Philippine Festivals

Basilica to celebrate Kaplag

Posted on April 20th, 2008 by mvg.
Categories: Events, Features.

Kaplag (Discovery) commemorates the 443rd anniversary of the discovery of the miraculous Image of the Santo Niño on April 28, 1565 in a modest, native house by Juan Camus, a soldier of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s fleet of the then village of Cebu.

Deeply impressed by the finding of this Image that all agreed at the time was brought from Europe and aware of its significance, Legaspi ordered an official inquiry conducted. On May 16 of the same year, a document written at that time tells us from the testimony of eyewitnesses that the Image was found inside a small pine box. Preserved in almost perfect condition, the Image wore a little shirt and cap with two of the fingers of its right hand raised in a gesture of blessing, while the left hand held a globe symbolizing the world.

In a modern procession, the Image was carried to a provisional church that Agustinian Fathers were using at that time. Later, another Church was built on the exact location where the image was found, the present site of the Basilica del Santo Niño where the Augustinians have cared for the Image and the Filipino people have venerated it through the centuries.

An earlier authenticated entry in the journal of Pigafetta, the chronicler of Magellan’s expedition, explains the origin of the Santo Niño and the day Queen Juana was baptized by Father Pedro Valderrama, the expedition’s chaplain. Pigafetta himself presented her with the image.

During the Second World War, a bomb fell inside the church but the Image was found unscathed. It was one of the numerous miracles and powers attributed to the Holy Image.

In 1965, the interior of the historic church was renovated for the observance of the Fourth Centenary of the Christianization of the Philippines held in Cebu City. It was during this Centennial celebration that the church on April 1, 1965 was elevated to the status of Basilica Minore by the Sacred Congregation of Rites with all the rights and privileges accruing to such title.

In 1975, with full cooperation and support of the Filipino people and sanctioned by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Augustinian Fathers built a marble chapel inside the Basilica.

This fitting shrine of the Sto. Niño now serves as the center of devotion of the Catholic Philippines. Here, the miraculous Image of the comforter of the first missionaries and Patron of the Philippines is honored and venerated.

Since August 1, 1973, to preserve our religious and cultural heritage, then President Ferdinand Marcos declared the Basilica and Convent of Santo Niño as a National Shrine. (PR)

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