📍 Cebu City | 🏛️ Oldest Church in the Philippines | ✝️ Home of the Santo Niño de Cebu
🗓️ Last Updated: June 2025
✨ A Church Like No Other
If there's one place in Cebu that brings together faith, culture, and history—it's the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. Commonly known as the Sto. Niño Church, this sacred site is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the Philippines.
It was built on the very spot where Spanish explorers discovered the image of the Holy Child Jesus (Santo Niño) in 1565. This image, originally a baptismal gift from Ferdinand Magellan to Queen Juana, is believed to be miraculous and is now enshrined in the church.
📸 Photos taken before (2013) and after (2016) the earthquake show how the Basilica has gracefully stood the test of time.
⛪ Quick History Recap
- 🏗️ 1565 – First church built using nipa and wood
- 🔥 1566 – Church burned down
- 🧱 1740 – Present coral stone church completed
- 🕊️ 1965 – Declared a Minor Basilica by Pope Paul VI
- 🏛️ Also declared a National Historical Landmark and National Cultural Treasure
💥 Earthquake Damage & Restoration (2013–2016)
In October 2013, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Bohol and Cebu, damaging many heritage sites including this church.
- The bell tower collapsed, and the façade and walls cracked
- Masses were held outdoors in the Pilgrim Center, which can accommodate up to 3,500 people
- By late 2016, the church was fully restored—its beauty preserved and made stronger
🛠️ Restoration included:
✔️
New roof tiles
✔️
Brick walkway repairs
✔️
Painting and organ conservation
✔️
Facade cleaning (now similar to Cebu Cathedral)
🗓️ What's New in 2025?
🎉 60th Anniversary of its elevation as a Basilica was celebrated in January 2025 with a grand novena and procession.
⛪ Pilgrim Center Schedule (2025):
- 🕗 Open daily: 8:00 AM – 11:45 AM & 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- 🧾 Masses: 4:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
- ✝️ Confessions: Morning & afternoon, walk-in
 |
🧺 Dress Code Alert:
No sleeveless tops, shorts, or slippers during Mass or Sinulog week. Bring a
scarf or shawl just in case!
🎶 Hubò Mass (held the Friday after Sinulog): A symbolic undressing of the Santo Niño's feast garments—a must-see cultural ritual.
🎒 Tips for First-Time Visitors
✅ Arrive early to get good
seats, especially during peak feast days
✅
Follow the dress code—modest attire is required
✅
Visit the Santo Niño Museum and library next door
✅
Bring water, but leave bulky bags behind—security
checks are strict
✅
Light a candle at the candle chapel—each color represents a specific
prayer
✅
Stop by Magellan’s Cross, just steps away!
🎁 Don’t Miss This…
🛍️ Right outside the basilica, vendors sell all kinds of religious souvenirs—rosaries, Sto. Niño statues, candles, and hand fans.
🧭 Combine your visit with:
- Magellan’s Cross (2 min walk)
- Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (5 min walk)
- Fort San Pedro (10 min drive)
- Colon Street (oldest street in the Philippines)
🧳 I’ve visited the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño multiple times, and every visit feels like the first. Whether it's during the quiet weekday mornings or the energetic Sinulog season, this church moves you—historically, spiritually, and emotionally.
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| Photo taken in 2013 - before the earthquake |
📍 When I went back after the 2013 earthquake, I noticed how the facade had changed. It looked a lot like the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, but the feeling of reverence stayed the same.
📌 Visitor Info (2025)
📍 Location: Osmeña
Blvd, Cebu City, Cebu
🕰️
Opening Hours: 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily
📞
Contact: +63(32) 255-6697
💒
Website: basilicasantonino.org.ph
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