The month of January is the celebration of Santo Niño festivals throughout the country, and one of the most awaited festivals during this month is the Lakbayaw Festival or commonly known as Santo Niño de Tondo, the biggest event in Manila participated in by thousands of Santo Niño devotees every year. Let us explore this one-of-a-kind festival that that shows the many faces of Tondo, Manila.

The third Sunday of January is a promising and exciting day for the people of Tondo because of the two simultaneous celebrations: the Tondo Fiesta and the Feast of the Santo Niño or Lakbayaw Festival. The event kicks off with the traditional procession of devotees dancing on the street while carrying images of the Child Jesus; a pagoda carrying an old image of Sto. Niño will lead the parade with 20 smaller boats accompanying it. This fluvial celebration attracts thousands of tourists coming from different places just to be part of the celebration.

The parish in Tondo houses the image that was brought to the country by Augustinian priests from Acapulco, Mexico in the late 1570s. Like the myriad of stories about the miraculous image of the Child Jesus, the people of Tondo believe that the ivory image of Santo Niño will bring miracles to their lives.

 

The Faces of the Lakbayaw Festival

Hear the boom-boom beat of the bass drums and tinkling of the metals and stone. The participants are clad in colorful dresses and costumes while dancing together with the street dancers. All you will notice are happy people dancing and proclaiming “Viva El Sto. Niño.” The fluvial fiesta processions are held twice, one in the morning and the other just before sunset where it passes through the major streets of Tondo. One highlight of the procession is the fireworks display.

Lakbayaw Festival, like the other Santo Niño celebrations, also features beauty pageants, photo exhibits; a showcase of local plants, products, and crafts; and fireworks.

 

Santo Niño Feast

Some of the famous Santo Niño celebrations in the Philippines are Sinulog in Cebu, Dinagyang in Iloilo, and Ati-Atihan in Kalibo Aklan. In Manila, Lakbayaw Festival in Tondo has the biggest participants. In honor of the Holy Child, the nation celebrates it, and usually features grand processions of folk, antique, and new images of the Holy Child in various manifestations – as a shepherd boy, as the keeper of the world, or as a sleeping child, among others.