When the Child King Danced Among His People: Sinulog, Faith, and Joy at the Feast of the Santo Niño in Tagakpan

The San Francisco de Asis Parish came alive with color, rhythm, and deep devotion as the faithful celebrated the Feast of the Santo Niño on January 18, 2026, a culmination of nine days of prayer, preparation, and youthful zeal. The celebration formally began with a 9-day novena from January 9 to January 17, thoughtfully planned and spearheaded by the Joseph Marello Youth (JMY) under the guidance of the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Mario B. Holmina, OSJ, himself a known devotee of the Santo Niño.

On the feast day, the parish observed its regular Mass schedule, with Holy Masses at 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM, both presided by Rev. Fr. Euricho Raphael A. Maralit, OSJ, the parochial vicar. These Eucharistic celebrations were made especially festive by the Sinulog Dance offerings performed by the JMY in honor of the Child Jesus. Devotees who brought their images of the Santo Niño joyfully joined the dance, moving to the familiar rhythm that echoed faith, gratitude, and praise.

The Sinulog, derived from the Cebuano word “sulog” meaning “like the current of water,” traces its roots to pre-colonial Filipino rituals and was later Christianized to honor the Santo Niño. Its distinct forward-and-backward steps symbolize the flow of water and, more deeply, humanity’s journey of turning away from sin and returning to God. Over the centuries, the Sinulog has become one of the most recognizable expressions of Filipino devotion—where dance becomes prayer and movement becomes proclamation of faith.

Following the morning celebrations, a fiesta Mass was held at GKK Santo Niño in Sitio Sarro, Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District, Davao City, presided by Rev. Fr. Mario B. Holmina, OSJ. The spirit of the feast continued as the youth who performed in the parish also brought their Sinulog dance to the GKK community. Once again, devotees holding their Santo Niño images danced in joyful thanksgiving, transforming the celebration into a shared expression of faith across communities.

In the afternoon, the celebration spilled onto the streets through a motorcade at 4:00 PM, featuring three Sinulog street-dance stations. The first two performances took place at Purok Crossing Tagakpan and Crossing Naming, Anggalan, while the final and most anticipated performance was held in front of the parish along the main street of Tagakpan, drawing crowds who watched and rejoiced as faith met festivity in full public view.

The day concluded with the 5:00 PM Holy Mass, which was given live radio coverage by the DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM Team, allowing even those from afar to participate spiritually. The Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Mario B. Holmina, OSJ, and Rev. Fr. Euricho Raphael A. Maralit, OSJ.

In his homily, Fr. Mario reminded the faithful of the heart of the devotion: to be like a child— forgiving, humble, and fully trusting in God. Just as the Santo Niño invites believers to approach God with simplicity and confidence, the entire celebration reflected a community dancing not only to music, but to the rhythm of faith, hope, and childlike trust in the Lord. (Jeffren Miguel)