Thousands of Sto. Niño devotees gathered in front of San Mateo town’s plaza for the annual Sto. Niño festival. (PHOTO: AranzazuShrine facebook page)
In every barrios, towns, and cities all over the Philippines, the Sto. Niño celebration has been part of the most distinguished fiesta celebration throughout the year, which later on became part of our culture and tradition. In San Mateo, Rizal; Sto. Niño festival is one of the most anticipated event in the municipality.
It is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January which attracts thousands of parishioners and devotees carrying their portable Sto. Niño statues onto the street dancing to the beat of tribal drums. The main highlight of the parade is the various images of Sto. Niño that were dressed and inspired by different titles, in the care of private families, individuals, and organizations from within and outside San Mateo. The images of the child Jesus were artistically assembled into their respective carrozas.
Brief history of the image of Sto. Niño de San Mateo
The newly restored original image of Nuestro Señor Sto. Niño de San Mateo.
‘El Festejado’: Nuestro Señor Sto. Niño de San Mateo is the most venerated image of Sto. Niño under the care of the Sto. Niño Festival Founding Chairman, Greg Banaag and family. It was originally sculpted by Maestro Exequiel Deveza of Mandaluyong, City on 14 April 1976. The image was brought to Quiapo church for the blessing.
History of the Festival
The first Sto. Niño Festival in San Mateo was held in the year 1977 in Sitio Lambak, initiated by the first Hermano Mayor, Mr. Greg Banaag, which originally paraded into the streets of Guitnang Bayan, Dulong Bayan 1 & 2, Sta. Ana, and Malanday; accompanied by the Ati-atihan street dancers and two giant mascots.
The festival was positively accepted by the locals of San Mateo. However, the celebration doesn’t have any permanent date depending on the financial capability of the couple Greg and Luding Banaag. Later on, the committee decided to launch the festival at the town’s plaza. They organized an Ati-atihan dance competition, fireworks display, and selection of Hermano Mayor’s line-up.
The image of Sto. Niño de Aranzazu in the care of Luisa Noche.
It was in 1989 when the Parish of Our Lady of Aranzazu took-over and administered the annual Sto. Niño Festival through the parish priest Rev. Fr. Marcel Prudente and by the help of Mr. Rey Balcos, which set the permanent date of the celebration every 3rd Sunday of January in accordance to the liturgical calendar of the church.
In January of 1990, the first thanksgiving mass and procession in the morning was held, including the 9 days novena in honor of the Señor Sto. Niño. It was also in this year which the Sto. Niño image of the Banaags was formally given the title Nuestro Señor Sto. Niño de San Mateo.
In 2003, Msgr. Balbago Jr. allowed the privately owned various images of Sto. Niño to join the procession with their elaborately-adorned carriages which until these days is still actively participated by numerous private and fraternal organizations who continuously register their Sto. Niño images in the parish.
The Sto. Niño festival is the finest opportunity to witness the Child Jesus in different form of arts and representation of our culture. Currently, there are more than 70 carrozas of Sto. Niño actively participating. The Hermanos or Hermanas Mayores support the financial needs of the festival that has become a rich and colourful tradition in the historic town of San Mateo.
Viva Sto. Niño!
Christian Jasper Robles
Senior Writer, Website Team - Media Ministry
Christian is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Communication at Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He is a member of the writer’s team of Aranzazu Media and Public Information Ministry. A singer, performer, writer, church servant, and a Marian devotee. Currently, he is the secretary of Association of Our Lady of Aranzazu- Cofradia and member of Avant-Garde Singers. Passionate about writing different local religious traditions and Mariology matters; Christian is strongly dedicated in promoting and propagating the devotion to Our Lady of Aranzazu.
