In line with the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona spearheads the presentation of the Santo Niño de Cebu to the Basilica dela Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain on December 5, Sunday, 9 a.m. (Barcelona Time). The noted minor basilica will be the home of the historic image in Spain, through the efforts of the Consulate General of the Philippines in Barcelona. The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu sent the replica through the assistance of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The International Mass at the Sagrada Familia for the Santo Niño de Cebu will be celebrated by the Papal Nuncio in Spain Archbishop Bernardino Auza, a native of Bohol. Concelebrating with him are Msgr. Bernardo Pantin (Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines), Fr. Brian Brigoli (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu), and Fr. Ericson Borre, OSA (Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu). Barcelona Archbishop Cardinal Juan Jose Omella Omella will also grace the mass. Also in attendance is Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe Lhuillier.
At 4pm (Barcelona Time; 11pm, Philippine Time), a welcome mass for the Santo Niño de Cebu is organized by the Filipino Community at the San Agustin Church, Barcelona. Twenty minutes prior to the mass is a Sinulog. The celebration will be streamed by the Radio-Television Malacañang to various government Facebook pages, primarily the National Quincentennial Committee, as well as on Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila.
The choir for both masses will be the Coro Kudyapi, a group of second and third generations of Filipino kids in Barcelona.
The Philippine delegation is headed by National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chair and National Quincentennial Committee Executive Director Rene Escalante. He is joined by another NQC Board Member, Department of National Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu. Two other NQC members sent their representatives: National Commission for Culture and the Arts will be represented by Aaron James Veloso and the Department of Tourism by Usec. Berna Buensuceso. Cebu City Government is represented by Cebu Tourism Council and incoming Cebu City Councilor Joy Pesquera.
