By Keith Bacongco
Published Jan 15, 2026 06:05 pm
DAVAO CITY – Devotees in different parts of this city gathered in chapels to celebrate the feast of Senor Santo Niño on Thursday, Jan. 15.
The biggest gathering of the annual religious festivity here was at the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague in Shrine Hills in Matina.
Over 1,000 devotees coming from different parts of the city and nearby places gathered at the shrine since dawn Thursday.
Devotees have been offering candles and flowers since Wednesday at the wooden replica of the famous Infant Jesus of Prague in Czech Republic. It was enthroned in its marble chapel on Jan. 15, 1968.
In his homily, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles thanked the faithful for coming to celebrate the feast of Santo Niño.
"Maybe most of you are here today again because you are giving glory to God. And maybe you are back here again today because maybe, somehow, you received a grace from God, not just money, business, or property but relief in your hearts," Valles said during a Mass at the shrine's chapel.
He urged the faithful to share the stories of grace to their families and even to their neighbors. "We cannot explain but thank you for your devotion."
Since the shrine opened early Thursday morning, hundreds of devotees have queued before the Santo Niño to offer prayers.
Among the devotees, a couple in their mid-40s, carrying their sickly son who was dressed like the Santo Niño, joined the queue and offered prayer for his healing.
Across the city, devotees also celebrated the feast in their chapels and communities.
One of the known homes of Santo Niño devotees is the coastal Barangay 21-C or Piapi.
Established in 1947, the chapel is the first Santo Niño church in the city which was said to be founded by settlers from the Visayas, particularly from the provinces of Cebu and Leyte.
Among the devotees in the barangay is 62-year-old Albino Macasero who had his Santo Niño image blessed by the priest after the mass on Thursday.
Macasero said that his Santo Niño statue survived a fire several years ago. "This Santo Niño has been with me for over a decade already. I have inherited the tradition of celebrating the feast from our elders who hailed from Cebu."
He recalled that they have been celebrating the feast every year since he was a kid.
Youth volunteers are organizing parlor games and other activities during the festivity.
Many families are also preparing food and drinks for guests who would come to the community to celebrate the festivity.
Catholic churches across the country celebrate the feast of Senor Santo Niño, which is one of the most widely celebrated religious festivities in the country, every Jan. 15.
