Sto. Niño de Cebu during plagues

“The Golden Book of Cebu 1937” enumerates the miracles attributed to the Sto. Nino de Cebu. This was what the book said:

“In the years 1634, 1651, 1668, 1673 and 1675, it is said, the image performed some miracles. In 1618 Cebu suffered from a severe drought. Plants were dying. People and domestic animals were threatened with water shortage. To save the people form the terrible affliction, a procession of the Holy Child was held around the city. Shortly after, rain fell. In 1632 a big fire broke out, reducing to ashes the provincial jail and the houses around. All efforts were employed to put it out, but it seemed beyond human control. The Holy Child was then brought near the place. As if wiped out by a magic wand the conflagration slowly died out.

“In 1752, a pestilence gripped the entire city. Deaths were registered by the hundreds daily. When it was found out that only a miracle could save Cebu from complete depopulation, the miraculous image was again displayed in the streets of the city. The pestilence disappeared.

“The Senior Santo Niño of Cebu is the favorite patron saint of the Visayans. It is the object of many pilgrimages during the year. One of the most colorful features of the celebration is the “Dance before the Senor” in which old folk, with small sick children in their arms would dance in front of the Holy Child to the monotonous tum-tum of drums. The dancers would shout and laugh, implore and beg before the image.”

This is how the book narrates of the background of the Holy Image:

“The Holy Child is similar to those made in Flanders in the 16th century and therefore must have been brought by Magellan from Europe. As related by Pigafetta, “After dinner, the Chaplain D.P. de Valderama, with many of us, went ashore to baptize a native queen. While the priest got ready for the ceremony I showed her an image of Our Lord, a little statue of the Infant Jesus. When she saw it, she deeply touched the image, and crying, asked to be baptized. The queen wanted the image to take the place of her idols, so I gave it to her”. “The statue”, add Wals and Merino, “remained after the death of Magellan among the natives who worshipped it as one of their idols”.

“When Legaspi the Adelantado arrived in Cebu, together with Frs. Urdaneta, M. de Rada, D. Herrera, A. de Aguirre, and P. de Gamboa, on April 27, 1565, he sent several of his soldiers ashore. It was on this occasion that a sailor, Juan Camus, found the precious image of the Holy Child Jesus. After the discovery, Governor Legaspi ordered the building of a chapel to house the holy image which was venerated by all, including the Christian Indios. Fr. Urdaneta said a holy mass of thanksgiving.”