Discovering Pinas

Basilica Minore del Santo Nino was founded in 1565. The first structure was made of wood and nipa. The stone church was constructed from 1735 to 1739 so the church itself is 270 years old. The church houses the image of Sto. Nino de Cebu, the patron saint of Cebu. It was a gift from Magellan to Queen Juana. It’s considered a sign of the alliance between the Spaniards and the natives. A story was told that wood and nipa church housing the Sto. Nino image was burned down. After the fire, the image was found safely intact. The image of the Sto. Nino de Cebu is now displayed on a shrine on the left side of the church’s altar. The queue for viewing the Sto. Nino is always long even at noontime when most people are having their siesta. I remember going to the church to accompany my friend to light candles and pray. I wanted to see the image closely out of curiosity but I didn’t have the time to stand in line because I had chores to do later that day. All the 10 years I’ve lived in Cebu, I never got to see the image at a closer view.

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I dropped by Quiapo Church or the Basilica Minore of the Black Nazarene when the jeepney route that I rode from Commonwealth Ave. was only until Quiapo and I was going to Intramuros that day. Nevertheless, I was glad that I made that route because I’ll get to see Quiapo Church. It was a tuesday when I went there. The church is busiest on fridays as the church holds a novena every fridays. It tends to be the reason for the traffic in the vicinity every friday.

Quiapo Church facade seen from Plaza Miranda

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For the first time, I ventured to an unfamiliar place without researching more about it before going. All I remember from my History classes is that Intramuros was the heart of Manila, the seat of the Spanish government, the center of trade and industry, and the center of learning. From what I’ve read and learned, Intramuros is where Fort Santiago is, the place where Jose Rizal was imprisoned before his execution. I knew that there are two existing churches in Intramuros – Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church, the oldest church in the Philippines.

The Intramuros wooden sign in Gen. Luna Street

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