Catholic devotees flock to the procession and blessing of images of the Santo Niño on the feast day of the Santo Nino de Tondo in Manila on January 21, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA - Aside from Cebu, Catholic devotees are gradually flocking to Tondo, Manila, where the annual celebration of the Feast of Señor Santo Niño is held. 

23-year old AJ De Guia, accompanied by two friends, visited the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño in Tondo Sunday morning, bringing with him a replica of the Santo Niño that he personally had blessed. 

Holding the image of the Santo Niño close to his heart, AJ shared a life-changing experience, recalling his miraculous recovery from leptospirosis in 2020. 

Sinulog Festival sa Cebu City umarangkada na

“‘Yon po ‘yong pinakamalaki na binigay niya talaga po sa akin. Muntikan na akong i-dialysis, parang konti na lang talaga bibigay na ‘yong katawan ko pero sa kanya ako tumawag. Dininig niya naman po ‘yong hiling ko na bigyan ako ng pangalawang buhay. Kaya wala pong dahilan para tumalikod sa kanya,” said AJ. 

Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Reyes highlighted the significance of this year's celebration. 

“Dineklara ng Santo Papa ang taong ito 2025, Jubilee of Hope. Ito po ay mahalaga sa atin sapagkat ‘yong larawan at estatwa ng Sto. Niño ay magpapaalala po sa atin ng pag-asa ng isang bata. Ang Sto. Niño, magpapaalala sa atin na ang pag-asa natin ay nasa Panginoon,” he said. 

The celebration will feature 33 masses from January 18 until the feast day on January 19. 

The shrine expects a surge of devotees, as the image of Sto. Niño de Tondo is one of the oldest in the Philippines, second to Cebu. 

“Kung hindi po ako nagkakamali 450 years na to be exact, gano’n katagal. Ito po ay kasamang dinala ng mga misyonaryo galing Mexico o España dinala dito ‘yan,” Rev. Fr. Reyes added.

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Outside the church, vendors have set up stalls selling replicas and clothing for the Santo Niño. 

Couple Ricky and Suzeth, long-time devotees from Navotas, shared their story of devotion. 

“Dati pinapanalangin lang namin na magkaroon ng bahay. Sa awa ng Diyos, binigyan kami. Binigyan ng NHA pabahay kaya nagkaroon po kami ng bahay sa Naic. Marami pang ibang blessings na dumarating sa buhay namin,” Ricky shared. 

Vendors anticipate a rise in sales as the feast day approaches, hoping for blessings in both faith and livelihood. 

“Parang regular pa lang din ang daloy ng tao. Expected Friday, Saturday, Sunday dadami ang tao,” said BJ Sabondo, a vendor selling Santo Niño replicas. 

“Bago mag-fiesta ‘yon medyo malakas na ang benta. Pero sa kasalukuyan wala pa naman. Kapag nakakapagtinda ka sa fiesta medyo gumiginhawa ang pakiramdam mo dahil nakapanata ka,” Elesio David, a vendor of Sto. Niño clothes, added. 

Meanwhile, the Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish in Pandacan, Manila is already preparing for the annual celebration. 

Preparations for feast of Santo Niño de Cebu in full swing

One of the highlights of the activities is the Buling-Buling Festival where devotees carrying Sto. Niño replica dance along the streets of Pandacan. 

“That’s the official cultural dance festival na dito sa Pandacan matatagpuan. ‘Yong sinasayaw ang poong Sto. Niño sa buong bayan ng Pandacan. Hindi lang yan to promote devotion, sabi ko nga, paalala sa atin na may kasama tayo sa paglalakbay natin sa buhay. At the same time, hinihiling natin na pagalingin ‘yong mga may sakit,” said Rev. Fr. Andy Ortega Lim. 

Despite the devastating fire that gutted the Pandacan church in July 2020, the parish continues to hold the annual celebration, with proceeds from merchandise sales aiding the church’s reconstruction.