The celebration of the Feast of the Three Kings on the first Sunday of the new year marked the end of the Christmas season, but in the Philippines and Filipino Christians around the world, the Feast of Jesus Nazareno or the Black Nazarene on January 9 would serve as the culmination of the Christmas season. Still, other Christian devotees in our country consider the Ati-Atihan Festival, which is celebrated every third Sunday of January, as the finale of the Christmas season.
Still, other devotees refer to the Sinulog Festival, which is also celebrated every third Sunday of January, as the conclusion of the Christmas season.
The origin of the Ati-Atihan dates back to 1212 AD, after a group of ten Malay chieftains called “datus” fleeing from the island of Borneo settled on the island of Panay, Philippines where they were given settlement by the aborigines called “Ati” (Aetas). The Aetas were experiencing hardships when the ten Malay datus arrived at their shores and gave assistance to the Aetas.
Upon receiving help from the datus, the Ati leapt with joy and began to sing and dance for them. The peaceful exchange between the Ati and the Malays marked the celebration imitating the songs and dances of the Ati or Aetas (Ati-Atihan—imitation of the Atis).
Later on, Catholic elements were incorporated during the time of colonization, mainly the veneration of the baby Jesus known as the Santo Niño. The Ati-Atihan Festival was initiated by Fr. Jose Motus from Kalibo, Aklan, who, with the active assistance of the residents of the municipality of Carmen in Cebu, organized groups for what was then called “Ati-Atihan sa Carmen.”
However, the Ati-Atihan sa Carmen was transferred to Kalibo, Aklan to make the event more meaningful as it was in Aklan in Panay Island where its early settlers called Atis welcomed the ten Malay datus to settle there. The “Ati-Atihan sa Carmen” was later on renamed “Sinulog” and the celebration was transferred to Cebu City with a different main focus of the celebration.
The annual Sinulog Festival, on the other hand, marks the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chieftain of Cebu, Rajah Humabon and his Queen Hara Amihan, along with their subjects, were baptized as Christians during the first Christian mass ever conducted in the Philippines. On that occasion, explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave the image of the Santo Niño to Queen Hara Amihan as her baptismal present.
The Santo Niño image is said to have cured Rajah Humabon’s advisor, such that he began dancing joyfully and the rest of the people joined him.
In Barcelona, we were invited by the Philippine Consulate headed by the very amiable and indefatigable Consulate General Maria Theresa Lazaro to attend the third Sunday mass at the famous Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. It marked the second return of the original image of the Santo Nino de Cebu in the said church, the first being in 2021.
His Eminence, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who is in the Vatican City, was supposed to preside over the international mass but begged off because of more pressing concerns that he had to attend to in the Vatican. Cardinal Tagle, however, requested his very good friend, His Eminence Cardinal Juan José Omella, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, to preside over the mass, in his stead, and Cardinal Omella happily obliged.
At the start of the mass, the procession to the altar was headed by the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu set on a litter and carried over the shoulders of the bearers, followed by parish priests including Rev. Father Lino de Castro, Filipino Parish Priest of the San Agustin Church in Barcelona, and Cardinal Joan Josep Omella. The image of the Santo Niño de Cebu was prominently displayed to the left facing the altar. Cardinal Omella, in his homily, acknowledged the significance of the image of the Child Jesus and the devotion of the Filipino people to Jesus Christ.
The Rector of the Sagrada Familia, Josep Maria Turull, allowed a Filipino dance troupe to perform the Sinulog ritual dance in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Nino. The dancers wore colorful costumes, one of whom was dressed like a queen, each holding a Santo Nino image and gracefully danced to the pre-recorded Sinulog tune of native gongs, drums and trumpets.
In her message of gratitude, Consul General Lazaro stated:
“The Santo Niño is not only the oldest and most beloved Christian relic in the Philippines.
It is also a symbol of our spiritual heritage. It embodies the hope, humility, and resilience that
Filipinos have upheld through centuries of devotion. Its arrival in Cebu in 1521, as a gift from
Ferdinand Magellan the local chieftain and his wife marked the beginning to Christianity in the
Philippines and remains a cornerstone of our faith as a nation.
This sacred occasion is made even more meaningful as we celebrate it here in Sagrada Familia, a global symbol of faith and an architectural masterpiece. Our beloved Santo Niño returns to Sagrada Familia three years after it was first presented in 2021”
Pit Senyor!
