Dince's Chronicles: Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate

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)

Written: December 31, 2015
Updated: January 14, 2017

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 (New Year's eve) and takes place at around 10 AM in both churches (The Roman Catholic Church and the Philippine Independent Church). Before the Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate begins, it first starts with a Holy Mass.

The ritual is locally known in Ternate, Cavite as Baña de Santo Niño which means that the Santo Niño takes his bath. Devotees not only from the place but also from different towns come to witness this unique religious activity. They bring with them perfume-like tonics to be used in the bath. The perfume taken serves as effective medicine for external disease. It was believed that the water that was used to bath the Santo Niño can cure many illnesses, where the perfumed water used to bathe the Santo Niño is placed in bottles and distributed to the faithful/devotees.

After the Baña de Santo Niño de Ternate, it is followed by the Atavio de Santo Niño where the image is released with a set of new adorned garments also donated by worshippers (usually the sponsor of the Pabihis). Many people are asking why the image is being bathed and the locals (of Ternate, Cavite) usually reply that this is just a long time tradition on the town ever since the Santo Niño was brought to this place in 1663 by the Mardicas who came all the way from Moluccas in a village called Ternate, located west of Gijolo and Halmajara Island in Indonesia.