In the celebration of the 500 years of the introduction of Christianity (500 YOC) in the country and at the same time commemorating the arrival of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu, the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu – Philippines will formally close its celebration of the activities on the day of Kaplag (finding) on April 28, 2022.

A reenactment of the arrival and the Kaplag of the image of Señor Santo Niño by the San Diego Dance Company will highlight the closing activity at 9:30 am and followed by the celebration of a Holy Eucharist at 10:00 am.

Rev. Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., OSA, Prior Provincial of the Province of Santo Niño de Cebu, will preside over the mass at the Pilgrim Center.

After the holy mass, the same dance company and the Cofradia del Santo Niño de Cebu members will offer a Sinulog dance.

The Santo Niño at 500 activity is the Augustinians’ share of the gift of faith received 500 years ago through the image of Señor Santo Niño.

Aside from the reenactment, the pilgrim image of the Santo Niño had visited the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and the San Nicolas Parish Church in Pasil, Cebu City, last April 24 and 25, 2022, respectively.

In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan gave the Santo Niño image to Queen Juana after her baptism and, after 44 years, was found in a burned hut by the soldier Juan Camus when the Spaniards returned in 1565.

Since its launching on November 13, 2019, the Committee has made a series of activities, such as pilgrimages of the Santo Niño in the country and mainly in Cebu, together with the Jubilee Cross in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Cebu; Augustinian legacy mapping in a video documentary, logo, and song-writing contest, international conferences and more.

The Santo Niño at 500 Committee also collaborated with the National Quincentennial Committee when the Basilica Church and the Magellan’s Cross Kiosk were awarded a National Treasure by the National Museum and printed a commemorative stamp by the PhilPost Inc.

A coffee table book will also be published later to immortalize the quincentennial event in the history of Christianity in the Philippines.