he devotion to Señor Santo Niño started way back in 1521. The cross of Magellan and the image of Holy Child Jesus, the oldest and most historical relic in the Philippines, stands today as the two monuments that speak of the glorious discovery, foundation and Christian civilization of the Philippines. The image of Santo Niño was given to Queen Juana, wife of King Humabon of Cebu, as gift after she submitted herself to Christianization thru baptism in the Catholic faith and from then on, devotion to the Child Jesus flourished and grew.

Dinagyang is the most unusual of Ilonggo worship. Señor Santo Nino is the object dramatized offerings and prayers. It is a colorful cavalcade in honor of the Child Jesus amid the cracking beats of drums, shouts of "Viva Señor Santo Niño" and thundering "hala bira" of tribe members. Dinagyang has both religious and cultural activities supported by the San Jose Church , Iloilo City Government and Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc., in promoting the Ilonggo culture and traditions for tourism. An expression of worship and thanksgiving, this festival instills faith and love for God and country among our people. Truly, Dinagyang showcases Iloilo's best and without Senior Santo Nino, there would be no Dinagyang.

Dinagyang History

ttributed now to the annual, socio-cultural-religious festival of lloilo City, the word Dinagyang was coined by an old-timer, llonggo writer and radio broadcaster, the late Pacifico Sumagpao Sudario, and first used to name the festival when it was launched in 1977. lloilo City's Dinagyang has its early beginnings in 1968, when a replica of the image of Señor Santo Nino was brought from Cebu City to the San Jose Parish Church by Fr. Sulpicio Ebderes, OSA with a delegation of Cofradia del Sto. Nino, Cebu members. The image and party were enthusiastically welcomed at lloilo City by then parish priest of San Jose Church, Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, OSA, then Mayor Renerio Ticao, and the devotees of the Sto. Niño in
the City of Iloilo.

The image was brought to San Jose Parish Church and enshrined there up to this time, where a novena in His honor is held every Friday. Meanwhile, the Cofradia del Santo Nino, lloilo Chapter, was organized and the first set of officers were elected. to name a few: Fr. Ambrosio Galindez; Fiscal Vicente Gengos, first president of the Cofradia; Felisimo Almalvez; Aurelio Deriada; The late Tommy Panaguiton; Doroteo Fuentes; Mr & Mrs Esperidion Alcubilla & Dominador Rivera Jr. The first parish feast of Senor Santo Nino was celebrated in 1969, a year after his arrival in lloilo City. The culmination of the nine-day novena was the Fluvial Procession. In the early morning light of dawn, the revered Santo Niño image is borne on a decorative banca in a fluvial procession, starting from the mouth of the Iloilo River at Fort San Pedro, winding all the way to the lloilo Provincial Capitol which stands on the bank of the lloilo River.

If the festival had to be developed into a major tourist attraction, it would be so big in magnitude and the Cofradia thought that it could no longer cope with the demands tourist come-on. The year 1976 also brought another feature of the festival. Street revelry and audience participation were introduced and encouraged. At that point, the Santo Niño is met by the Hermano-Hermana Mayor, devotees, and Ati-atihan tribes. With the Santo Niño leading the foot procession starts, passing through the main streets of the city and ending up at San Jose Church, where a high mass is then celebrated. Every year since then, the image is venerated through religious celebration, with the Ati-atihan tracing its roots to the barter or purchase of Panay Island by the 10 Bornean datus from the Ati King, Marikudo, in the 13th century.

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