[5][6] The statue bears imperial regalia, including a golden crown, toison de oro, globus cruciger, and various sceptres, wears fine vestments, and possesses jewelry mostly offered by devotees over several centuries.

[5][8] Today, the original image is permanently encased behind bulletproof glass inside its chapel within the Basilica del Santo Niño.

[9] The Santo Niño de Cebú was originally produced by Flemish artisans, according to a hagiography, based on a vision of Teresa of Ávila, the 16th century Discalced Carmelite mystic.

[10] In early 1521, a Spanish expedition ordered by King Charles I and led by Ferdinand Magellan was on a voyage from Spain to find a westward route to the Spice Islands.

On April 14, Magellan presented them with three gifts: a bust of Christ as the Ecce Homo, an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Santo Niño as part of their baptism and strategic alliance.

[13] A few days after the mass baptism, Magellan undertook a war expedition on the behalf of the newly named King Carlos,[14] attacking Mactan Island and burning down hamlets which resisted.

[16] The next Spanish expedition arrived on April 27, 1565, led by Miguel López de Legazpi, again to gain a foothold for a colony to trade spices.

[17] In the ruins of this destruction, on April 28, the Spanish mariner Juan Camus found the image of the Santo Niño in a pine box.

When Augustinian friars inspected the immediate aftermath, they found the Santo Niño had been hurled from the high altar, and was dangling by its cape caught on a nearby electric candle.

After the war, the friars removed the image from the vault for public veneration, and discovered its dark paint peeling off, revealing a lighter underpainting.

Traditional dance performances of the city's communities follow, such as those of the Mabolo district with their older form of the Sinulog called the sinug, displaying warlike steps and dressed as Spanish conquerors, Cebuanos of the 1560s, and Muslims.

In a break with tradition, the statue of Saint Joseph joined the fluvial procession for the first time in 2024, so as to have the three images of Holy Family journey together back to Cebu City.

The festival officially ends on the Friday after the Holy Child's feast day, and it is marked with the traditional Hubò (Cebuano, "undress") rite.

There is a strict order of divesting the icon: first the crown is removed, followed by the orb and sceptre; then the cape; then the sash and tunic, and finally, the inner garments.

[26] The original feast date for the image was April 28, but in the 18th century, the following changes were made: During the Spanish colonial era, the Santo Niño was given the high military rank of Captain-General, with the full title of "Celentísimo Capitán General de las Esfuerzas Españolas en Filipinas" (The Most Esteemed Captain-General of the Spanish Forces in the Philippines).

[33] Presently, the rank is called Celentísimo Capitán General de las Esfuerzas en Filipinas, with "Españolas" dropped, thusly translating to Most Esteemed Captain-General of the Forces in the Philippines.

Another popular variation is the Santo Niño de Atocha which in the country is uniquely in a standing pose rather than seated as with the Spanish version.