Happy Fiesta, Señor Sto. Niño!

January 18, 2026 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1: 29-34

Children of God: Every Third Sunday of January, the Philippines celebrates the Feast of the Sto. Niño, widely known as the Sinulog feast. Liturgically, this celebration has a special permission from Rome to be observed on a Sunday because of its deep cultural roots and its powerful role in passing on the faith, especially to families and children. It is a celebration that connects devotion, history, and catechesis, reminding the faithful that Christianity in the Philippines took flesh through a Child welcomed into homes and communities.

In my 11 years as a media practitioner in Cebu, I have seen clearly that there is a distinction in the celebration of the Sto. Niño: the religious and the cultural. For a devotee, it is called Fiesta Señor, and the liveliest and grandest Sinulog dance happens on Saturday evening after the Pontifical Mass. This is the traditional religious Sinulog, danced by priests and religious for about one hour as an offering of praise and prayer. For tourists, however, it is often and most popularly called Sinulog, the one taking place on the streets with Sunday merry-making, music, and spectacle. That is why, if you are truly a devotee, do not miss the religious celebrations, or else you are only there as a tourist.

In this feast, the gospel proclaimed in the Philippines is Matthew 18:1–5, where Jesus places a child at the center and teaches that greatness in the kingdom is found in humility and childlike trust. This differs from the ordinary Sunday cycle, where the gospel reading is John 1:29–34. The Church allows this variation so that the local celebration can speak directly to the faith experience of the people, especially their devotion to the Holy Child, while still remaining faithful to the wider rhythm of the liturgical year. 

Our reflection today will focus on John 1:29–34, a passage that shifts our attention from celebration to witness, from dancing faith to declared faith. John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John the Baptist also becomes a witness of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus.

What, then, are our inspirations for today as we listen to this powerful declaration of John about Jesus and our own calling?

First, faith is pointing others to Christ, not to oneself. 

John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him and declares that Jesus  is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This challenges us today, especially in a culture that values visibility and applause. The witness of John in John teaches us that authentic faith is not about being noticed but about being faithful, pointing others to Christ even when it means stepping back into silence.

Second, recognizing Jesus reshapes how we understand ourselves and our mission.

John recognizes who Jesus truly is, he also understands who he himself is meant to be: a witness. When we truly know who Jesus is, our priorities shift, our celebrations deepen, and our devotion matures. Like the religious Sinulog that flows from the Eucharist, our faith must flow from encounter, not just from festivity.

Children of God: The Feast of the Sto. Niño and the witness of John the Baptist invite us to move from being spectators to being witnesses, from cultural celebration to lived faith. Whether through the image of a Child or the proclamation of the Lamb, God reveals himself so that he may be known, trusted, and followed.