On this sacred night of the Easter Vigil, led by Fr. Danilo Carido, OSA, the Catholic faithful gather not merely to recall an event, but to celebrate a victory—the triumph of Christ over sin and death. From the darkness of the church to the lighting of the Paschal Candle, we are drawn into a powerful sign: that no darkness can overcome the light of the Risen Lord. The long journey of salvation history, proclaimed through the readings, leads us to this moment of fulfillment, where God’s promises are brought to completion in the Resurrection. What once seemed like defeat on the Cross is now revealed as victory; what once stirred fear is now transformed into hope. Yet even in the light of the Resurrection, we are confronted with a familiar truth: we still carry fear—fear of suffering, of uncertainty, of death itself. But the Risen Christ speaks into these fears, assuring us that He has already conquered them. If Christ has overcome death, what then should we fear? As we receive the light from the Paschal Candle, we are not only witnesses—we are sent. This light is not meant to be kept, but to be shared. In our daily lives, we are called to carry Christ’s light into a world still shadowed by darkness. During the celebration, the faithful renewed their baptismal promises, renouncing the power of evil and the influence of Satan. This Easter Season, may we move from fear to faith, from darkness to light, and from death to new life. For Christ is risen—He is truly risen. Alleluia! Alleluia!

As the Christmas season approaches, Catholic churches across the Philippines once again open their doors before sunrise to celebrate one of the Church’s long-standing traditions—the Misa de Aguinaldo. The Misa de Aguinaldo marks the spiritual countdown to Christmas and can be traced back to the Spanish colonial era. It refers to a series of nine dawn Holy Masses held from December 16 to December 24. Celebrated as one community, Catholic faithful gathered for the Misa de Aguinaldo at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu Pilgrim Center. The first day of the Misa de Aguinaldo was presided over by the Basilica Rector, Rev. Fr. Andres D. Rivera, OSA, together with other Augustinian friars and visiting priests. The Holy Mass serves as a devotional preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ, honoring the journey of Mary and Joseph in the days leading up to Christmas. At its heart, the Misa de Gallo emphasizes prayer, sacrifice, devotion, and joyful anticipation. Through the proclamation of the Word of God and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the faithful are invited to reflect on God’s promise of salvation and to accompany Mary and Joseph on their journey toward Bethlehem. Through prayer and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the faithful are reminded of Christ’s humble coming into the world and are called to conversion, perseverance, and a renewed commitment to faith and devotion. Today, the Misa de Aguinaldo continues to be observed across the country, standing as a symbol of faith, resilience, and devotion. More than a ritual, it is a prayerful proclamation of hope, sacrifice, and joyful anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ. /Caren Itolle

Hundreds of devotees filled the streets of downtown Cebu today for the 348th Fiesta de la Consolacion, marking nearly three and a half centuries of devotion to Our Lady of Consolation with the theme: “Mary as Our Mother of Hope”. The celebration began with a 2:00 pm Mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, presided over by Rev. Fr. Cyril Jeth Tagalog, OSA. Rev. Fr. Alberto Benedict Soliman, OSA delivered the homily, joined by concelebrants Rev. Fr. John Jericho Mier, OSA, Rev. Fr. Jules Van Almerez, OSA, and Rev. Fr. James Alibong, OSA. Since its inception in 2007, HuNiño has remained an original songwriting competition dedicated to deepening devotion to the Holy Child, bringing together composers, arrangers, and interpreters whose heartfelt melodies serve as prayers of love and faith.

The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu once again became the stage for faith expressed through music as the 14th HuNiño: Huni Halad Alang Kang Señor Santo Niño unfolded on August 27, 2025, at the Santo Niño Pilgrim Center. Since its inception in 2007, HuNiño has remained an original songwriting competition dedicated to deepening devotion to the Holy Child, bringing together composers, arrangers, and interpreters whose heartfelt melodies serve as prayers of love and faith.

In celebration of the Solemnity of St. Augustine of Hippo, Spiritual Founder of the Augustinians, the faithful gathered at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu to glorify and give thanks to the Almighty God. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Most Rev. Jose S. Palma, D.D., Apostolic Administrator of Cebu, together with the Augustinian Friars of the Province of Santo Niño de Cebu–Philippines.