Ahead of the annual feast of the Santo Niño de Cebu, or the Holy Child of Cebu, various images of the Child Jesus from across the Philippines are put on display at the Araneta Shopping Center in Quezon City in the Philippine capital starting January 11 to January 14.
The exhibit features the three oldest Sto Niño images in the country. The image of the Christ Child is widely venerated as miraculous by Filipino Catholics. It is the oldest Christian artifact in the Philippines, supposedly a gift from the Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon (baptized as Carlos) and his wife and chief consort, Reyna Humamay (baptized as Juana) on account of their Christian baptism in 1521.
The image is replicated in various parts of the country with different titles and is one of the most beloved and recognizable Filipino cultural icons. (Photos by Jire Carreon)
