The district of Arevalo celebrates its fiesta in honor of the Santo Niño de Arevalo every third Sunday of January – a week before the staging of Iloilo City's Dinagyang Festival that celebrates the coming of the replica of Santo Niño de Cebu to Iloilo in 1968.
Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Arevalo Parish Church in Arevalo, Iloilo City
In 1581, under the governance of Governor General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa, La Villa Rica de Arévalo was officially founded, becoming the center of Spanish exploration in Panay. The settlement was named after the governor's hometown in Spain. This same year marked the introduction of the image of Santo Niño to Panay, making it the third oldest Santo Niño image in the Philippines, after Cebu and Tondo.[2]
The following year, in 1582, Santo Niño de Arevalo was declared a parish, with Fr. Diego Velasquez serving as its first parish priest. The settlement quickly surpassed Oton in significance, becoming the residence of Spanish officials in the region. The Augustinians took over in 1584, with Fr. Juan Montoya, O.S.A. as the parish priest.[citation needed]
Due to various challenges, including Moro raids and Dutch attacks, the Spaniards eventually relocated to Fort San Pedro in La Punta (Iloilo City Proper). The church, with a history of destruction and reconstruction, has been contemporary, undergoing numerous rebuilds over several centuries.
In 1868, Fr. Anselmo Avancena initiated the construction of the Convento de Arevalo and the second reconstruction of the church, completed in 1869. Notably, the church features a unique location in the middle of the plaza, distinguishing it from others in the country.[3]
The image of Santo Niño in Santo Niño de Arevalo Parish Church is believed to be miraculous, providing protection to the townsfolk during attacks, droughts, locust infestations, and other tribulations. A replica is housed in the church, while the original image is kept in the Convento de Arevalo for safekeeping.[citation needed]
On January 16, 2022, Santo Niño de Arevalo was declared the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Arevalo, and the image was crowned by Jaro ArchbishopJose Romeo Lazo. This declaration marked a significant milestone, making it the third shrine within the archdiocese, alongside St. Vincent Ferrer in Leganes and Our Lady of Fatima in Jaro.[4]
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