17/01/2026
asa mabasa ang santo niño sa biblia?
BIBLICAL BASIS OF "SANTO NIÑO"
ANSWERING THE OBJECTIONS / QUESTIONS BY ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS ON FILIPINO CATHOLIC TRADITION OF SANTO NIÑO DE CEBU FESTIVAL OR WHAT THEY CALLED THE "SINULOG FEAST" IN CEBU, PHILIPPINES, IN WHICH DEVOTES FOR HOLY CHILD JESUS.
► OBJECTION # 1:
[ Filipino: nasa biblia ba ang "Santo Niño" , Sigurado, WALA! Inmbento nyo lang yan mga Katoks, este mga Katolikong pagano.]
[ English : does "Santo Niño" found in the Bible?? For sure, you will read NOTHING in the bible about this, it was invented by the Katoks, or should I say Catholic Pagan. ]
● RESPONSE:
WE ONLY READ NOTHING IF WE ARE JUST RELYING TO READ AN ENGLISH BIBLE NOR FILIPINO (TAGALOG) BIBLE.
WHY DON’T WE USE THE BIBLE OF SPANISH TRANSLATION, SINCE "SANTO NIÑO" IS NOT AN ENGLISH WORD NOR FILIPINO (TAGALOG) WORD, BUT OF SPANISH. THE BIBLE SAYS:
Lucas 1:35, (La Biblia De Las Américas) “Respondiendo el ángel, le dijo: El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra; por eso el SANTO NIÑO que nacerá será llamado Hijo de Dios.”
IN ENGLISH, THIS IS WHAT WE READ:
Luke 1:35 (New American Standard Bible) "The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the HOLY CHILD shall be called the Son of God."
THE SPANISH LANGUAGE OF “SANTO NIÑO” TRANSLATED AS “HOLY CHILD” IN ENGLISH, THUS, YOU CANNOT FOUND IN THE ENGLISH NOR TAGALOG BIBLE, BUT ON SPANISH TRANSLATION BIBLE.
THEN WHO IS NOW THE HOLY CHILD AS THE BIBLE DESCRIBES??
Acts 4:30 (King James Version) "By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy HOLY CHILD JESUS."
AND SO, IT IS JESUS WHO DESCRIBES AS HOLY CHILD WHICH TRANSLATED AS “SANTO NIÑO”. THE PATRON OF THE CEBUANOS & ALL FILIPINOS.
► OBJECTION # 2:
[ Filipino: Bakit "Señor" ang tawag sa kanya ng mga Catholico, eh gayong bata naman sya? contra-contra na yan ]
[ English: why did Catholics called him as “Señor”, the fact that holy Child Jesus is still a Child?? and not adult, It is a contradiction ]
● RESPONSE:
WHAT AN IGNORANT QUESTION, THE WORD "SEÑOR" IS CAME FROM THE SPANISH WORD MEANS “LORD”.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE DO NOT DENY THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, THE BIBLE SAYS:
Lucas 1:43 (La Biblia De Las Américas) "¿Por qué me ha acontecido esto a mí, que la madre de mi SEÑOR venga a mí?"
Apocalipsis 22:21 (La Biblia De Las Américas) “La gracia del SEÑOR Jesús sea con todos. Amén.”
2 Tesalonicenses 3:18 (La Biblia de las Américas) “La gracia de nuestro SEÑOR Jesucristo sea con todos vosotros.”
Filemon 1:5 (La Biblia de las Américas) “porque oigo de tu amor y de la fe que tienes hacia el SEÑOR Jesús y hacia todos los santos;”
IN ENGLISH, THIS IS WHAT WE READ:
Revelation 22:21 (New American Standard Bible) “The grace of the LORD Jesus be with all. Amen.”
2 Thessalonian 3:18 (New American Standard Bible) “The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you all.”
Philemon 1:5 (New American Standard Bible) “because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the LORD Jesus and toward all the saints;”
THUS, THE ABOVE BIBLE PASSAGES DESCRIBES "SEÑOR" AS LORD WHICH REFERRED TO JESUS. HE IS "SEÑOR" AS TRANSLATED IN SPANISH WORD.
► OBJECTION #3
[ Filipino: sa ginagawa nyo , pag samba na yan sa ipinoprosisyon nyong rebulto]
[ English: practicing this procession towards image statues is an act of worship.]
● RESPONSE:
NO, CATHOLICS NEVER WORSHIP IMAGE STATUES, WHEN HAVING PARADE / PROCESSIONS IS NOT AN ACT OF WORSHIP TOWARD THIS GRAVEN IMAGES. AS CATHOLIC DOCTRINE MAKE IT CLEAR IN THE BOOK ENTITLED "CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH" SAYS:
(CCC # 1674) Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. The religious sense of the Christian people has always found EXPRESSION IN VARIOUS FORMS OF PIETY surrounding the Church's sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics, visits to sanctuaries, pilgrimages, PROCESSIONS, the stations of the cross, RELIGIOUS DANCES, the rosary, medals, etc.
(CCC # 1675) "THESE EXPRESSIONS OF PIETY EXTEND THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH, BUT DO NOT REPLACE IT. They should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some way derived from it and lead the people to it, since in fact the liturgy by its very nature is far superior to any of them."
SEE? THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE CLEARLY TELLS THAT ANY VARIOUS FORM OF FAITHFULNESS & DEVOUTNESS LIKE PROCESSIONS, RELIGIOUS DANCES, PILGRIMAGE AND SUCH OTHER ACTIVITIES DO NOT EXCHANGE THE TRUE GOD FOR THIS, THE PURPOSE OF THESE IS TO EXTENDS THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH.
THUS, THE CHURCH AUTHORITIES NEVER TEACH TO WORSHIP THE LITERAL STATUES AND IT'S VISIBLE IMAGES, BUT THE TRUE GOD IN HEAVEN ALONE.
BESIDES, CATHOLIC CHURCH DO NOT REGARD OR VIEW THE GRAVEN IMAGE STATUES AS GOD. THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE ONCE AGAIN CLEARLY TELLS:
(CCC # 2132) "the honor paid to SACRED IMAGES IS A RESPECTFUL VENERATION NOT THE ADORATION due to god alone: RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IS NOT DIRECT IMAGES IN THEMSELVES, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to god incarnate. the movement toward the images does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward that whose image it is" ; "Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate. The movement toward the image does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward that whose image it is. "
HERE, IT TELLS THE WORSHIP IS NOT DIRECTED TO IMAGES THEMSELVES, BUT THESE SACRED IMAGES IS A RESPECTFUL VENERATION (honor & respect), AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE "ADORATION" (to worship due to God alone). BESIDES, CATHOLIC HAS NO ANY TEACHINGS TO WORSHIP THIS SUCH KIND OF GRAVEN OBJECTS LIKE STATUES & IMAGES.
FOR THOSE NON-CATHOLICS WHO ACCUSING CATHOLICS FOR THE IDOLATRY (by worshiping false Gods) IS NEVER EVER UNDERSTAND US UNLESS THEY ARE CATHOLIC. INSTEAD THEY ACCUSE PEOPLE FALSELY WHEREIN THEY VIOLATES 1 OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. BIBLE SAYS:
Exodus 20:16 (Good News Bible) "Do not accuse anyone falsely. "
► OBJECTION # 4
[ Filipino: kung hindi nyo nga sinasamba bakit sinasayawan ang mga imaheng rebulto sa pag proprosisyon tuwing fiesta ng sinulog?? kaya nag mumukang Pagano kayo?? katawatawa, at wala tayong mababasa sa biblia na nag utos ag Dios na sayawan ito tuwing fiesta..]
[ English: if Catholics do not worship it, then why some people dancing before this graven image while in procession, during this festival of Sinulog? It makes you like a pagans, and you will read nothing in the bible that God’s instructs to dance before the Statues-Images during the festival. ]
● RESPONSE:
WE WILL READ NOTHING IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR JUST A LITERAL INSTRUCTION OF GOD TO MAN,
BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN DURING THE BIBLICAL TIMES THERE ARE ALSO DANCES WHILE IN PROCESSION, WHEREIN, THOSE TIMES PEOPLE LIKE DAVID WERE DANCING BEFORE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OR WHAT WE CALLED THE ARK OF THE LORD (a box which 10 commandments kept, this box has statue of cherubim attached over it.) BIBLE SAYS:
1 Chronicles 15:29 (KING JAMES VERSION) “And it came to pass, as the ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD CAME TO THE CITY of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king DAVID DANCING AND PLAYING: and she despised him in her heart.”
2 Samuel 6:16 (New American Standard Bible) "Then it happened as the ARK OF THE LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw KING DAVID LEAPING AND DANCING BEFORE THE LORD; and she despised him in her heart."
SEE? KING DAVID ALSO DANCING BEFORE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WHILE PROCESSION ON THE MOVE TOWARD THE CITY, AND THE FACT THAT GOD HAS NO INSTRUCTION TO KING DAVID TO DO IT SO.
THUS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG TO DANCE BEFORE THE STATUE OF “SANTO NIÑO” WHILE IN THE PROCESSION BEING MOVE DURING SINULOG FESTIVAL IN CEBU CITY PHILIPPINES.
► OBJECTION # 5
[ Filipino: saan sa Biblia ipinag prosisyon nyo ang rebulto? Eh hindi naman pinag uutos ng Dios na gawin yan eh. ]
[ English: where is in the bible, that we are instructing / ordering to do a procession for that statues? And in fact, God never instruct it for you to do.]
● RESPONSE:
IF WE INSIST THAT ILLOGICAL ARGUMENT, WHY THESE ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS DIDN'T CONDEMN THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE (JEWS) WHO FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESSION? THE FACT THAT IT WAS A PART OF THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES:
1 Chronicles 15:14-15 (New American Bible) [14] Accordingly, the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. [15] The Levites CARRIED THE ARK OF GOD ON THEIR SHOULDERS WITH POLES, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.
Joshua 6:6-7 (New American Bible) [6] Summoning the priests, Joshua, son of Nun, said to them, “TAKE UP THE ARK OF THE COVENANT with seven of the priests carrying ram’s horns in front of the ark of the Lord.” [7] And HE ORDERED THE PEOPLE, “PROCEED AND SURROUND THE CITY, with the picked troops MARCHING AHEAD OF THE ARK OF THE LORD.”
VERY CLEAR, THEY TOOK UP THE ARK OF THE LORD, THEY CARRIED IT AROUND THE CITY AS THEY PARADING (MARCHING)
JUST LIKE CATHOLIC PROCESSIONS DURING FESTIVAL, WE HAVE IMAGE STATUES OF THE PATRON SAINTS, OR MARY, OR JESUS CARRIED BY MEN AND WALKING THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OR CITIES.
NOTE: THE “ARK OF THE LORD” OR WHAT WE CALLED THE “ARK OF THE COVENANT” HAS IMAGE STATUES OF 2 ANGELS, CALLED CHERUBIM ATTACHED OVER THE ARK, BIBLE SAYS:
1 Chronicles 13:6 (Douay-Rheims Bible) “And David went up with all the men of Israel to the hill of Cariathiarim which is in Juda, to bring thence THE ARK OF THE LORD GOD SITTING UPON THE CHERUBIMS, where his name is called upon.”
THAT'S WHY JEWS CARRYING THE “ARK OF THE LORD” HAS STATUE PLACED OVER THE TOP OF THIS ARK, SAME AS THE CATHOLIC PROCESSION FOR STATUES DURING FESTIVALS.
SO WHY THESE ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS DIDN'T CONDEMN FIRST THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE (JEWS) WHO FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESSION?
NOW, THE QUESTION FOR THESE ANTI-CATHOLICS, IS THAT,
• DID THE JEWS WORSHIPS THE TWO OBJECTS (Ark Of the Lord & Cherubim) THAT THEY CARRIED AS THEY PARADING IT?
• DOES GOD COMMAND THE JEWS TO DO A PROCESSION FOR THEIR ARK OF THE LORD? WHERE IS IT IN THE BIBLE?
NOTHING WE CAN READ IN THE BIBLE THAT GOD INSTRUCTS JEWS TO DO A PROCESSIONS. THUS, IF THEY DO, HOW MUCH MORE TO CATHOLICS? THEN WE SHOULD DO THE SAME AS THEY DID AS WELL.
► OBJECTION # 6
[ Filipino: Bakit nyo ginagawa ang Kapistahan ng Santo Niño at pinag papatuloy sa pag lipas ng siglo bilang isang tradisyon?? ]
[ English: Why did you practicing Santo Niño Festival and continue it for past centuries as tradition?? ]
● RESPONSE:
SIMPLY BECAUSE, PEOPLE, AND DEVOTEES GIVES THANKS & PRAISING FOR HOLY CHILD JESUS BECAUSE THIS FESTIVAL COMMEMORATES THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES WHEREIN THE STATUE IMAGE OF"SANTO NIÑO" IS THE SPANISH INSTRUMENT OF CHRISTIANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY.
ALSO, EVEN THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST GIVEN US AUTHORITY TO HAVE OUR OWN TRADITIONS OF MAN, THAT SHOULD BE CONTINUE (HANDED DOWN) THROUGH GENERATION COMES, EITHER ORAL (WORD OF MOUTH), OR FROM THE SCRIPTURES:
2 Thessalonians 2:15 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Stand firm, then, brothers, and KEEP THE TRADITIONS that we taught you, WHETHER BY WORD OF MOUTH or by letter."
1 Corinthians 11:2 (New Jerusalem Bible) "I congratulate you for remembering me so consistently and FOR MAINTAINING THE TRADITIONS exactly as I passed them on to you."
THUS, THUS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN MAKING OR HAVING A TRADITION, BECAUSE, THIS CHURCH TRADITION FOR FAITH, AND TO SHOW IT TO OTHERS, AND WHY? BECAUSE FAITH WITHOUT WORK IS USELESS:
James 2:18 (News American Bible) Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I WILL DEMONSTRATE MY FAITH TO YOU FROM MY WORKS.
James 2:26 (News American Standard Bible) "For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD."
► OBJECTION # 7
[ Filipino: itong gawi na ito, HINDI binanggit sa biblia na magkaroon ng Fiesta ng sinulog Santo Niño. Pati mga Apostol HINDI ITO TINURO ang Fiestang ito. Kahit si Hesus HINDI ITO INUTOS !!!!. ]
[ English: this custom DID NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE to have this Sinulog festival of Santo Niño. and apostle DID NOT TAUGHT for this feast, even Jesus NEVER COMMAND THIS ! ]
● RESPONSE:
AS A MATTER OF FACT, GOD HIMSELF ALLOWED A FEAST. HE LET HIS PEOPLE OF ISRAEL TO CELEBRATE THEIR OWN FEAST / FESTIVALS:
Deuteronomy 16:14 (New American Standard Bible) “AND YOU SHALL REJOICE IN YOUR FEAST, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns.”
Nahum 1:15 (New International Version) “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! CELEBRATE YOUR FESTIVALS, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.”
Exodus 12:14 (New American Standard Bible) “Now this day will be a memorial to you, and YOU SHALL CELEBRATE IT AS A FEAST to the LORD; THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS YOU ARE TO CELEBRATE it as a permanent ordinance.”
SEE? GOD ALLOWED FEAST TO ISRAELITE (JEWS PEOPLE), HOW MUCH MORE TO CATHOLICS?
SO IF GOD ALLOWED FEAST, THEN, HAVING CATHOLIC FEAST & FESTIVALS FOR THE LORD, OR FOR HIS SAINTS IS ALSO ALLOWED, AS LONG AS IT IS FOR THE FAITH AND FOR THE LORD.
THAT'S WHY THE JEWS MADE A CUSTOM THEMSELVES TO CELEBRATE THEIR OWN FEAST.
Esther 9:27 (New American Standard Bible) "the Jews established and MADE A CUSTOM FOR THEMSELVES and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually."
Esther 9:20-21 (New International Version) [20] "Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far," [21] "TO HAVE THEM CELEBRATE ANNUALLY the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Ada.”
Esther 9:17 (New American Standard Bible) "This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested AND MADE IT A DAY OF FEASTING AND REJOICING."
Esther 9:31 (New American Standard Bible) "to establish these days of Purim at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established for them, and just as THEY HAD ESTABLISHED FOR THEMSELVES and for their descendants with instructions for their times of fasting and their lamentations."
SEE? THERE'S NOTHING WRONG OF HAVING FESTIVALS LIKE (SANTO. NIÑO DE CEBU), (FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE) , (CHRIST THE KING FEAST), (SANTA CRUZAN), (FLORES DE MAYO), AND SUCH OTHER CATHOLIC FEAST, BECAUSE EVEN JEWS ALSO MADE THEIR OWN FEAST ALLOWABLE BY GOD'S EYES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, ANTI-CATHOLICS INSIST & CLAIMS THAT JESUS DID NOT TAUGHT US FOR THE FEAST, THEN WHY DID JESUS INSTRUCTS US FOR WHAT WE SHOULD TO DO WHEN WE GIVE A FEAST? PLEASE READ:
Luke 14:13 (Good News Bible) “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind;”
SEE? IT MEANS JESUS ALSO ALLOWED A FEAST. JUST BECAUSE HE HIMSELF WENT TO FEAST AT THE FIRST PLACE
John 5:1 (New International Version) "Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. "
AND ANTI-CATHOLIC CAN'T REFUTE THIS.
++++ADDITIONAL INFORMATION++++
► INTRODUCTION :
The Santo Niño de Cebú : is a Roman Catholic title of child Jesus Christ is popularly considered the official patron of Cebu, associated with a religious vested statue of the infant Child Jesus venerated by many Filipino Catholics believing it to be miraculous. It is the oldest religious christian image in the Philippines, that was originally given in 1521 as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to native Cebu chieftain.
► SHORT HISTORY:
In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines and landed on island of Cebu to plant the christian cross on its shore.
He introduced Christianity to natives and presented the image of the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) as a baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, a wife of Cebu’s Rajah Humabon who was later named Queen Juana as a symbol of their new alliance.
eventually dispute & conflict had arise that erupts in the battle of Mactan which Ferdinand Magellan was fell along with the 27 Spaniards killed by the Native Cebuanos. the survivors had hurriedly embarked and continued their voyage to Spain, while the Cross and the Santo Niño image was left behind.
for more than 40 years in silent, the next Spanish expedition have arrived, they came back to the Philippines under the command of General Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565. Spanish found the natives hostile, fearing retribution for Magellan's death, and the village caught fire in the ensuing conflict.
one Spanish soldier "Juan Camus" found the image of Santo Niño inside the amidst ruins of burnt house of the native, this was presented to Miguel López de Legazpi and the Augustinian priests. this was attested by Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, and many other witnesses that this Image has been venerated by Filipinos ever since, The statue was later taken out for procession, and Legazpi instituted a fiesta to commemorate the finding of the image, and the original celebration still survives.
► PRESENT :
The Santo Niño image has many replicas, a various copied version from the original old one from Cebu which kept and encased within bulletproof glass in a chapel at the Basílica Menor del Santo Niño,
The Holy Child's feast is liturgically celebrated every third Sunday of January, during which devotees carry a portable Santo Niño image onto the street fiesta dancing celebrations.
Nowadays. this Image normally seen in many Filipino homes and business establishments, public transport, and even some offices making it as one of the beloved & recognizable cultural icons in the Philippines, found in both religious and secular areas.
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