Archdiocese of Cebu Leads 500-day Countdown of the Country’s First Baptism

The Archdiocese of Cebu will commence the 500-day countdown to the Philippines’ quincentennial or 500th year commemoration of the first baptism in the Philippines.

The activity will be on Sunday, December 1, in front of the Magellan’s cross kiosk in Cebu City.

Archbishop of Cebu Most Rev. Jose Palma will start the event with a Eucharistic celebration at 6:00 in the morning.

Meanwhile, The Tindalo Cross, which is the replica of the Magellan’s cross will be named the 2021 Jubilee cross that will visit 500 parishes of the Archdiocese of Cebu and other dioceses in the country together with the pilgrim image of the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu.

After the mass is a foot procession that will pass through P. Burgos St. going to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the first church that will be visited by the 2021 Jubilee Cross.

The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu’s regular mass schedules at 5:30 AM and 7:00 AM will not be celebrated to give way to this opening salvo.

A road closure will be implemented on Osmeña Boulevard and P.Burgos Street at 4:00 a.m. Authorities will also implement the “no backpack” policy for security purposes.

This milestone is in collaboration with the Augustinian friars of the Order of St. Augustine Province of Santo Niño de Cebu – Philippines. The Augustinians were the first missionaries in the Philippines and the caretakers of the miraculous image since 1565.

It was on April 14, 1521 that the first baptism was celebrated in the Philippines, according to the accounts of Venetian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta.