Religious activities for the Feast of Señor Santo Niño opened dawn on Thursday, January 8, 2026 with the annual "Penitential Walk with Jesus."

Over 240,000 devotees of the Señor Santo Niño participated in the penitential walk that opened the Novena Masses, according to the authorities. 

By 3 a.m., devotees gathered at Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City.

At 4 a.m., the procession from the Fuente Osmeña Circle to the Basilica commenced. Devotees recited the Holy Rosary while walking down the road to the Basilica, bringing with them their images of the Holy Child and lit candles.

Lolita Apaam, a devotee, said she joins the walk annually.

“Kada tuig gyud ko mokuyog, mga 20 years [na]. Prayers, maayong lawas, sa akong pamilya, tanan-tanan,” she mentioned of her petitions.

Other devotees dressed up their own children with vestments similar to that of the Holy Child.

One of these children is a six-month-old girl. Audrey Teves, a devotee, said that the child is a "miracle baby;" a wish granted by the Señor Santo Niño, the father said.

Dressing up the baby in the likeness of the Holy Child is a way of thanking the Santo Niño, Teves said.

“Miracle ba, natubuhan na [siya] paggawas. Karon among gipa-(wear sa dress sa Santo Niño) isip pasalamat ba aning abay Niño,” Teves added.

A sea of devotees occupied almost the entire Osmeña Boulevard stretch during the penitential walk.

The image of the Santo Niño on board the carroza entered the compound of the Basilica by 5:12 a.m.

The Basilica and the Pilgrim Center were packed with devotees, and the warmth of their devotion to the Holy Child is apparent.

The first Holy Mass of nine Holy Masses (or the novena, meaning “nine”) for the 2026 Fiesta Señor celebration is presided over by Rev. Fr. Andres Rivera Jr., rector of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

As the Basilica compound can only hold a maximum capacity of 5,000 individuals, the rest of the devotees stayed outside of the premises. However, the Basilica have LED walls where activities inside the Pilgrim Center are shown.

Thousands of policemen, firefighters, soldiers, and other uniformed personnel and force multipliers have been deployed to ensure peace, order, and security of the public.

In fact, policemen and soldiers are among those who served as human barricade during the procession.

To ensure further public safety, medical stations are mounted and emergency personnel are deployed inside and outside of the Basilica.