Ai i i Junl ulti i iplin R h, V l 6, , 08 89 P-ISSN 2350-7756 | E-ISSN 2350-8442 | www.apjmr.com Devotees’ Testimonies of Faith of Señor Santo Niño De Cebu Mitchie Brion 1 , Glorie Ann Cabaluna 2 , Diana Jane Mencede 2 , Nedissa T. Ladera 3 , Ebora Lape 2 , Ma. Elsie R. Laput 2 , Riza Nunez 2 , and Reynaldo B. Inocian 2 1-3 Social Science State Scholars, College of Teacher Education, Cebu Normal University, Cebu City, Philippines, 6000 & 2 Director, Institute for Research in Innovative Instructional Delivery (IRIID), Cebu Normal University, Philippines 1 brionmitchie@yahoo.com, 2 sam_ariane@yahoo.com, 3 dianajanemencede@gmail.com, 4 nedi_ karisse@yahoo.com, 5 eboralape9@gmail.com, 6 merlbhabes@gmail.com, 7 iamriza07@yahoo.com, 8 inocian03@yahoo.com Date Received: March 15, 2018; Date Revised: May 14, 2018 Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Vol. 6 No. 2, 89-96 May 2018 Part II P-ISSN 2350-7756 E-ISSN 2350-8442 www.apjmr.com Abstract - This study unveiled the life experiences of the Catholic devotees with the miraculous Señor Santo Niño de Cebu. This aimed to: describe the key informant’s narratives of faith; extrapolate themes on their narratives; and intrapolate scriptural texts with the extrapolated themes on faith. Key informants narrated their beliefs and themes of faith were extrapolated. Interview and thematic analysis were used in an exploratory narrative inquiry. To protect the integrity of the generated data from interview, bracketing was used to separate the researchers’ personal biases. Verbatim accounts of key informants were held confidentially using the required ethics protocol. Cebu, being the root of Catholicism in the Philippines created the devotees’ religious landscape of faith. The undying faith of the Cebuano devotees to Señor Santo Niño, though marked with criticisms and issues based on scriptural interpretations by other religious denominations; but faith was tested and strengthened by their direct or indirect experiences. Using prayers, miracles of healing surpassed human tribulations and communed with the ambit of a mystical God. As the devotees danced the Sinulog, a unifying force bound the faithful to be solidified in the spirit of grace and abundant blessings that without the Señor Santo Niño, everything in Cebu is permissible. Despite Biblical and religious interpretations and contradictions, the worship of the Señor Santo Niño would not fade unceasingly. Its faith catapulted the devotees to become better individuals and strengthened their relationship to God. After all, it is not about religion, it is about faith. Keywords: Roman Catholicism, Señor Santo Niño, Sinulog Festival, faith and devotion INTRODUCTION The Philippines is known to be the only biggest Christian nation in Asia. A part of Christianity, the Roman Catholics dominate the most number of populations than other religious denominations such as Jehovah’s Witness, Protestantism, “Iglesia ni Cristo” or Church of Christ and others. Roman Catholicism is the fruit of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition in search of gold and spices in the Fareast. The Portuguese navigator also known as Fernando Magallanes arrives in the Philippines citing the island of Samar on March 16, 1521 under the command of King Philip of Spain [1]. He reaches Cebu in April 27 of the same year; shows a friendly relation with Rajah Humabon; and introduces Christianity to the natives. The rajah, his wife, and other subjects are baptized to Christianity. Magellan also gives the statue of Señor Santo Niño as a gift to Hara Amihan, Humabon’s wife [2], after her baptism as Queen Juana, in honor to King Philip’s wife. Both the Magellan’s cross and the image of Señor Santo Niño are treasured legacies to the Cebuanos, a symbol of Christendom in Asia. The devotion of Señor Santo Niño becomes an important part of Filipinos’ Christian faith and culture, more especially with the Cebuanos in Central Visayas, who exhibit the trait of being “espirituhanon,” a believer of a transcendent being [3]. In addition, before Magellan spread Christianity in Cebu–the colonial Sugbu, the Sugbuanons, natives of Sugbu are animists who perform the “Sinug” or “Sinulog,” a dance