A week before the annual celebration of the Feast of Santo Niño, vendors have begun setting up stalls near the Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Tondo to prepare for an influx of pilgrims and devotees.
As early as 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, the streets surrounding the basilica were lined with vendors offering various replicas of the Child Jesus, ranging from pocket-sized figurines to life-sized statues.
Aside from religious icons, stalls are also selling colorful vestments, traditional “Lakbayaw” attire, and various souvenir items.
The early setup is a perennial tradition for local merchants who hope to capitalize on the “visperas” and the main festival, which attracts tens of thousands of people to the Tondo district.
The 2026 Lakbayaw Procession, the festival’s highlight featuring street dancing and the parading of Santo Niño images, is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17.
Church authorities have already issued reminders for participants to register by Jan. 13 and attend mandatory formation meetings to ensure the solemnity of the event.
The Manila Police District and local government units are expected to deploy personnel in the coming days to manage traffic and crowd control as the festivities intensify toward the third Sunday of January.