Cebu church to mark 446th anniv of Santo Niño image discovery

The Basilica del Santo Niño de Cebu will celebrate on April 28 the 446th anniversary of the "Kaplag" (discovery) of the famous Santo Niño image. The Kaplag festival commemorates the discovery of the image of the child Jesus in a nipa hut on April 28, 1565 by Juan Camus, a soldier of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. On the same spot where the image was found, now stands the Basilica. The same image was believed to be a gift of Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana 44 years before the discovery of the image, which is popularly known as Santo Niño de Cebu. The day-long activities on April 28 will start with a 6 a.m. Mass followed by a procession and a fluvial parade. The celebration will be concluded with another Mass at 5:30 p.m. and a re-enactment of the discovery. Basilica officials said the celebration would also include naval honors for the Santo Niño, recognizing its rank as Celentisimo Capitan General de las Esfuerzas Espanolas en Filipinas or “The Most Esteemed Captain General of the Spanish Forces in the Philippines." Also, for the first time, the coat-of-arms of the Santo Niño, as Captain General, will travel on a Philippine Navy ship. The festival will also highlight the launching of this year’s Duaw Santo Niño, wherein the image will be going to the islands and coastal municipalities to promote maritime security and safety, and the protection of the environment. This year’s festival also serves as a reminder to the public that the Santo Niño, as Captain General, serves as a protector of all seafarers, mariners, and the patron of maritime environment and ecology. The celebration will also be spearheaded by the Santo Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation, Inc. Schedule of activities:

• 6 a.m. – Mass at the Basilica del Santo Niño de Cebu
• 7 a.m. – procession of the image to the Malacañang sa Sugbo, naval honors, and fluvial parade to Naval Base Rafael Ramos pier through the Cebu Channel
• 9 a.m. – procession to and mass at the Navy Chapel inside the Navy compound in Mactan Island
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – public veneration of the image
• 3 – 4 p.m. – fluvial parade going back to the Basilica del Santo Niño and festive welcome by the Basilica Sinulog dancers
• 5:30 p.m. – Mass and re-enactment of the Kaplag