Just beside Magellan’s Cross is a huge church which is decidated to the child Jesus called Santo Nino or Holy Child. The church is right along a very busy pedestrian path passing by. This pedestrian path incidentally leads to other important sights. But for now, we stop here. The Church has an interesting history to it date back to 1565. It is said that in that year, Spanish conquistadors found a burnt box with a statue of the child Jesus left behind by Ferdinand Magellan’s 1521 expedition which miraculously survived all those years. In honor of the statue’s miraculous survival, the Spanish built a church dedicated to the child Jesus, supposedly on the very spot where it was discovered.
The church is now declared a Basilica Minore, it still is managed by the Augustinian and is now in the center of modern cebu. Basilica Minore del Santo Nino is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines and has stood the test of time and is still going strong. Outside the church worshippers pray for the intercession of the saints and of course, the Santo Nino. Just across the church was a large plaza which was closed at the time I visited. The plaza I presume is for use in special activities of the church.
Just standing outside the church already gave me at good idea on how deep the Cebuanos love for Santo Nino. Whenever they pass by the main door of the church, the people would wave. Yes, they wave at Santo Nino, this is something like a quick greeting much like how we wave to each other. In this case the Santo Nino is a child and they also treat him like a child. Of course standing outside the church won’t get me anything more interesting, it was time to go in the church itself.
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