The Basilica de Santo Niño in Cebu City is one of the oldest cathedrals in the Philippines.  Since its original construction in the 1500's, it has been rebuilt at least three times.  It houses an old image of Señor Santo Niño which is said to be the original image that Magellan brought to the Philippines.  As such, this cathedral celebrates the beginnings of Christianity in the Philippines.

Devotees from all over the Visayas (the central islands of the Philippines) make pilgrimages to Cebu to pray to Santo Niño.  Long lines wait for a chance to stand before this sacred image and seek his intervention in solving the problems of their lives.

The original Señor Santo Niño image was a fair skinned curly haired boy with very European features wearing princely regalia.   The Cebuanos were animists who believed in a child god and therefore quickly accepted Santo Niño into their pantheon.  The image sold in the shops around the cathedral today still retains his gold crown, scepter and royal robes but his features have changed.  His skin has darkened and his face looks much more Filipino in the newer images.

Unlike Manila, Cebu City was not heavily bombed during W.W.II.  More of the old architecture has been preserved.  In the case of the Basilica de Santo Niño, even the original stained glass windows appear to have survived.  This was nice to see as many of the old Spanish cathedrals in the Philippines look like they were gutted during W.W.II.  This church still looks very alive and vibrant.