Devotion to the Santo Niño, an image of a boy Jesus usually dressed as a king, has been part of popular piety in the Philippines for centuries.
The oldest and most popular image of the Santo Niño can be found in the central Philippine city of Cebu where the grandest celebration dubbed the “Sinulog” is held every year.
The “Sinulog” or dance prayer, the oldest festival in the country, usually gathers more than a million devotees, including local and foreign tourists.
“Sinulog,” from the Cebuano word “sulog” or water current, depicts the forward-backward movement of water that is danced to the beat of drums.
Devotees wave their hands in the air and shout “Viva Senor Santo Nino!” of “Hail to the Holy Child! and “Pit Senor!” short for “Sangpit sa Senyor (Call to King)”
