12/01/2024
ππππππ | The image of Santo Nino was found in one of the houses of the natives of Cebu by Juan de Camuz on April 28, 1565. It's the same image given as a baptismal gift by Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana on 1521. The surviving religious relic will be turning 459 years old this year since its discovery (1565-2024).
Preceding the dawn of Spanish colonization in Cebu, on April 1565, Juan de Camuz, a Spanish soldier and sailor of the ship βCapitanaβ, discovered a venerated icon β the Santo NiΓ±o β within the dwelling of one of the houses of the natives of Cebu.
This discovery, now considered the Philippines' oldest religious relic, marked a pivotal moment in the nation's religious transformation. Initially bestowed upon Queen Juana by Ferdinand Magellan as a baptismal gift, the Santo NiΓ±o transcended its original purpose to become a potent symbol of faith and cultural amalgamation. As this treasured relic approaches its 459th anniversary, its presence continues to resonate deeply within the Filipino ethos.
"On April 28, 1565, the dramatic yet providential discovery (pagkakaplag) of the same wooden image in a partially scorched hut started the distinctive Christian heritage of the Philippines."
Visit Central Visayas Cebu City Tourism The Philippines Department of Tourism - Philippines Basilica Minore del Santo NiΓ±o de Cebu Sinulog Foundation Inc. Cebu Provincial Tourism Office
