Santo Niño Church is a 19th-century, Baroque Roman Catholic church located in Barangay Talisay, Malitbog, Southern Leyte, Philippines.
Table of Contents
History
The present-day site of Malitbog is said to be established to pacify two feuding groups of settlers, so it is of equal distance from two watch towers built in 1820. It was organized into a town by virtue of a decree issued by the Governor General on December 14, 1849 and that became effective on April 11, 1850.
The church was established in the same year, and its house of worship made of adobe and stone was built through forced labor in 1857. Under the care of the Augustinian friars, it was handed over to the secular clergy in 1910.
The devotion to the Holy Child was introduced by the Augustinians, and the 18th-century image carved by local artists was enthroned upon the church’s completion in 1857. However, after participating in Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, it was stolen in 1991 together with the images of St. Isidore and St. Roch.
The theft of the image, thought to have been carved in 1720s, was a great loss to the devotees and described by Traditional Latin Mass Society of Maasin as “the worst tragedy” that befell on the parish.
A picture of the Balaang Bata sa Malitbog (Holy Child of Malitbog) surfaced in a book entitled “Santo Niño: The Holy Child Devotion in the Philippines” published in 2001. Finally, it was recovered through Francis Ong, a Manila-based collector, in September 2020. He came into its possession after its former owner died since November 2019. Upon observing that it closely resembled the lost Sto. Niño of Malitbog, he reached out to the Diocese of Maasin to arrange for its return.
On November 28, 2020, Sto. Niño of Malitbog was formally turned over to the Diocese of Maasin through Bishop Precioso Cantillas at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral – Maasin. It arrived at Malitbog Parish Church on a 60-kilometer motorcade from the cathedral and was met with rapturous welcome by the parishioners.
Architecture
The church is made of quarried coral stones. Its facade is plain and sparing of details. Its main entrance is in the shape of an arch, and atop the cornice the pediment is pierced with a glass window containing the depiction of the Holy Child flanked by pairs of pilasters. Pillars at both ends of the wall culminate in a finial at their apex.
A stout, four-bodied bell tower stands by the gospel side. The upper levels are supported by Ionic columns and embellished by gables. At the peak of each gable roof of the last level is a chalice-like finial. Its roof is in the shape of a pyramid and surmounted by a lantern, a small pyramidal roof, and a spire.
Celebration
The feast day of Sto. Niño is January 15 in a town celebration called Himug-usa Festival.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Santo Niño Church in Malitbog, Southern Leyte from May 12, 2025 to May 18, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Malitbog.
Monday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Tuesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Wednesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Thursday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Friday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Saturday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Sunday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 8:15-9:15 AM
- 4:00-5:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Santo Niño Church in Malitbog, Southern Leyte |
| Address | Barangay Taliwa, Malitbog, Southern Leyte 6603 |
| Country | Philippines |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Established | 1850 |
| Age | 175 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Diocese | Diocese of Maasin |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Sto. Niño |
| Patron | Sto. Niño |
| Feast day | January 15 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1857 |
| Age since completed | 168 years |
| Style | Baroque |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Church in Ichon, Macrohon, Southern Leyte
- San Roque Church in Mabolo, Macrohon, Southern Leyte
- San Vicente de Ferrer Chaplaincy in San Vicente, Malitbog, Southern Leyte
- Shrine of the Holy Cross and the First Mass Church in Limasawa, Southern Leyte
- St. James the Apostle Church in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Macrohon, Southern Leyte
References
- Diocese of Maasin. Retrieved December 7, 2023
- Sto. Niño Church. Provincial Government of Southern Leyte. Retrieved December 7, 2023
- History of Malitbog. Provincial Government of Southern Leyte. Retrieved December 7, 2023
- Santo Niño de Malitbog returns home. Leyte Samar Daily News. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2023
- Delta Dyrecka Letigio. Kaplag: Sto. Niño de Malitbog found after 30 years. Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 18, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2023