Image of Sto. Nino, A Miraculous Image Embraced by Devotees

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, Cebu, Central Visayas, 6000, Philippines

There is also a small garden inside the church

Introduction

The Santo Niño Church is the oldest religious relic in the Philippines, built in 1565. It is famous for its renowned "Santo Niño statue". Rajah Humabon, the indigenous chief of the Philippines, and his wife Queen Juana converted to Christianity, and Ferdinand Magellan presented a black-skinned Santo Niño statue to Queen Juana as a gift. In 1565, a war broke out in Cebu, and on April 27th, a fire burned down the entire city, but the Santo Niño statue remained intact, which was regarded as a miracle by the locals and worshipped. Currently, the miraculous Santo Niño statue is housed in a convent within the parish, and a replica with gold and precious stones is displayed for worship. This wooden "Child Jesus Christ statue" is about 40cm tall and is the oldest religious icon in the Philippines, still receiving fervent devotion from the citizens.