The Sto. Niño Church
The Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño in Cebu City is more popularly known as Sto. Niño Church. It is a 16th century Roman Catholic Church built on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño was found in 1565. The image was said to be preserved inside a burned wooden box which was left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition. Santo Niño is a sculpture depicting the Holy Child Jesus.
Tourists taking photos outside the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño
The Sto. Niño Church is located only a few meters away from the Magellan's Cross. It was a sunny Sunday when we went there and, as expected, the church and its vicinity were filled with devotees, churchgoers, tourists, pilgrims, and vendors.
Signage above the church's entrance.
Outside the church are female candle vendors who will offer to dance their prayers in that two-step-forward, one-step-backward rhythm called the Sinug.
These women in yellow skirts are the "Sinug" dancers.
Fronting the Sto. Niño Church is a pilgrim center which is an open-air, theater-like structure. It is here where the priest will officiate the mass since there are times when the church could could not accommodate its ever growing number of devotees and churchgoers inside.
The pilgrim center fronting the Sto. Niño Church.
The side of the pilgrim center which is along Osmeña Boulevard.
The view from inside the Sto. Niño Church.
Also located within the Sto. Niño Church compound is a special section where devotees can light candles and offer their prayers. The small, red candles are placed in boxes beside the candle holders. There are coin slots for people to insert any amount of money they want to donate to the church.
Devotees saying their prayers after lighting the candles outside the Basilica.
The Cebuanos are known to be deeply religious people.
And this is me standing outside the Sto. Niño Church (photo credits to my wife).
How to go there:
The Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño or the Sto. Niño Church is the oldest Catholic Church in Cebu. It is also one of the main tourist attractions of the Queen City of South. It is located along Osmeña Boulevard and can be reach by taxi, jeepney or any private vehicle. The Sto. Niño Church is only a few meters away from the Magellan's Cross, Plaza Sugbo and Cebu City Hall.
Location of Sto. Niño Church is encircled in red (image credit: maps.google.com)