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The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is the oldest Roman Catholic parish church in the Philippines, established by Augustinian friars in 1565 on the spot where the Santo Niño de Cebu — a wooden figure of the Child Jesus — was found during Legazpi's expedition. The basilica is the spiritual heart of Cebu and the center of the annual Sinulog Festival.
The original church was destroyed by fire on multiple occasions and rebuilt each time. The current structure dates largely from the 18th century, with significant restorations completed after damage during World War II. In 1965, Pope Paul VI elevated the church to the status of Minor Basilica to mark the 400th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.