Dince's Chronicles: FEAST DAY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS OF TERNATE

FEAST DAY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS OF TERNATE
(Ang Kapistahan ng Mahal na Poong Santo Niño de Ternate)

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 Laguna, Bulacan, and ZambalesProvinces 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.

It is no wonder that the Santo Nino is held in great veneration not only the Mardicas themselves and the inhabitants of the neighboring towns but also by the people from faraway places particularly Batangas and Rizal, since then many pilgrims may be seen in Ternate. Because of the big number of people flock in to Ternate every January 6, not all of them could be accommodate in all the houses of the Ternateno. Hence, there is always a necessity of putting up temporary sheds for the devoted worshipers. On this day, buses and all sort of vehicles are to enter the town due to overcrowding of the worshipers; the native residents of Ternate could not afford to attend to them all.