MANILA, Philippines - The Filipinos? love and devotion to the Christ Child is phenomenal. This will again be manifested today when churches in every town and city hold Masses and processions.

In Cebu City, people will hear Mass at the Pilgrim Center across the Basilica de Sto. Niño while others will light candles in the church or touch the image.

Cebuanos and guests will then dance the ?Sinulog? to the beat of drums and shouts of ?Pit Señor! Viva Sto. Niño!? Going to Cebu for the fiesta is a panata for devotees wishing to thank Him for answered prayers.

Historical accounts say before Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu in 1521, Sinulog was danced by the natives in honor of wooden idols and anitos. Magellan introduced Christianity, giving the Sto. Niño as a baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Cebu?s Rajah Humabon and who became Queen Juana.

During the 44 years between the coming of Magellan and Legazpi, natives danced the Sinulog but this time as a sign of reverence to the Sto. Niño, who is now enshrined in the San Agustin Church. The church later became the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

Procession

The Congregacion del Santissimo Nombre del Niño Jesus will hold its 29th grand procession of at least 400 Sto. Niño images on Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. The procession will begin at the Philtrade Center on Roxas Boulevard and end at the Quirino Grandstand.

The procession highlights the Fiesta del Sto. Niño 2008 that opened Jan. 17 with an exhibit and Holy Mass at the PNB Financial Center. Exhibit hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Novena Masses are at 7 p.m.

Healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez will visit the exhibit 1-3 p.m. Mounting the exhibit are fiesta chair Deo Pamilar; Ricky Miranda, president; Jing Chua, chair; Ben Farrales, founding chair; and members of the board.

Anniversary

Devotees of Sto. Niño de Providencia will attend the 16th anniversary of the 1992 miracle when the image of the Christ Child began sweating oil. Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Mary Mother of the Church Parish Jan. 26, 3 p.m. The chapel at 65 Pijuan St., BF Resort Village, Las Piñas will be open at 7 a.m.

Parish anniversary

Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes officiated at the concelebrated Mass marking the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Bayan-Bayanan Avenue in Marikina on Dec. 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception. Co-celebrants were Fr. Ben Guevara, parish priest, and other priests of the diocese.

Spearheading the event was the comite de festejos, headed by president Antonio E. Andres, Sr.

Novena Masses were celebrated by Fr. Anton Pascual, Fr. Arlo Yap, Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite, Msgr. Sabino Vengco and Fr. Larry Faraon, among others.

Homecoming

The University of Santo Tomas Alumni of Priests Association will hold its 74th alumni homecoming Jan. 22-23, at the UST Central Seminary, España, Manila. Theme is ?Thomasian Priests: Men of Ecclesiastical Learning, Models of Moral Integrity.?

Guest speakers Fr. Eduardo Panlilio, governor of Pampanga. John Baptist Lee Keh-Mien, bishop of Hsinchu, Taiwan will discuss the two-fold vision of UST for the 2011 Quadricentennial Celebration.

This year?s reunion will be hosted by Class 1983 led by Fr. Victor Bendico of the Archdiocese of Capiz.

Confab on religion

UST will host ?Religion and the Formation of New Publics: A Mid-Term International Conference,? Jan. 23-26, at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, UST campus.

Speakers include Bryan S. Turner of the National University of Singapore; Amarjiva Lochan of the South and Southeast Asian Association for the Study of Religion and Culture; Rana P. B. Singh of Banaras Hindu University, India; and Ivan Varga of Queen?s University, Canada.

UST Rector Magnificus and former Commission on Higher Education chair Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, OP, will give a special message.

Call the UST Institute of Religion at 7314301 or 4061611 local 8256.

Papal award

Pope Benedict XVI will confer, through Papal Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams and Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, the papal award Dame of St. Sylvester on entrepreneur and civic leader Petrona Bucad Lim on Jan. 26, 6 p.m., at the Santuario de San Antonio Church.

The awardee is an active officer of the Devotees of the Nuestra Señora de Piat Foundation that is helping build a retirement home for priests in Cagayan Valley.

Fiesta

Fr. Johann Sebastian, parish priest of the Sacred Heart Church in Pinuod, Bulacan, is this year?s hermano mayor of the fiesta of San Ildefonso on Jan. 23.

Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros will say the fiesta Mass. Fr. Johann, an only child, was conceived after his mother prayed to San Ildefonso.

Relic

Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus Parish will welcome the relic of St. Therese of the Child Jesus on Jan. 27, 9 a.m. A High Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Troy de los Santos, OFMCap, followed by the blessing of roses.

Veneration is 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Confession will be 2-4:30 p.m. Healing Mass will be at 5 p.m.