HISTORY OF THE IMAGE OF STO. NIÑO

Leyte history records that in mid-1888 some 25 Tacloban residents, natives and immigrants formed what is now known as “Hermandad Han Sto. Niño,” a brotherhood in honor of the Holy Infant to prepare the celebration of the Feast of Sto. Niño.
The present image of Sto. Niño was brought to Manila for routine face-lifting and change of its vestments. On His way to Tacloban, the streamer “LUZON” which carried the image caught fire off the coast of Romblon and Mindoro. In the confusion, the crate containing the image was thrown overboard.

No celebration was held, so the report says, as the Hermano, then Mayor Arcadio Zialcita, was in quandary and in grief over the loss of the revered Patron of Tacloban, the Sto. Niño.

Devotees of Sto. Niño almost gave up hope of ever seeing the image again as they never heard of it anymore for almost six months. Sometimes in May 1889, however, a letter from Military Governor Jose Gil de Avalle of Mindoro was received by the Governor of Leyte to the effect that the Barrio Lieutenant of Barrio Semirara of Mindoro sighted a box labeled “STO. NIÑO, PATRON HAN TACLOBAN”.

Immediately the Hermandad Han Sto. Niño organized volunteers and dispatched a party of 9 members to retrieve the “given-up-for lost” image who arrived in Tacloban with the precious cargo with much ordeal on June 30, 1889.

Since then, this miraculous event has been recalled and celebrated annually. Because of this, the name of the parish was changed from “Holy Name of Jesus” to Infant Jesus (Sto. Niño) and the fiesta or solemn celebration which was previously held on January became fixed on June 30th.

All through the years, countless miracles have been attributed to Him by people from all over. On June 1, 1967, the Bishop of Palo, then, Bishop Teotimo C. Pacis, C.M., decreed that the Sto. Niño of Tacloban, be the Heavenly Patron of Leyte. June 30 was accorded the liturgical rank of Feast in the local calendar, to recall this singular event, the miraculous return of the image and the healings which resulted from it.

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Posted by lsde on Jun 30 2012. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.