SANTO NIÑO DE TERNATE AND ITS FESTIVITIES/TRADITIONS

By: Dindo Mojica, C.E., M.Eng

Updated: January 31, 2016

PROGRAM/INVITATION:

Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate

(The Bathing of the Holy Child Jesus of Ternate)

(Ang Pagpapaligo sa Mahal na Poong Santo Niño de Ternate)

December 31, 2015

The Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate (The Bathing of the Holy Child Jesus of Ternate) is a tradition which dates back to 1663. This annual tradition (Ang Pagpapaligo sa Mahal na Poong Santo Niño de Ternate) is being held every 31st day of the month of December. The Santo Niño de Ternate is taking a bath and changes his dress for the upcoming town fiesta (of the Municipality of Ternate, Cavite) on January 5-6. The image will again change his vestments on January 5, after the caracol and holy mass in his honor.

One of its old traditions is that giving the Santo Niño a bath annually before the New Year’s Eve. It was believed that the water that was used to bath the Santo Nino can cure many illnesses, where the perfumed water used to bathe the Santo Niño is placed in bottles and distributed to the faithful/devotees.

With Father Nestor P. Chavez and Ternate Municipal Councilor Khalil Lorenz Soberano

conducting the Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate

The water that was used to bath the Santo Nino

(gave to Parishoners after the Ceremony)

Youtube:

Bathing of Santo Nino de Ternate December 31, 2015 (Part1)

Bathing of Santo Nino de Ternate December 31, 2015 (Part2)

Photos:

Catholic

Aglipayan

Atavio de Santo Niño de Ternate

(The Ritual Robing of the Holy Child Jesus of Ternate)

(Ang Pagbibihis sa Mahal na Poong Santo Niño de Ternate)

Atavio is a Spanish term which means robing or pagbibihis, to dress up or put on the vestments. The rite of the dressing of the statue of Santo Niño de Ternate is an old tradition that conducts every New Year’s Eve or December 31 after the Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate ceremonies (The Ritual Bathing of the Holy Child Jesus of Ternate) and changes his dress for the upcoming town fiesta (of the Municipality of Ternate, Cavite) on January 5-6.

The Santo Niño de Ternate changes its dress every last Sunday of the month for Catholics and for Aglipayans, more than a month or depending on the schedule and the availability of the person who will sponsor the robing of the Santo Niño de Ternate.

The Ritual Robing of the Holy Child Jesus of Ternate

AFTER CEREMONIES

Picture-taking after the ceremonies

with my friend and a Niño brother, Mr. Jeffrey Rollon

Flickr (more photos at:)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dince003/albums/72157662745096662

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dince003/albums/72157650018851152

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dince003/23784479650/in/album-72157662745096662/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dince003/23712220489/in/album-72157662745096662/

Kapatiran sa Santo Niño de Ternate

(Brotherhood/Sisterhood to the Holy Child Jesus)

Usually, you must register to the Kapatiran ng Mahal na Poong Santo Niño de Ternate annually (during fiestas/feast days). You may place an amount of money (donation) to the Santo Niño de Ternate and you may state your intentions to the Holy Child Jesus. It includes the receipt/petitions to the Santo Niño, a card with a picture of Santo Niño (at the back is the song for the Santo Niño) and the bottled perfumed water of the Santo Niño’s bathe (if it’s still available due to many devotees/while supply lasts)

Front Card

Back Card

Donation Receipt

Caracol/Karakol/Religious Procession Dance

January 5

The Beginning of the Celebration of the Feast of the Santo Nino de Ternate.

The original image of the Santo Nino de Ternate was brought outside of the church on 1 pm and will return to the church on 5 to 6 pm for the Karakol. After the Karakol, the last Day of the Novena of the Santo Nino de Ternate will be conducted. It will be followed by the Holy Mass and after the Holy Mass, Santo Nino de Ternate will change its vestments.

The Caracol Festival in honor of the Santo Niño de Ternate

Karakol is a religious procession dance performed during fiestas. It features a fluvial procession performed by folk music played by a brass band or a recorded music (mobile sound system) and street dancing by children, teenagers, and women in fancy dress and hat. . As the image of the Holy Child was brought out of the church, the karakol will start with a parade of performers (usually devotees, and locals) going to the town proper while dancing to effervescent music to show their sincere devotion to the Holy Child and will end at Maragondon River (in Barangay San Jose) for the fluvial procession.

The image of the Santo Niño de Ternate is said to have been brought by Jesuit missionaries from the Group of Moluccas Islands in Indonesia (also known as Spice Islands in History books) to Cavite where Malay settlers, including the Sepoys from

India

, were given settlements and enjoined to keep a lookout on seafaring marauders.

The Holy Child Jesus of Ternate Caracol conducts every January 5, the eve of the Patron’s feast for the Catholics and for the Aglipayans, they conduct the Caracol on every Feast Day of The Holy Child Jesus of Ternate (January 6)

More information about the culture of Karakol:

http://teresay.com/karakol-religious-procession-dancing/

Actual Karakol (Catholic)

January 5, 2016 Karakol

Karakol last January 5, 2014

The fluvial parade after conducting Karakol

(crossing Maragondon River at Barangay San Jose)

Actual Karakol (Aglipayan)

Karakol and Fluvial Parade

FEAST DAY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS OF TERNATE

(Ang Kapistahan ng Mahal na Poong Santo Niño de Ternate)

The feast of Santo Niño de Ternate is celebrated annually on January 6. Since the Santo Niño de Ternate is widely known for the many miracles attributed to it, religious devotees from all over Cavite as well as from neighboring provinces (Batangas, Bataan and Rizal Provinces specifically) flock every year to Ternate to attend the patron saint’s feast day.

Holy Mass will be celebrated as early as 4 am followed by Holy Mass at 5 am, 6 am, 7am and 8 am (depending on the schedule). The Con-celebrated Mass will be conducted at 9:30 am and led by the Holy Bishop of the Diocese of Imus with the clergy of the Diocese. At 6 pm, Holy Mass will be celebrated. After the Holy Mass, the Procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Santo Nino de Ternate will be conducted. On the start of the procession, fireworks display is usually held and usually provided by the Parishioners and Devotees of the Santo Nino de Ternate.

The image of the Santo Niño de Ternate had changed his vestments on January 5,
after the caracol and holy mass in his honor

Santo Niño de Ternate (Catholic)

Santo Niño de Ternate (Aglipayan)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/omeymojica/videos/837620289610727/

Source: https://www.facebook.com/omeymojica/videos/837717556267667/

Source: https://www.facebook.com/omeymojica/videos/837699299602826/

PROGRAM/INVITATION:

THE REPLICA

PROCESSION:

HERMANIDAD DE SANTO NIÑO DE TERNATE

(Confraternity of the Holy Child Jesus of Ternate)

January 24, 2016

3^rd Sunday of January

Celebrating the feast of Santo Nino by a Mass in his honor. Every year, a child (boy) acts as the Hermano Mayor. A Mass for the families of the Hermano Mayor was held in the morning and in the dusk before the procession. The Hermano Mayor is usually dressed in formal wear to the Mass in the morning and dress like the image of the Santo Nino clothing image of the Mass and procession at dusk. After the procession, the transfer of Bara Alta was held to the next Hermano Mayor led by the parish priest.

Hermanidad is a Spanish word which means Brotherhood. The feast of the Holy Child Jesus as celebrated by the people of Ternate, Cavite and devotees was led by a Hermano, an individual chosen to lead the festivities. For the said event, the Hermano would be a Boy. It will start with a Holy Mass and then followed by a Procession of the Santo Niños and the patron saint Santo Niño de Ternate. Hermanidad is a regular practice among many church organizations and the Hermanidad dedicated to the Santo Niño conducts annually on every third Sunday of January (The feast of the Santo Niño/Holy Child) for Catholics and for the Aglipayans, a week after.

Catholic: