Santo Niño de Tondo Parish (Tondo Church)
VIVA SANTO NIÑO!
The Feast of the Holy Child Jesus is celebrated on the third Sunday of January. From solemn masses to lively street parties and dances, the feast of the Santo Niño is celebrated in different colorful ways across the Philippines. The first known image of the Santo Niño arrived on the islands with the Magellan Expedition in 1521. The image was later given by Ferdinand Magellan to the wife of King Humabon, lord of Cebu.
In Manila, one of two important places and parishes where the Santo Niño is celebrated is at Tondo Church. An image of the Santo Niño, which came from Mexico, has been enshrined at Tondo Church since the parish was established in 1572. The image has seen and survived numerous upheavals and disasters that have ravaged the district.
Aside from Tondo, the town of Pandacan – now part of Manila – also celebrated the feast of the Holy Child. Sadly, the church and its centuries-old image of the Santo Niño were destroyed by a massive fire on July 10, 2020.