Grand Sto. Niño Installation Crowns Cebu City’s Senior Citizen’s Park

A 30-foot Sto. Niño installation now stands as the centerpiece of the new chapel of the Senior Citizen’s Park in Cebu City. Megawide and its subsidiary, Cebu2World Development (C2W), are at the helm of construction in the area as part of the Carbon District Modernization.

The grand Sto. Niño statue, made of fiber glass resin is visible inland and from the Mactan Channel. Meanwhile, the chapel occupies an area of 300 sqm. As such, can accommodate at least 150 parishioners from the main congregation. The corridors leading to the park can also double as extended seating areas to take in more guests. The 3,700 sqm Senior Citizen’s Park, with its new chapel and the statue, is gearing up as a new Cebu City landmark.

In addition, the crown of the Señor Sto. Niño and the Sinulog Festival inspired the chapel’s rounded design. The prominent fluidity of the arcs mirror the graceful, flowing movements of the festival’s iconic dance. Sinulog itself came from the Cebuano word “sulog” which means water currents.

Finally, a landscaped park will enclose the chapel to extend the place of prayer and reflection to its outdoor surroundings. It will be an additional open and green space in the city. It also boasts of a tranquil view of the waterfront and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in the distance.

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Mayor Michael Rama, who also chairs the Cebu Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, attended the inauguration held in mid-February. In his inaugural address, he noted that the installation is a symbol of faith and Cebuano culture and heritage.

“Through our discussions with C2W and their consultations with the Church, the figure stays true to the Holy Child as we venerate in Cebu, while the chapel design draws from Sinulog influences. This is a true symbol of Cebuano culture and heritage.”

“The main goal of the Carbon Modernization is to showcase and embody the culture and identity of Cebu City while improving the infrastructure of the district. Given the rich and deep history of Christianity in Cebu, we wanted a symbol of our faith at heart of the development,” said Cebu2World Director Cristina Angan.

With the completion of the Carbon District underway, C2W is set to coordinate with the Archdiocese of Cebu and the City Government on the official opening of the new chapel.