Sto. Niño de Tondo devotion prevails unbowed by pandemic threat

Health protocols against the further spread of COVID-19 may have reduced to 30 percent the allowed capacity of churches, and markers have deprived devotees of some intimate distance in prayer from one another, but devotion overflows, finding creative ways of expression.

In the face of strict health measures, the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish Church decided to enshrine the 449-year-old image of the Child Jesus in front of the church for devotees to adore in prayer.

Photos by Danny Pata

Tondo religious officials have installed a fiberglass encasement on a pedestal in front of the Parish Church edifice, where the Sto. Niño statue is being enshrined for Sunday’s feast.

On the eve of the Sto. Niño de Tondo feast, and for the first time, the over-four-centuries-old religious icon is placed inside the transparent box in a ceremonious fashion.

After the installation, devotees slowly arrive in trickles to pray in front of the image that remained inside the church for many, many  years.

The Feast of the Sto. Nino de Tondo is celebrated every third Sunday of January. —with a report from Danny Pata/LBG, GMA News