Eleven miraculous images.
Eleven different stories of faith.
One Señor Santo Niño!
Celebrating its very first Dinagyang, Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo focuses on faith as it unveils its festival centerpiece - an exhibit of antique Sto. Niños
Dubbed as PAGTU-O, meaning "faith" in the local dialect, these 11 images from different local parishes and devotees , in varying sizes and origins, have different stories of faith to tell tested through time.
"Seeing the images of the sweet baby Jesus at the lobby in celebration of the entire festival will help remind everyone to offer all joys and sacrifices back to Him who has made everything possible to us.”
The Holy Child
owned by Kenny Santiago.
Formed by the late Joaquin ‘Boy’ A. Santiago Jr. and family, the image is clothed with indigenous materials such as bamboo strips, ropes, bagacay, and other materials. The Sto. Niño was blessed by the late Pope John Paul II in 1981 during his visit in Iloilo City.
Sto Niño de Arevalo 1581 (Replica)
owned by Mark Clinton Jaro Layson.
The image of the Sto Niño de Arevalo is considered to be the third oldest in the Philippines after the Sto Niños of Cebu (1521) and Tondo (1572). The image of Sto Niño de Arevalo is humbly venerated at the simple church at Villa Arevalo, Iloilo City and is said to have been brought by the Augustinians upon establishment of La Villa Rica de Arevalo as a Spanish settlement.
Sto Niño de Cebu (Replica)
owned by San Jose Parish Placer.
The image of Sto Niño de Cebu arrived in San Jose Parish Placer in 1968 and was welcomed by the parishioners with a merry-making. Such merry-making evolved later on to become a grandiose festival which is the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival.
Sto Niño el Capitan General
owned by Aleijah de los Reyes.
This Niño used to be kept by the owner's grandmother at their farm and was the little guard of her house. According to caretakers of the farm, the image would be found in a mango tree during harvest season like a child would play around when unattended. It was used to be dressed in a red sando type vestment and was barefoot reminiscent of street children hence the name ‘Palaboy’.
Sto Niño of Divine Providence
owned by Heinrich Clavel Chavez.
This image was handed to Mr. Heinrich Clavel Chavez by Ms Teodora Cañor Temporalities of San Nicolas Chapel and has been said to be under their possession for more than half a century. This image manifested to one of their workers and said that the image came to life that allowed her to feel the presence during her veneration.
Sto Niño muy Glorioso de Padua
owned by Carl Bryan Gelera
“A noble man called Tiso, who always extended a friendly hospitality to the saint on his preaching tours. Around 1229, when St Anthony accepted an offer to spend a few days at Tiso’s castle, Tiso passed Anthony’s room. He saw rays of light issuing from under the door. Impelled with curiosity, he peeped through the keyhole and saw to his amazement, a child of wondrous beauty standing on an opened book of the gospel on the table, his tiny arms encircling the neck of the smiling Anthony. Tiso also saw a flood of light surrounded the child and unspeakable tenderness with which he caressed the saint and was in turn caressed by him.
Pledge of Return
owned by Heinrich Clavel Chavez
This image was bought during the 450th year of Kaplag festival, which celebrates the discovery of the Holy Child by the Spanish soldier Juan Camus on April 28, 1565. He found the icon in the remains of a burned nipa hut after Spanish forces set the village on fire. Camus was part of the Spanish expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to reclaim the islands after Magellan’s first visit in 1521. The original image of the Holy Child Jesus is housed in a glass-enclosed marble aedicula beside the main altar of the Basilica Minore del Sto Niño.
Sto Niño de Cebu (Replica)
owned by Heinrich Clavel Chavez.
With the full cooperation and support of the Filipino people and sanctioned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Augustinian fathers have built a marble chapel inside the Basilica. Construction of the chapel started on August 1975. This fitting shrine of Sto Niño now serves as the center of devotion of Catholic Philippines.
Señor Sto Niño of Iloilo
owned by Kenny Santiago
Also known as ‘Big Brother’, it was formed by the late Joaquin ‘Boy’ Santiago Jr., the tribe operation manager of Tribu Atub Atub since 1971. The tribe and family are fervent devotees of the Holy Child, who was blessed with numerous achievements as Dinagyang Champion from the year 1978, 1981, 1983, 1991, 2000, 2003, and 2004.
Sto Niño de Cebu
owned by Romel Flogen
This image owned by Mr Romel Flogen has been in his possession since the early 2000s. Sto Niño has traveled and performed with him in numerous Dinagyang Festival street dance and free interpretation competitions. This image has also made all the way to the Aliwan Festival representing the Dinagyang Festival during the past years.
Hala Bira, Iloilo! Viva Señor Santo Niño!
Photo credits: Individual images by Sweet Umadhay Marcelo
_________________________
Please comment if the ever there's a mismatch between the owners/images and the description.
My apologies.
My apologies.