An icon of our hearts and souls
Yesterday, January 15, marks the 501st year since Spanish colonizers landed in Cebu and introduced the Sto Niño; a culturally and religiously significant event in the Philippines. From shelves in homes to jeepneys and local restaurants, the significant shape and presence of the Sto. Niño is seen and loved everywhere by Filipinos.
Written by: Claire Therese Ferrer
Layout by: Francheska Mercado
January 16, 2023 | 5:38 P.M.
The Sto. Niño is known as a religious symbol for Filipinos everywhere. We know the familiar icon of the Baby Jesus; almost every Filipino home has a Sto. Niño sculpture. This is due to the belief that their prayers would be answered and they would be protected by the religious figure. We all gather every third Sunday of January to celebrate the Sto. Niño feast, a liturgical feast in the Philippines, but do we know the significance of this event? Why do we celebrate it? How is it connected to our country’s history?
When Magellan arrived in the Philippines, he was introduced to the rulers of the island of Cebu. Rajah Humabon and Hara Amihan, his wife, were two of the few Filipino natives who accepted Christianity at the time. Magellan presented the two rulers with three gifts, the Ecce Homo—a painting of Christ before being persecuted, an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a statue of the Baby Jesus dressed in robes that are commonly associated with the Spanish monarchs. It was adorned with jewelry as well. A baptismal gift to Queen Amihan. The figure we now know as the Sto. Niño.
These gifts weren’t merely given as a way to show respect, but these gifts have meaning and relevance to the lives of the rulers and the Filipino natives. The Ecce Homo signifies how Jesus Christ has conquered death. His acceptance of death (and how He overcame it) can be seen in the image of Him before being persecuted. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary signifies the Church as the mother who nurtures Christians until they reach the maturity of faith. Mary also represents the image of the Church by preaching and teaching people about her son, Jesus Christ. And lastly, the statue of the Baby Jesus represents that he is the king of kings from the garment alone; how he rules over all. His presence represents the young faith and religion that is yet to mature in the Philippines just like how it is depicted through the image of his youth.
Eventually, after the battle of Mactan and Magellan’s death, the original Sto. Niño statue went missing. It was rediscovered by Miguel de Legazpi’s men in 1565. Although it is believed that natives honored the Sto. Niño through the pagan dance ritual known as the Sinulog festival. This only goes to show how the short presence of the Sto. Niño sculpture, in one way or another, has spiritually affected the lives of the natives.
From over half a millennium ago up until now, the Sto. Niño has impacted and is continuing to impact the lives of Filipinos, even affecting the lives of people all over the world.
The centuries-old tradition of the feast of Sto. Niño has stood the test of time, reminding us of our rich past and guiding us toward a good future. As the oldest Catholic icon, the Sto. Niño is near and dear to many people’s hearts. It gives many a blanket of security, hope, and blessing. It brought cultures together and helped us—just like it helped our ancestors—establish a proper relationship with the Lord. The Holy Child sets an example of who we should be and what we should be like. The Sto. Niño will always be a cultural and religious icon, it will never be forgotten, and will forever be etched in our hearts. Viva Señor Sto. Niño!