as modern-day Sinulog! The present-day basilica in Cebu, the first church in the Philippines, was built on the spot where the Santo Niño was found. Given that extensive history, it’s no surprise that the festival itself mixes a lot of pre-Spanish pagan themes and modern Christian imagery. The Sinulog dance for example, originates from an old pagan dance and was later rededicated by the Filipino people to Santo Niño. Filipinos worldwide also partake in novenas and their own Sinulog festivals usually on the corresponding dates. In my own house hold, the Santo Niño and the Sinulog festival are central to my family and we partake in Sinulog festivals annually. They are always very dynamic and are filled with deep religious devotion. As one of the longest lasting celebrations in the Philippines, the Sinulog festival and Santo Niño are a central part of Filipino culture, as they exemplify the Filipino people's Catholicism and the modern day Filipino culture, a mix of both East and West. Check out the video below of this year's winning parade performers from the festival in Cebu. In the words of Cebu: Viva Pit Senyor! Long Live Señor Santo Nino! Do you and your family celebrate Sinulog? Have you ever seen the festival in Cebu? Let us know in a comment below!
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