400-year-old Sto. Niño image turned to ash in Pandacan church fire

A 400-year-old image of Sto. Niño de Pandacan, long considered by devotees to be miraculous, was among the images razed by the fire that gutted the Sto. Niño Parish in Pandacan, Manila last week.

According to Maki Pulido’s Monday report on “24 Oras,” only the crown and other small pieces of the image were spared by the fire.

“That’s one of the most painful because that’s a 400-year legacy ng taga-Pandacan,” parish priest Fr. Ric Valencia said. “Pero the good news is, merong mga bahagi na natira na puwede naming gamitin para sa pagpagawa ulit ng panibagong image.”

The image was discovered by children along the Pasig River in the 1600s when the Philippines was still under Spanish rule.

It was then brought to the Our Lady of Loreto church in Sampaloc, Manila but it went missing several times and was always found at the place where it was initially discovered by the children.

Following this discovery, a chapel was established in the Pandacan area. It became a church in 1712.

“Napagtanto no’ng mga pinuno ng simbahan no’ng araw na, ‘Ah, gusto sigurong magkaroon ng sariling dambana ng Mahal na Poong Sto. Nino’ kaya there you go, they constructed a chapel dito sa aming parokya,” Br. Manny Joson said.

The image has survived several calamities and wars.

Devotees even refer to it as “Sto Niño de Sunog” after a big fire in Pandacan in 1911 that is commemorated through the annual Prusisyon sa Sunog.

The church said it will try to restore some of the antique images that were destroyed.

“Kung ang simbahan ay 338 [years old], gano’n na katanda, baka mai-restore pa namin,” Valencia said.

The church noted that it was a miracle that the Blessed Sacrament and sacramental bread were not ravaged by the fire.

The Manila Fire District said the fire may have been caused by an electricity issue.

The church and convent will be rebuilt but spiritual services like baptism, blessing of the dead, and masses will continue to be held daily.

“We are going to build again. Much bigger and much better. ‘Pag mayroon namang maraming tumulong at may budget naman, mas mapabilis natin ito,” Valencia said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News