Basilica Miñore de Cebu

March 22, 2015

The Minor Basilica of the Holy Child (Spanish: Basílica Minore del Santo Niño), commonly known as Santo Niño Church, is a minor basilica in Cebu City in the Philippines that was founded in the 1565. It is the oldest Roman Catholic church established in the country on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño de Cebú, a statue depicting the Child Jesus was found in 1565 by Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. (Wikipedia)

After we dropped by and had our picture taken at the Magellan's Cross(closed also for renovation), we headed to the church. 

throwback pic by my husband last June, 2013 inside Magellan's Cross

Apparently, the Basilica was under renovation at this time also which started last February. It was severely damaged by Bohol's magnitude 7.7 earthquake last 2013.

So we attended the last mass at their Pilgrim center just right in front of the Basilica.

I was amazed of the number of people went here just to hear Sunday mass which was spoken in the vernacular. Maybe a lot of them are turistas also like us. Cebuanos are really religious, being Cebu is the first seat of Christianity in the Philippines. It is known to have at least 30 old churches scattered in the island which some of them were built during the Spanish regime.

After the mass, people came at the middle of the center and had their images blessed. My Mom ask my sis to have our green Sto. Niño be blessed. Pati tao pala bine-blessed kaya my Mom and Aunt followed suit. I should have take a picture. Nakakahinayang. That moment would be priceless. Yun ang pagkakaiba namin ng husband ko, hindi niya pinalalagpas ang ganoong pagkakataon.