Basilica del Sto. Nino
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© Photo by: GBLontok (2002)
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Footnote by: GBLontok (2002)
The Santo Ni?o Shrine as popularly known, was the Church of San Agustin before the title Basilica Minore del Sto. Ni?o was conferred to it in 1965 during the 4th centennial of Christianity in the Philippines. It is among the most important religious pilgrim destinations of the Philippines. This church marks the seat of the Christianization of the country, which took place in 1565 with the conversion to the Christian faith of Rajah Humabon, the king of Cebu at that time, and his wife Queen Juana. (Various accounts as to the year of conversion of the first Christian Filipinos are confusing. Another account points out that the baptism occurred when Magellan planted in 1521 his now famous cross.)