Sinulog de Cebu refers to street dancing and merry-making in honor of the Santo Niño, traced to the practice of Cebu natives who danced the Sinulog in honor of their animist idols long before the arrival of Magellan.
Today, the Sinulog commemorates the Filipino people’s acceptance of Christianity (specifically, Roman Catholicism), and their rejection of their former animist beliefs.
The rhythmic dancing is accompanied by shouting ‘Pit Señor!, shortened from Sangpit sa Señor! (meaning, “call on the Sto. Niño!”), praying for blessings or deliverance.
The Sto. Niño de Cebú (Cebuano: Balaang Bata sa Sugbo; Filipino: Batang Banal ng Cebu; Spanish: Sto. Niño de Cebú) is one of the oldest Christian relics in the Philippines, originally produced by Flemish artisans, based on a vision of Teresa of Avila a mystic of the 16th century.
The statue-image of Child Jesus is the centerpiece of the Sinulog celebration, which received papal recognition on 28 April 1965 when Pope Paul VI issued a papal bull for the Canonical Coronation of the statue, and raised the church that houses it to a Basilica status to mark the 400th anniversary of the first Christian mission and rediscovery of the statue in Cebu.
The annual feast is held every January on the third Sunday which is marked by fiesta, sinulog dancing in the streets, religious processions, and prayers.
Historical records show that in early 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, in the service of Charles V of Spain, was on his voyage to find a westward route to spice islands. On April 7, 1521, he landed in Limasawa, and met local ruler named Raja Kulambu, who introduced him to the ruler of Cebu island named Rajah Humabon and his wife Hara Humamay. On April 14 1521, Magellan presented them with three gifts: a cross, an image of Mary, and Sto. Nino as a part of their baptism, and a strategic alliance for territorial conquest.
As the host ruler adopted the Catholic faith, he took the Christian names of Carlos (after Charles V), and his wife took the name Juana (after Joanna of Castile, Charles’ mother).
According to Pigafetta, Magellan’s companion and memoir writer, along with the ruler, about 500 males there, along with the Sultana and 40 women were also converted by Father Valderrama. A few days after the baptism, Magellan undertook a war expedition on behalf of the newly- named Carlos, attacked Mactan Island, burning down hamlets who resisted. The residents led by Lapu Lapu defended Magellan’s attack with force, and Magellan died on 27 April 1521 in the Battle of Mactan, about three weeks after he had arrived in Philippines.After Magellan’s death, his Spanish colleagues left.
The next Spanish expedition arrived on April 27, 1565, again to gain a foothold for a colony to trade spices, and this was led by Miguel López de Legazpi , opened fire on Cebu, burnt the coastal town down destroying 1500 homes and possibly killing 500 people.
In the ruins of this destruction, the Spanish mariner Juan Camus found the image of the Sto. Niño in a pine box. According to local legend, the survival of the statue was seen as a sign of a miracle by the colonizers, and ever since, has been believed to have miraculous powers.
It is the oldest surviving Catholic relic in the Philippines, along with the Magellan cross.
A church to house the Sto. Niño was built on the spot where the image was found by Juan Camus. The church was originally made out of bamboo and mangrove palms, and claims to be the oldest parish in the Philippines. It was reconstructed later, and Pope Paul VI elevated it to the status of Basílica Menor del Santo Niño on its 400th anniversary .
‘Pit Señor!
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