06 March 2022 –Cardinal Antonio Luis Tagle was Guest of Honor at the opening of the Santo Niño Exhibit at the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona. The exhibit, entitled, “Santo Niño de Cebu: Un Icono de la Historia Filipina” (Santo Niño de Cebu: An Icon of Philippine Culture and History), features five (5) distinct images of the Santo Niño, hailing from all over the Philippines: the Santo Niño de Cebu, the Santo Niño de Pandacan, the Santo Niño de Praga, the Santo Niño de Ternate, and the Santo Niño de Tondo.

The exhibit also features a replica of the Cross of Magellan, produced by the Archdiocese of Barcelona in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General, Barcelona.

For the official opening of the exhibit, the ribbon was cut by His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, His Excellency Ambassador Philippe Jones Lhuillier, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez, and Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro. This was followed by the blessing of the images of the Santo Niño and the Cross of Magellan by His Eminence Cardinal Tagle.

“This exhibit is a narrative of the important role of our daily lives of the infant Jesus whom we, Filipinos, lovingly call Santo Niño. It is a glimpse into our history and our catholic faith,” said Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro in her message.

Ambassador Lhuillier stated that the exhibit aims to share the Santo Niño to a wider public, both Filipinos and locals alike. “Spain has gifted us with Christianity. Through our devotion to the Santo Niño, we gift Spain with our Catholic faith, which has been our pillar of strength and has seen us through during difficult times,” added the Ambassador.

In his message, Cardinal Tagle encouraged the youth to profess their faith in Christ and even challenged them to become priests and nuns to be part of the evangelization of the Catholic faith. He urged the Filipinos in Spain to share the gift of faith, as it has been shared to us 500 years ago.

Musical performances, including the “Santo Niño at 500 Jubilee Song,” “Panis Angelicus by Saint Thomas Aquinas,” and “Saan Ka Man Naroroon by Levi Celerio”, were sung by Mr. Zip de Guzman, a Filipino baritone from the Andorran Opera.

The exhibit was attended by officials from the Archdiocese of Barcelona and other Catholic churches in Catalonia, local government officials, heads of academic and cultural institutions based in Barcelona, and members of the Filipino community. Representatives of member agencies of the National Quincentennial Commission were also present.

The exhibit, which is in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, will run until 31 May 2022, Mondays through Fridays, from 0900h to 1600h. END

Cardinal Tagle leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe Lhuillier, DFA-OPCD Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meñez and Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro

 Filipino Baritone, Mr. Zip de Guzman performing a musical number

 The replica of the Magellan´s Cross

His Eminence Luis Cardinal Tagle blessing the Sto Niño Exbibit with HE Ambassador  Philippe J. Lhuiller and Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro