Basilica Minore del Santo Nino Cebu where the image of Santo Nino was found is the oldest Catholic Church of the 16th Century in the City of Cebu and the first monastery to be established in the Philippines.
Upon the discovery of the image of Christ Child inside a burning house by the troops of Legazpi, they considered the finding of the image as a good omen making them built their first house in Cebu. Thereupon the founding of the image of Santo Nino marks a history.
1565
May 8 – The urbanization of Cebu was planned by Legazpi together with his men where they allotted a church for Saint Agustine and for a convent. And the image found was enthroned to the chapel and convent built by Legaspi’s troops.
June 1 – The first prior of the convent was appointed named Fr. Diego de Herrera.
1578-1599
Fr. Alonso de Mentrida taught the Visayan language at the convent which also becomes the rest house for the other Augustinians who worked in Cebu.
1605
Because the chapel built in 1565 was gutted in fire in the year 1566, Fr. Pedro Torres started to make a church with a similar structure from the first and was finished in the year 1626 but was caught on fire again after two years.
1628
A church of stone was started to build through Fr. Juan Medina. Because the church was in danger for it might have collapsed, a demolition were made on the year 1731
1735
February 29 – A new church was built from coral blocks and molave wood and was completed on 1739 were Fr. Juan de Albarran, OSA, prior of the convent wrote a complete report of the construction.
1740
Image of the Christ Child or widely known as Santo. Nino was installed.
1889
Fr. Mateo Diez restored the church in which, the interior and the main altar were repainted, the windows and the side altars were improved and a marbled floor highlighted the church.
1965
Inlined with the quadricentennial of Christianity, the church underwent another renovation. A stained glass depicting the Christianity history in the Philippines was placed.
1980
The Sacristy was caught on fire affecting the retablo but after the fire, traces of damages were removed.
Through Cardinal Hildebrando Antoniutti, the papal legate, the church conferred with the status basilica minore as raised by Pope Paul VI.
The Church’s Structure
The façade of the church is made from cut-coral stones with the images of saints which were believed to be quarried from Panay. The spacious church has an image of two Chinese-style lion. A mix influences blends the façade of the church from Muslim, Neo-Classical according to Agustinian historian Father Pedro Galende and Romanesque.
A three-level belfry attached to the end of the façade on the northern. At its south is the two-level monastery. A pilgrim houses the Agustinian Province of Santo Nino de Cebu. The pilgrim was built in the early-1990s.
The Altar
A carved multi-level wooden altar screen features particular Agustinian saint or blessed. The altar originally had four altars which includes two on the sides of the transept but were removed after the renovation on 1965 for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christianization in the Philippines. Gone also during the renovation was the 18th century pipe organ but on the year 1966, another pipe organ was installed by Jose Loinaz. The organ itself was manufactures in Germany by the Laukhuff Orgelbau, Weikersheim. But what highlighted the most in the altar is the 480-year old image of the Santo Nino.
Visiting the image of Santo Nino in the Basilica Minore, lighting of candles inside the church are strictly prohibited. However, touching the image of Santo Nino is possible as long as you follow the line from the outside of the ambulatory between the church and the convento.
The Convent
Strictly prohibited for anyone to enter the second story of the convent, the first floor is occupied by Parish offices. A carved stairway leads to the spacious aula or living room, were painting of Agustinian saints is displayed.
The Festival
Sinulog is the name of the festival in Cebu. Taken from the Visayan word “suug” which means water current. The festival is a combination of dancing and prayers which were believed to seek the favor of Santo Nino to carry out the prayers of the community. Outside the Basilica, women selling candles dances while holding a handful of candles as a part of the tradition of praying to Santo Nino.
Credits to:
http://www.admu.edu.ph/offices/mirlab/panublion/r7_basilica.html
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