CEBU, Philippines – For more than a dozen years, Saturnino Lanaja has repainted and brushed the dust off of more than a thousand replicas of the image of the Santo Niño — the Child Christ.
With a brush on one hand and a cigarette on the other, the 32-year-old craftsman makes quick work of renewing the miniature Christ’s groove and elegance.
If he could, he would do it for free. This is more than just a paying business to him.
“Diri ra ko nagkat-on [sa Cebu]. Taga-Davao jud ko (I learned it here in Cebu. I’m really from Davao),” Lanaja told Rappler.
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In truth, he shared, it was love that brought him to Cebu. His wife’s family had been running a restoration shop for devotees who want their image replicas redesigned, repaired, or “reborn.”
After years of learning the trade, the Davao native did not only nurture his skill for the arts but also his adoration for the Child Christ.
“It’s so good, really good. The feeling when I work on the figure is hard to describe,” Lanaja said in Cebuano.
The King treatment
Each replica is given a different “beauty treatment” depending on the size of the statuette, material used for the garments, the tone of the paint, and caliber of the adornments.
Before proceeding to undress the replica, Lanaja asks his clients for their specific needs. The craftsman wishes to ensure that his clients are truly happy with the restoration at the end of the job.
According to Lanaja, their designs take inspiration from the original image of the Child Christ.
At present, the original image of the Santo Niño is encased behind bulletproof glass inside its chapel found within the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu in Cebu City.
From the golden crown to the intricate embroidery on the Santo Niño’s vestments, the craftsman said that they adapt every element of the original into each small iteration and figurine.
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Almost every member of Lanaja’s family helps with the restoration process, providing detailed artisanal work. His own grandmother, Gumersinda Bongabong, who is now 71 years old, came all the way from Davao to handle the sewing of gold and red fabrics.
Bongabong knows that her grandson takes pride in his work. The grandmother also takes pride in the good that Lanaja does by restoring the replicas for his fellow devotees.
“Sa akong apo, ampoan nako kay Santo Niño nga magpadayon iyang kinabuhi ug gabayan siya permi (For my grandchild, I will pray to the Santo Niño so that his livelihood will continue and he will be guided always),” Bongabong told Rappler.
Santo Niño provides
Like Lanaja, Santo Niño replica maker Anna Liza Larumbe believes that every devotee should have a proper and clean replica at home and to bring along for the novena masses.
“Nindot jud na naa kay makaisturya maski rebulto na siya (It is nice to have something to talk to even if it’s just a statue),” Larumbe told Rappler.
The 55-year-old craftswoman shared that she has always looked up to the Santo Niño and thanked Him for the success of their business which has prospered since her father started the business when she was only 12.
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Her store, found beside the basilica, is filled with garments, accessories and ready-to-carry replicas for devotees without their own figure. In her corner, Larumbe personally inspects and carries out repairs for her clients’ replicas.
“The Santo Niño is the most holy one. Whatever I’ve asked from Him in the past, he provides,” Larumbe added.
Now, she is asking the Santo Niño to help her child find love and give her grandchildren to look after.
During the week leading up to the celebration day of the Sinulog and Fiesta Señor 2025 on Saturday, January 19, in Cebu City, Larumbe and Lanaja will have plenty of orders to accomplish.
They may get a few cuts here and there, some paint on their clothes, or hot glue stuck to their sandals. To them and their family members doing the same thing, it does not matter.
When they do their work, they show their full devotion to Christ.
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– Rappler.com