DEEP DEVOTION Devotees fill the Basilica Minore del Santo Ni帽o and its Pilgrim Center in Cebu City at dawn of Jan. 9, 2025 for the first novena Mass that marks the start of the celebration for the feast of the Santo Ni帽o de Cebu or the Holy Child Jesus. 鈥� EMMANUELLE SAWIT
CEBU CITY 鈥� At least 160,000 devotees woke up early on Thursday to join the foot procession at dawn that kicked off the 11-day celebration leading to the Feast of the Sto. Ni帽o de Cebu or the Holy Child Jesus on Jan. 19.
Young and old devotees carried with them images of the Sto. Ni帽o as they recited the holy rosary and sang religious hymns amplified by speakers and aired live on radio during the 2-kilometer 鈥淧enitential Walk with Jesus鈥� from Fuente Osme帽a to the Basilica Minore del Santo Ni帽o in downtown Cebu City at 4 a.m.
Bells pealed while devotees applauded and shouted 鈥淰iva Pit Se帽or!鈥� when the image of the Sto. Ni帽o arrived at the centuries-old church around 5:30 a.m.
The church鈥檚 outdoor Pilgrim Center and courtyard, which has a capacity of 3,500, was packed.
Devotees, who spilled over to the streets surrounding the church, watched the Eucharistic celebration through large LED screens and television monitors installed around the basilica.
People waved their hands in the air in unison every time they sang 鈥淏ato-Balani sa Gugma,鈥� an ancient Cebuano hymn for the Sto. Ni帽o.
Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, spokesperson for the Cebu City police, said at least 160,000 people attended the opening activity.
鈥淚t was generally peaceful and there were no reported untoward incidents during the procession and Mass. We鈥檙e looking forward to a peaceful Fiesta Se帽or in the coming days,鈥� she said in an interview.
Jubilee year
The 460th Fiesta Se帽or carries the theme, 鈥淪anto Ni帽o: Hope of the Pilgrim Church,鈥� echoing the celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year of the Catholic Church.
In his homily, Fr. Andres Rivera, rector of the basilica, urged people to put their hopes, not on anything or anyone else, but on Sto. Ni帽o who, he said, 鈥渘ever disappoints.鈥�
鈥淲e celebrate the feast of the Child Jesus not because we want a God who stoops down to our wants or follows what we want. The Sto. Ni帽o is a representation of God鈥檚 great love for us. This Sto. Ni帽o is not bringing luck but blessings,鈥� he said in Cebuano.
鈥淭he Sto. Ni帽o is the hope of the pilgrim church. He is the lone hope of the people. Words from people are sweet but dissipate quickly. We should not trust [in] things and our own abilities but instead hope in God alone,鈥� he added.
Rivera also defended the decision of the Augustinian fathers, who supervise and run the basilica, to continue strictly implementing a dress code imposed on Oct. 1 last year, despite the multitude of devotees and tourists expected to visit the church for the feast of Sto. Ni帽o.
They said they wanted to maintain 鈥渢he solemnity of the worship space鈥� and align with practices observed at other churches and shrines both locally and internationally.
鈥淭he basilica is not like a [provincial] capitol, City Hall, or any establishment. This church is God鈥檚 temple. And as the Psalms proclaim: 鈥楬ow lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God.鈥� This basilica is God鈥檚 dwelling,鈥� Rivera said.
Dress code
The dress code implemented at the basilica has been met with criticisms by some people who considered it a 鈥渧ery strict policy鈥� that hindered those who didn鈥檛 have enough money to buy clothes and footwear.
Except on Jan. 9 and Jan. 17 where there were dawn processions, 11 Masses would be held at the basilica鈥檚 Pilgrim Center every day leading to the feast day of the Sto. Ni帽o on Jan. 19.
Another prayer walk from Fuente Osme帽a to the basilica will be held for the 鈥淲alk with Mary鈥� at 4 a.m. on Jan. 17.
It will be followed by the Misa de Traslacion before the start of the motorcade that will bring the pilgrim images of the Sto. Ni帽o and Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City.
At midnight of Jan. 18, the images of Sto. Ni帽o and Our Lady of Guadalupe will be transferred to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Rule in Lapu-Lapu City before the icons sail down the Mactan Channel on board a 鈥済alleon鈥� during the annual fluvial procession to Pier 1 in Cebu City.
The sea procession will be followed by a reenactment of the first Mass, baptism, and wedding at the basilica鈥檚 Pilgrim Center.
The solemn foot procession of the Sto. Ni帽o will be held at 1 p.m., passing through major streets in Cebu City before returning to the basilica for a Mass.
On the feast day on Jan. 19, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will preside over the pontifical Mass at 6 a.m., three hours before the city鈥檚 major streets are closed for the Sinulog grand parade.