Viva Sto. Niño: List of Festivals Honoring the Child Jesus

Photo Credit: http://cebu.sunstar.com.ph/

To Filipinos, the first month of the year is not just for the celebration of the New Year. As a country dominated by the Christian religion, January is also the month of Santo Niño or the Holy Infant Jesus.

The Origin

The wooden image of the Sto. Niño is the oldest religious image in our country. It is made by Flemish artisans, was brought by Ferdinand Magellan, and given as a baptismal gift to Queen Juana. 44 years later when the big part of Cebu was set on fire, one of the Spanish soldiers found the image of Sto. Niño in a burnt house, unscratched. Since then, the image has been treated as a patron saint by the Cebuanos. At present, only a replica decorated with gold and precious stones is displayed inside the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño while the miraculous image is kept in the Parish convent.

List of Sto. Niño Festivals

The following are the various spiritual-cum-cultural festivals celebrated in the first month of the year:

1. Ati-Atihan Festival

Where: Kalibo, Aklan

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

2. Dinagyang Festival

Where: Iloilo City

When: January 20 – 22

3. Binanog Festival

Where: Lambunao, Iloilo

When: January 10 – 16

4. Sinulog (Kabankalan) Festival

Where: Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

When: January 10 – 16

5. Makato Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Poblacion Makato, Aklan

When: January 15

6. Kahimunan Festival

Where: Libertad, Butuan City

When: January 16

7. Kinaradto Festival

Where: Buenavista, Guimaras

When: January 16

8. Altavas Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Poblacion Altavas, Aklan

When: January 21 – 22

9. Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal Festival

Where: Ibajay, Aklan

When: January 24 – 25

10. Hinirugyaw Festival

Where: Calinog, Iloilo

When: January 30 – February 6

11. Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Malolos, Bulacan

When: Last Sunday of January

12. Lakbayaw Festival

Where: Tondo, Manila

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

13. Dinagsa Ati-Atihan Festival

Where: Cadiz City, Negros Occidental

When: January 24 – 30

14. Sinulog Festival

Where: Cebu City

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

Aside from the Philippines, devotees of Sto. Niño are also found in various countries including Spain, Mexico, and Peru. It also has different names per country like Infant of Prague in the Czech Republic, El Santo Niño de Atocha in Mexico, and Santo Bambino di Ara Coeli in Rome.

Have you experienced attending any of these events? Or do you know more festivals honoring Sto. Niño? You can share your thoughts and experiences on the comments section provided below.

Byaheng Supremo: 8 Best Places to Visit on Bonifacio Day

Planning to have a road trip on November 30? Why not visit the following prominent sights to honor the heroism of The Great Plebian?

1. Bonifacio Monument

National Artist Guillermo Tolentino designed this to honor Andres Bonifacio, the founder and Supremo of the Katipunan. The shrine is in a junction in Grace Park, Caloocan. 

Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

2. Bonifacio Trial House

This served as a venue for the trial of the brothers Andres and Procopio in 1897 due to felony treason.

The first floor of the Trial House unveils the pictures and text about Bonifacio and the various kinds of KKK flags. At the second floor, you will find:

ü  Photos of the supposed dug-up skulls of Andres and Procopio;

ü  Sculptures showing Bonifacio and his contemporaries in an argument;

ü  Copies of handwritten letters by Bonifacio; and

ü  Bonifacio-inspired paintings by young artists. 

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

 3. Bonifacio Shrine and Eco-tourism Park
Located at Mt. Nagpatong, Maragondong, Cavite, this is where Andres and Procopio died. The shrine accents relief sculptures made of bronze, signifying the words “KKK” and “Bayani”. The park has an ongoing clubhouse, two swimming pools, picnic ground and a vast camping space for tourists.

Photo credit: lakwatsa-atbp.blogspot.com

4. Casa Hacienda De Naic (now Naic Elementary School)
This house was witness to two events related to Bonifacio:
1.   Creation of “Naic Military Agreement” led by Bonifacio; and
2.   Arrest of Bonifacio and his brother Procopio. 

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

5. Katipunan  Museum

Katipunan Museum is the sole gallery built to display the contributions of KKK.

Photo credit: mymomfriday.com

6. Pamitinan Caves
Pamitinan Caves, found at Rodriguez, Rizal, is where the secret initiation rites of the Katipunan was held and where the members carved “Viva la Independencia!” on the walls. 

Photo credit: manilarules.com

7. Pinagbarilan Shrine

This memorial is at Limbon, Indang, Cavite. Here, Agapito Bonzon shot Bonifacio using a revolver while Ignacio Pawa stabbed the Supremo on the right side of the neck. 

Photo credit: baktincorporation.com

8. Pinaglabanan Shrine

This shrine, set near the San Juan City Hall, evokes the dawn of August 30, 1896. It was when Spanish soldiers crushed Bonifacio and his army of poorly armed Katipuneros after attacking the powder depot in San Juan. 

Photo credit: crispypataatkarekare.com

Do you know other places linked to Bonifacio’s valor? Please share in the comments section!

Little-Known Facts about Andres Bonifacio, the Supremo

Copy of Bonifacio's only existing photograph.
Photo credit: filipiknow.net

Many patriotic individuals had carved their names into the pages of Philippine history. However, the current generation of Filipinos can only recognize a few names. Of the many heroes, it seems only Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are the most popular ones. In fact, they both have special days that are declared regular holidays in the country. Further, Rizal and Bonifacio seem to be rivals as Filipinos are divided on who should really be the country’s national hero.

Between the two historical figures who lived in the same era, Filipinos seem to know Rizal more than Bonifacio. While the two have a fair share of stories in history books and movie depictions, college education includes study of Jose Rizal’s life.

What many Filipinos know about the brave Bonifacio is that he was orphaned at a young age and became the leader of a secret movement known as KKK.

Should he be considered the Philippines’ first President?

What else should the countrymen know about the “father of Philippine revolution?”

Eight Details You Might Not Know

It’s never too late to discover some little yet meaningful details that made Andres Bonifacio a great person. Below are some little-known facts about him:

1. He was named after a saint—Saint Andrew. This proves that naming a child born on a saint’s feast day has long been a tradition in the country.

2. He did not live in poverty (prior to the death of his parents). Contrary to popular beliefs, Bonifacio did not come from a poor family (but from a middle-class family). His parents had high-paying jobs allowing him to have a private tutor.

3. He acted in plays. Bonifacio held several jobs, such as warehouseman, clerk messenger, warehouse supervisor, and a theater actor. His favorite role was that of a fictional giant named Bernardo Carpio.

4. He preferred using revolver rather than a bolo. Perhaps the depiction of him as a warrior using a bolo was inspired by this weapon’s association with the Katipuneros.

5. He was a bookworm. Bonifacio read many books and novels, including Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, and the History of the French Revolution.

6. He and Emilio Jacinto were best friends. The two heroes were allies during the time of revolution having worked on numerous plans. No wonder, they were tagged as father and brains (respectively) of their revolutionary society.

7. He once dressed as a woman. According to historian Ambeth Ocampo, this move aimed at concealing his identity to be able to pass through a checkpoint in Balintawak.

8. He was stabbed using a bolo. Along with his brother Procopio, Andres was executed by a team led by Lazaro Macapagal on May 10, 1897 in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite.

On the occasion of Bonifacio’s birth anniversary this November 30, let us relive the spirit of nationalism within ourselves. Let’s thank him for offering a life in exchange of national freedom.

Sources: GMANetwork.com (2013), Spot.ph (2012), FilipiKnow.net (2013)