VIVA PIT SEÑOR! and VIVA SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO! | Ms MDM Entertainment

What does “VIVA PIT SEÑOR!” and “VIVA SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO!” mean?

The devotion to the Sto. Niño in the Philippines is as old as the history of Christianity in the country. The image of Sto. Niño was given to Queen Juana by Ferdinand Magellan after she was baptized with her husband, King Humabon, in Cebu in 1521.

Eventually, Magellan died after the battle of Mactan. After which, there was no continuity in the spreading of the new religion to the natives of Cebu.

Forty-four years later, the Spaniards returned with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as head of the expedition and found an image of the Sto. Niño.

A feast day then was dedicated to the finding of the image of Sto. Niño on April 28, 1565. Since then, people celebrate the feast of the child Jesus in honor of His Most Holy name. One particular tradition of the fiesta is the out loud cry of the phrases- “VIVA PIT SEÑOR!” and “VIVA SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO!” This is done repetitively after the mass or during the dancing of the traditional Sinulog in the Basilica or even made as chants of Sinulog contingents. But, what does this really mean?

More often the people are confused or clueless of the meaning of the phrase that is frequently said every time we celebrate the feast of Sto. Niño de Cebu. Below is a list of its definition as explained historically, culturally and biblically.


‘Santo Niño’ means ‘Holy Child’

‘Santo Niño’ is a Spanish word for ‘Holy Child,’ which is a title called to the child Jesus born in Bethlehem, our Savior. When we celebrate the feast of Sto. Niño, we are not celebrating like that of a saint declared by the church. Some people call Sto. Niño as the ‘patron saint’ of Cebu, which is also confusing. This is incorrect because Jesus is not a saint but rather our Lord, King and Savior. We celebrate a feast to Sto. Niño to remember his infancy and childhood that He is indeed to be honored and glorified.

Moreover, ‘patron’ in Spanish means ‘protector’ or ‘defender.’ Our Lord Jesus Christ will and always be our protector. It is only fitting that Sto. Nino is patron or protector to all of us.

Honoring the Sto. Nino is a devotion to the childhood of Jesus. The origin of honoring the Holy Child Jesus dates back to the moment when Jesus was born. The infant Jesus was adored by the lambs and the shepherd who were present when Mary bore Jesus on a manger. The Magis’ story of visiting Jesus and giving of gifts (Mt 2:1-12; Mk 2:1-3; Lk 2:39-52) is more than enough to tell us that at the start of Jesus early life as an infant, He was already praised and adored by all.