Sto. Niño De Cebu Image Installed At Valencia Cathedral
VALENCIA, Spain—On its feast day, January 18, 2026, a replica image of the Santo Niño de Cebu was solemnly brought, formally offered, and installed at the Cathedral of Valencia, Spain. This historic milestone became a source of renewed hope and spiritual strength for Filipino Catholics living in Valencia.
After a year of careful planning, the event was made possible through the joint efforts of the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona, led by Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro, and Manuel Carrión Sánchez, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Valencia, in coordination with the Santo Niño de Cebu Personal Parish and the Archdiocese of Valencia.
The sacred image was donated by Cebu City–based lawyer Joy Pesquera, from Cebu, Philippines—where devotion to the Santo Niño has long been revered and recognized as the heart of Christian evangelization in the country.
In his introductory address, Father Edgar de la Cruz Balboa, parish priest of the Santo Niño de Cebu in Valencia, recalled the deep historical ties between Spain and the Philippines. He spoke of rediscovering an image once hidden, explaining that it was Spaniards who concealed the image during their encounter with the Philippine Islands—an enduring symbol of shared history and faith.
For Filipinos, who hold this devotion with profound reverence, the image of the Santo Niño carries deep spiritual significance, as it is a faithful replica of the revered image in the Philippines. Father Balboa emphasized that the image reflects the living faith of the Filipino people. Addressing the bishop, he expressed the Filipino community’s desire to share this faith, acknowledging the respect shown to them by Spaniards and expressing hope that this mutual respect will continue to flourish.
The Holy Mass was presided over by the Archbishop of Valencia, Most Reverend Enrique Benavent Vidal. In his homily, the Archbishop highlighted the Santo Niño as a bridge that unites peoples and cultures. He recalled the historical connection through San Jacinto Castañeda of Xàtiva, who celebrated his first Mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu during his missionary work in the Philippines, before his martyrdom in Vietnam in 1773.
Archbishop Benavent further emphasized the Church’s commitment to ensuring that Filipinos in Valencia, though far from their homeland, continue to preserve their faith, Christian roots, and sense of belonging within the wider Church community.
“We wish, as one community, to keep these two things alive, always feeling like brothers and sisters,” he said. “Because a Christian, even when not in their own land, knows that the Church is one single family—a great family of humanity—and that diversity of attitudes and ways of living is indispensable.”
The celebration concluded with a vibrant Sinulog dance presentation, joyfully witnessed by both Filipino and Spanish faithful, marking a fitting end to a momentous and faith-filled occasion.
