Feast of Santo Niño Procession, Bustos, Bulacan, Philippines

January 18, 2015
On the third Sunday in January, the city of Bustos, Bulacan, in the Philippines, holds its procession for the Feast of the Santo Niño. The procession includes thousands of small and medium images of Santo Niño, the Holy Child, from the homes of parishioners. A few are mounted on elegant carozas decorated with flowers and lights, but most ride on cars or motorcycle three-wheelers decorated with balloons, dressed in a range of ways. Through much of the procession dance-club style music blared. In sharp contrast to lenten penitential rituals, Santo Niño events were meant to be joyful and celebratory.
Learn more about Santo Niño celebrations in the Philippines at www.catholicsa...
This video is part of Catholics & Cultures, an initiative of the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Visit www.catholicsan....
Through much of the procession, dance-club style music blared, sometimes in forms that built on traditional drumming, but added a contemporary twist. Other loudspeakers mounted on vehicles used the music of Sinulog, Cebu’s huge Santo Niño feast, or simply blared pop music. In sharp contrast to Lenten penitential rituals, Santo Niño events were meant to be joyful and celebratory.