Remonde returns to broadcast via Sinulog fest
By Jill Beltran
Saturday, January 16, 2010
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PRESS Secretary Cerge Remonde has reverted to the act of reporting as he took part in the annual Fluvial Procession, one of the highlights of the celebration of Sinulog Festival in the Queen City of the South.
Continuing his tradition, Remonde has again made a blow-by-blow account, through his home radio station in Cebu, about the Saturday dawn fluvial parade featuring the statue of Cebu’s patron saint Sto. Niño.
Click here for stories and updates on the Sinulog 2010 Festival.
Shaped in a religion bound and culture rich province of Cebu, Remonde despite success in national arena, does not fail to go back to his hometown to pay honor and gratitude to Senyor Sto. Niño during Sinulog.
“Since about 20 years ago, I am the only media man authorized to ride in the galleon as a reporter that was because I have always been active in the Church as I have been the chairman of the information committee of the Committee de Pistejos which facilitated the feast,” he related.
With this privilege, he said he has been taking part of the annual fluvial procession “unbroken.”
“I have continued that (reporting) tradition unbroken even I have become a Cabinet member. I report for the fluvial parade. This has become a devotion to me.”
On Saturday dawn of the Sinulog nine-day festivity, the image of the Sto. Niño was carried on a pump boat adorned with hundreds of colorful flowers and candles from Mandaue City to Cebu City, witnessed by thousands of devotees.
The procession, which lasts for about five to six hours, then ends at the Basilica where a re-enactment of the Christianizing of the image was performed.
From the fluvial parade, Remonde together with several local officials in Cebu then went straight to the solemn procession that take place along the major streets of the city that lasts for hours due to large crowd joining the event.
On the feast day itself (Sunday), he will attend the Pontifical mass at the Basilica del Santo Niño church to be officiated by the Cardinal and several bishops of Cebu.
Most devotees of the Sto. Niño go to the Basilica first to attend the mass before heading out to the streets to watch the Grand Parade, which culminates the Sinulog feast.
Remonde flew to Cebu last Friday to judge the Cebu Pop Music Festival, also part of the Sinulog activities.
“I am really hard to find during the Sinulog Festival because I have my regular routine during these days,” he said.
Remonde will be flying back to Manila from the Sinulog Festival on Sunday.
Calling to serve
The fluvial procession of Sinulog has played a big role in Remonde’s life. He recalled that it has led him to his current post in the Cabinet.
“During the fluvial parade in 2001, President Arroyo was about to assume her post. At that time, I have a very queer feeling, it was the height of former President (Joseph) Estrada’s impeachment trial. It’s like I have a perception that there was like a strange call for me to join the government,” he recounted.
Facing the image of Sto. Niño during the fluvial parade, Remonde said, being one of the radical critics of the administration, suddenly felt a strange calling – “a calling to serve the government.”
“And then when I went home, I saw President Arroyo assuming her post and then suddenly when that happened I was in catharsis. Just watching her, I felt like she was a very small woman who has burdened by the problems of the whole country and it made me cry,” he said.
“And then my friends were already kidding me ‘Si Cerge magma-Malacanang na yan kasi si Gloria and Presidente’ because it was well known that we were close by then. And then as I got home I received a call from the President ordering me to go to Manila,” he furthered.
Treasured image
Inside his office, the Office of the Press Secretary in Malacanang, Remonde showed to Sun.Star his own treasured image of Sto. Niño.
Fond by its radiant and serene beauty, the Palace official shared that his statue of the Sto. Niño is not an ordinary image because it was used in the special ritual called “hubo,” also done during the Sinulog Festival.
“This was given to me by an Augustinian father. This is very special and I bring this every office I am assigned to. So this has been in Malacanang since 2001,” fondling the image of the Sto. Niño placed in a small altar near his table.
He confessed that every time he goes to his weekly briefing at the Palace, he turns to the image of Sto. Niño to ask for guidance.
He also said he is thankful that almost all his prayers have been granted including his spinal operation in 2007.
“I was still very frail at that time but despite I was able to do my job. Because of that surgery, I cannot walk for a long period of time but you know it is surprising that after the solemn procession I could walk for even eight hours,” he enthused.
Asked what composed his prayers right now, “I always pray for Him to help me in my job, help the President for us to have good relationship and finally my health. For these days, I also pray for honest, peaceful, orderly and credible election and for a rightful candidate to win the upcoming election.”
