Almost 2 million join solemn procession in Cebu

Saturday, January 14, 2012

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- Close to two million devotees of the child Jesus flocked to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino Saturday and joined the 6.8-kilometer foot penitential procession that lasted for almost six hours.

The sun was out the whole afternoon contrary to the weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration of a light to moderate rainshowers in the morning and moderate to heavy rains in the afternoon.

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The 6.8-kilometer procession, which usually takes four hours, lasted for almost six hours this year after it was stalled in eight points within the procession route.

The image of Sr. Sto. Nino passes by One Mango at Mango Avenue, Cebu City. Hundreds of devotees followed the carriage carrying the image of the Holy Child Jesus. (Sunnex)

The procession was stalled in the following areas: at the junction of Osmeña Blvd. and Colon Street right in front of Gaisano Metro; along Osmeña Blvd. in front of SSS building; McDonalds also at Osmeña Blvd.; in front of National Bookstore along Mango Avenue; St. Theresa’s College still at Mango Avenue; in front of Jollibee at the junction of Mango venue and Gorordo; along Carreta; and at MJ Cuenco Avenue near the National Statistics Office.

But Cebu City Police Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said, however, that the solemn procession was generally peaceful, without any significant untoward incident despite the estimated 1.5 to 1.8 million people who joined and witnessed the religious activity.

The crowd this year is almost double compared to the crowd estimate of at least one million in 2011.

Buenafe was monitoring the procession from the Cebu City Police Station 2 along Osmeña Blvd. through wifi-powered closed circuit television camera or CCTV in nine live points.

Traffic was closed in most of the major thoroughfares of the city.

The foot penitential procession started around 1:30 p.m. at the Basilica del Sto. Nino with the images of St. Joseph and Birhen sa Guadalupe brought out of the church first.

Thousands of people join the solemn procession. This photo shows the people at Mango Avenue. (Sunnex)

The image of the Holy Child Jesus was brought out of the church around 1:40 p.m. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma led the transfer of the image to its carriage adorned with flowers.

Church leaders and members of the Knights of Columbus led the procession, joined by families and students from different schools in the city, as well as politicians including Cebu Representative Eduardo Gullas, members of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., and even persons with disabilities.

At the pilgrim center, devotees were praying the rosary led by Monsignor Cris Garcia. It was prayed in different dialects and at least eight languages.

The procession ended when the Sto. Nino entered the Basilica premises around 6:50 p.m. It was immediately followed by a pontifical mass celebrated by close to 100 priests with Bishop John Du of the Archdiocese of Dumaguete as the main celebrant.

Du, in his homily, stressed the value of family relationships, growth in faith and protection of the environment.

This year’s theme is “Señor Sto. Nino: Refuge of the Filipino Christian Family.”

The bishop stressed that faith with the Niño should not end in participating in the solemn procession. He said the Christian faith should grow just as the Niño have grown to be a man and died in the cross.

Catholics should put their faith into action and strengthen other believers’ faith as well, he added.

“Ang problema nato usahay kay ato gihimong magikero ang Sto. Niño instant, then if dili tagaan, masuko (the problem sometimes is we make the Sto. Nino a magician; instant answers, then if the prayers were not answered, we get mad),” Du said.

The bishop from Dumaguete who also got affected by the recent typhoon that killed hundreds called on the Catholics to pray for the protection of the environment.

“God forgives but nature can’t forgive,” Du said.

The Pontifical Mass ended with a 30-minute fireworks display and the traditional Sinulog dance.

Earlier Saturday, hundreds of devotees braved the scorching heat of the sun to join and witnessed the sea procession in honor of the Our Lady of the Rule and Sr. Sto Niño.

Over a hundred registered sea-going vessels, including rubber boats owned by various government agencies, joined the parade that left the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City around 8 a.m.

The fluvial parade arrived at the Pier 1 in Cebu City past 9 a.m.

Devotees who couldn't hop aboard one of the boats waited on the two bridges separating Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City, and tossed flowers and confetti as the procession approached them.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who both joined the parade, lauded the Cebuanos and non-Cebuanos who woke up early in the morning just to show their love and devotion to the Sto. Niño.

"But these are all worth it because St. Niño also loves and cares for Cebuanos," the governor said.

Devotees started to gather at the pier around 3 a.m., carrying images of the Child Jesus. (Mildred V. Galarpe/Laureen R. Mondoñedo/Tashuana Alemania/Sunnex)