The , alternatively known as the Minor Basilica of the Holy Child or simply Santo Niño Basilica, is a
minor basilica
Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...
in
Cebu City
Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu, is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 964,169 people, making ...
in the
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
that was founded in 1565 by Fray
Andrés de Urdaneta
Andres or Andrés may refer to:
* Andres, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Will County, Illinois, US
* Andres, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
*Andres (name)
Andres or Andrés is a male given name. It can also be a ...
and Fray Diego de Herrera. It is the oldest
Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...
in the country, allegedly built on the spot where the image of the
Santo Niño de Cebú
The Señor Santo Niño de Cebú is a Catholic title of the Child Jesus associated with a religious image of the Christ Child widely venerated as miraculous by Roman Catholicism in the Philippines, Filipino Catholics. It is the oldest Christian ...
was found during the expedition of
Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi (12 June 1502 – 20 August 1572), also known as ''Adelantado, El Adelantado'' and ''El Viejo'' (The Elder), was a Spanish conquistador who financed and led an expedition to conquer the Philippines, Philippine islan ...
.
This image of the
Child Jesus
The Christ Child—also known as Baby Jesus, Infant Jesus, Child Jesus, Divine Child, Divine Infant and the Holy Child—refers to Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ during his early years. The term refers to a period of life of Jesus, Jesus' l ...
is the same presented by
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan ( – 27 April 1521) was a Portuguese explorer best known for having planned and led the 1519–22 Spanish expedition to the East Indies. During this expedition, he also discovered the Strait of Magellan, allowing his fl ...
to the chief consort of
Rajah Humabon
Rajah Humabon (also ''Hamabao'' or ''Hamabar'' in other editions of the " First Voyage Around the World") later baptized as Don Carlos Valderrama, was one of the recorded chiefs in historic polity of Cebu who encountered Ferdinand Magellan i ...
on the occasion of their royal
Baptism
Baptism (from ) is a Christians, Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by aspersion, sprinkling or affusion, pouring water on the head, or by immersion baptism, immersing in water eit ...
into
Roman Catholicism
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
on April 14, 1521. The image was found by a soldier named Juan de Camuz forty years later, preserved in a wooden box, after Legazpi had razed a local village.
When
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...
made the church a basilica in 1965, he declared it to be "the symbol of the birth and growth of Christianity in the Philippines."
The present building was completed in 1740 and was designated by the
Holy See
The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...
as the "Mother and Head of all Churches in the Philippines".
It is under the jurisdiction of the
Archdiocese of Cebu
The Archdiocese of Cebu (more formally the Archdiocese of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Cebu; ; ; ; ) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines and one of the ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Church in the ...
and the
Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu.
History
The church of the Holy Child (which was originally called the San Agustin Church) was founded by Fray
Andrés de Urdaneta
Andres or Andrés may refer to:
* Andres, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Will County, Illinois, US
* Andres, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
*Andres (name)
Andres or Andrés is a male given name. It can also be a ...
, on April 28, 1565, the day when the image of the
Holy Child was found in a partially burned hut. After the rediscovery of the image on May 8, 1565,
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi initiated the founding of the first Spanish settlement in the
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. The monastery of the Holy Name of Jesus was later constructed on the spot of the house where the image of the
Santo Niño was found.
The first church to be built on the site where the image of the Holy Child was found was burned down on November 1, 1566. It was said to be built by Fr. Diego de Herrera using wood and
nipa. Fray Pedro Torres, started the construction of a new church in 1605. It was finished in 1626 but was again burned in March 1628. Fray Juan Medina,
started the construction of another church that year, using stone and bricks, a great innovation at that time. Construction was stopped because the structure was found to be defective.
Present church
On February 24, 1735, Father Provincial Bergaño, Governor-General Fernando Valdes, Bishop Manuel Antonio Decio y Ocampo of Cebu and Fray Juan de Albarran, started the foundations of the present church, using stone. Since the friars did not have the means to complete the church, they enlisted the help of the parishioners of Opon and San Nicolas to contribute materials, while the people of Talisay contributed labor. The lack of chief craftsmen and officers forced Fray Albarran to acquire some knowledge of architecture. On January 16, 1740, the present church was completed,
and the miraculous image was enthroned in the new church.
In 1789, the church underwent a renovation. In 1889, Fray Mateo Diez, did another renovation. The original features of the church have been retained except for the windows which he added. In 1965, both the church and convent underwent a bigger restoration on the occasion of the fourth centennial of the Christianization of the country. The facelifting was made with utmost respect for the historical character of the old structure.
The basilica, which was once known as San Agustin Church, was rededicated by Cardinal
Julio Rosales, then-Archbishop of Cebu, on February 28, 1965.
On April 1, 1965,
Ildebrando Cardinal Antoniutti, Papal Legate to the Philippines, conferred the church the honorific title of
Minor Basilica
Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...
Basílica Minore upon the authority of
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...
. As a Minor Basilica, it is given precedence over other churches and other privileges.
Philippine President
Ferdinand E. Marcos also declared it a National Landmark. Paul VI also declared the basilica to be "the symbol of the birth and growth of Christianity in the Philippines."
In his pontificate, the ecclesiastical document designated the basilica as the "Mother and Head of all Churches in the Philippines" ().
The Basilica del Santo Niño remains under the care of the
Augustinian Friars
The Order of Saint Augustine (), abbreviated OSA, is a mendicant religious order of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1244 by bringing together several eremitical groups in the Tuscany region who were following the Rule of Saint Augustine ...
.
2013 earthquake and restoration

On October 15, 2013, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook
Bohol
Bohol (), officially the Province of Bohol (; ), is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas Regions of the Philippines, region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands. It is home to Bohola ...
; its force felt throughout the
Visayas
The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Bisayan languages, Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; Filipino language, Filipino: ''Kabisayaan'' ), are one of the three Island groups of the Philippines, principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, a ...
. It caused more than 220 casualties, and damages to buildings, particularly historical landmarks and churches in Bohol. In
Cebu City
Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu, is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 964,169 people, making ...
, the earthquake destroyed most of the Basilica's
belfry
The belfry /ˈbɛlfri/ is a structure enclosing bells for ringing as part of a building, usually as part of a bell tower or steeple. It can also refer to the entire tower or building, particularly in continental Europe for such a tower attached ...
and
façade
A façade or facade (; ) is generally the front part or exterior of a building. It is a loanword from the French language, French (), which means "frontage" or "face".
In architecture, the façade of a building is often the most important asp ...
; some walls and
fresco
Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
es were cracked.
All Masses were subsequently transferred to the Pilgrim Center located adjacent to the basilica. On December 24, 2014,
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...
, the basilica reopened while repairs were being done to the belfry and the main central doors.
The restoration of the basilica was one of the 16 projects facilitated by
National Historical Commission of the Philippines
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP; ) is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of Philippine history and cultural heritage through research, dissemination, conservation, sites management ...
in Cebu province in 2015.
Restoration works began in July.
Prior to restoration, the rubbles from the collapsed belfry were subjected to laboratory tests to analyze their composition to ensure that the new building materials will be compatible to the old and existing structure. During restoration, mechanical and chemical cleaning of the exterior walls were performed. Moreover, lime water were injected into the rubble core to make it stronger.
The bell tower was fully restored in October 2016.
Heritage designations
The Church and Convent of Santo Niño was declared a National Historical Landmark on August 1, 1973.
On April 14, 2021, on the
500th anniversary of the first Baptism in the Philippines, the
National Museum of the Philippines
The National Museum of the Philippines () is an umbrella government organization that oversees a number of national museums in the Philippines, including Ethnography, ethnographic, Anthropology, anthropological, Archaeology, archaeological, an ...
collectively declared the Church and Convent of Santo Niño and the
Magellan's Cross Pavilion as
National Cultural Treasures, as part of the
quincentennial commemorations in the country.
Church complex
Pilgrim Center
The devotees kept increasing over the years and could easily fill the Basilica. To accommodate this growing number of devotees who come to hear mass in the Basilica, a pilgrim center was built within the church compound opposite of the Basilica.
Completed in September 1990, this open-air structure can accommodate 3,500 people. The basement of the Pilgrim's Center houses the Basilica Del Sto. Niño Museum.
Museum
The museum was first established in 1965 by Fr.
Ambrosio Galindez, for the purpose of the commemoration of the Fourth Centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines. It was then located at a certain room in the convent. Old church documents dating back to the 17th century, antique church furniture, antique church things (i.e. Chalice, Altar Table, Thurible, etc.), and antique vestments of the priests are in display. The old vestments of the Sto. Niño de Cebu dating back to the 17th century are also in display. The relics and statues of the different saints are also in exhibit. The replicas of the Sto. Niño used in different pilgrimages in the Philippines and abroad are displayed. Some donated jewelleries and gift toys to the Sto. Niño are in display also.
The Basilica del Sto. Niño Museum is currently located at the basement of the Pilgrim Center.
Basilica del Santo Niño Library
Originally for exclusive use by the friars, in 2000, the church library was opened to all serious nonclerical researchers. Its collection covers religious subjects and non-religious disciplines including history, science, philosophy,
Filipiniana, and periodicals.
Location
The Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu Basilica Complex is located in a city block bordered by
Osmeña Boulevard, D. Jakosalem St, P. Burgos St. and the Plaza Sugbo where the
Magellan's Cross is located. The main entrance is on Osmeña Boulevard. Two blocks north of the basilica is the
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
The Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is the ecclesiastical seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu in Cebu City, Philippines. The church is dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, under her title, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Immac ...
, the seat of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
The Archdiocese of Cebu (more formally the Archdiocese of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Cebu; ; ; ; ) is a Latin Church Diocese, archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines and one of the ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Chur ...
.
Devotion to the Holy Child

Devotion to the Santo Niño de Cebú is popular among
Roman Catholics
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
in Cebu, as well as
nationwide. Devotees flock to the basilica to fall in line (), for even a few hours, to see the image enshrined in a glass case. After which, some would go to the church and attend Mass. Others would go to the ''dagkutanan'' (candle area) to light their candles, while some would avail prayers to the Holy Child. The devotion to the Holy Child falls every Friday.
The
Sinulog Festival is celebrated on the third Sunday of January and is marked with processions and festivities. Meanwhile, every April 28, the ''Kaplag'' ("discovery") is held, commemorating the founding and discovery of the image.
Novena
A novena (from , "nine") is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, when the ...
Masses are held before their respective festivities.
Holy Masses celebrated on Fridays, Sundays, and other Religious Festivities are held at the Pilgrim Center outside of the basilica.
Aside from the devotion in Cebu, the Augustinian friars spread the devotion of the Holy Child to other places, which led to the establishment of other churches dedicated to the Holy Child in
Tondo and
Pandacan
Pandacan is a district in Manila, Philippines, which is known in recent history as the former site of the Pandacan oil depot, Pandacan Oil Depot which supplied the majority of oil exports in the country.
Etymology
Pandacan is a corrupted term ...
in
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
,
Tacloban
Tacloban ( ; ), officially the City of Tacloban (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city on Leyte island in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, Tacloban has a popu ...
, and
Arevalo in
Iloilo City
Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas Regions of the Philippines, region of the Philippines, located on the southeastern coast of th ...
.
Gallery
File:Basilica del Santo Niño sanctuary 2024-07-05.jpg, Nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
and main sanctuary in 2024
File:Santo Niño Church and Convent Ceiling Cebu City.JPG, The fresco
Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
es on the basilica ceiling
File:Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu inside altar (Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City; 01-14-2023).jpg, Reredos
A reredos ( , , ) is a large altarpiece, a screen, or decoration placed behind the altar in a Church (building), church. It often includes religious images.
The term ''reredos'' may also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular a ...
File:Candle Lighting for Prayer at Sto. Nino Church, Cebu Philippines.jpg, Candle lighting for prayer at the Sto. Niño Church
File:Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu Pilgrim Center night view Sinulog 2023 (Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City; 01-14-2023).jpg, Novena
A novena (from , "nine") is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, when the ...
Mass for the Feast of Santo Niño celebrated at the Pilgrim Center in front of the Basilica
See also
Other Santo Niño churches and titles
*
Tondo Church
The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño, also known as Santo Niño de Tondo Parish or Tondo Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Tondo, Manila established by the Augustinians. It is the home of the second oldest Sto. Niño in the Philippines, n ...
— dedicated to Santo Niño de Tondo
*
Pandacan Church — dedicated to Santo Niño de Pandacan
*
Santo Niño Church (Tacloban) — dedicated to Santo Niño de Tacloban
*
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception — a
minor basilica
Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...
in
Batangas City also dedicated to a Holy Child image, the Santo Niño de Batangan
*
Santo Niño de Arévalo — an image in
Arevalo,
Iloilo City
Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas Regions of the Philippines, region of the Philippines, located on the southeastern coast of th ...
Related
*
List of Catholic basilicas
*
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
The Archdiocese of Cebu (more formally the Archdiocese of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Cebu; ; ; ; ) is a Latin Church Diocese, archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines and one of the ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Chur ...
*
Catholic Church in the Philippines
As part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Catholic Church in the Philippines (), or the Philippine Catholic Church or Philippine Roman Catholic Church, is part of the world's largest Christian church under the spiritual leadership of the P ...
Notes
References
External links
*
*
*
The Augustinians in the PhilippinesThe image of the Santo Niño, which is kept in the parish convent, is considered the oldest religious relic in the Philippines
{{DEFAULTSORT:Basilica del Santo Nino
Santo Nino
Buildings and structures in Cebu City
Basilica del Santo Nino
Roman Catholic churches in Cebu
National Historical Landmarks of the Philippines
Baroque church buildings in the Philippines
Tourist attractions in Cebu City
1565 establishments in the Philippines
National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines
Churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
Catholic pilgrimage sites