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300T
hail Niño with flowers, bubbles, doves
Threats
of terrorism and a downpour couldn't stop hundreds of
thousands of devotees who followed the image of Señor
Sto. Niño during a procession Saturday afternoon.
Cebu
Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, together with his
bishops and priests, escorted the Holy Child on the
streets of Cebu City, where thousands of devotees were
lined up.
The
image left the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño
at 3 p.m. and passed by Osmeña Blvd., Fuente
Osmeña and the streets of F. Ramos, Junquera
and Colon, and returned to the Pilgrims' Center at the
basilica four hours later.
According
to police estimates, a bigger crowd attended this year's
procession compared to last year's. Cebu City Police
Director Lani-o Nerez placed the faithful at 300,000,
against the 250,000 last year.
No
violent incidents were reported at the police precincts
in T. Padilla, Waterfront and Fuente.
Nerez
said over 300 policemen, barangay tanods and different
civilian volunteer organizations, such as the Lungsod
Batok Salaod and the Bantay Bayan Foundation Inc, were
deployed to maintain peace order along the procession
route.
Police
were extra alert following a report in national dailies
that four men who were arrested in Manila admitted to
planning to sabotage today's Sinulog.
Even
after he was informed of the bomb threats, Vidal said
he would still join the long walk, saying it was his
way of sacrificing for the Holy Child and his form of
exercise.
"It's
the only procession that I join every year. It makes
me very happy because I'm able to honor the Sto. Niño,"
Vidal said in an earlier interview.
Doves,
kids
Vidal
left the procession as it stopped in front of the Cebu
Metropolitan Cathedral, leaving Bishop John Du and Bishop
Antonio Rañola to escort the image back to the
Pilgrims' Center, where thousands more devotees were
waiting.
Fireworks,
multi-colored balloons and a cheering crowd on Colon
St. greeted Sto. Niño as some 400 private security
guards, police trainees and officials cordoned off the
carriage to guard the image enclosed in a glass case.
Also
on Colon, doves flew out of a giant globe hanging from
cable wires and fluttered around the image of the Holy
Child, while children by the windows of the houses nearby
blew soapsuds, aided by electric fans.
Some
were moved to tears as they waved and sang while the
Sto. Niño passed by.
Fr.
Bong Mesina, rector of the basilica, said the image
used in the procession is a replica of the original
image, which is now kept inside the rectory. (It was
the original image that President Arroyo paid her respects
to yesterday morning. See 7)
Its
red vestment had an intricate embroidered design done
in gold thread, especially handmade by the sisters of
the Asilo dela Milagrosa.
Watching
the gates
Security
at the basilica was tightened and police had to lock
the gates when the image arrived to ensure its safety.
Only
police and church officials guarding the Sto. Niño
were allowed to enter the church grounds, leaving hundreds
of devotees outside the gates while the image was being
transported back inside the basilica.
Police
officials had difficulty controlling the crowd, as some
of those who were left outside tried to scale the iron
fence.
Medical
teams stationed at the Pilgrim Center had to rescue
some devotees who passed out while waiting to be allowed
to enter the gates.
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Gloria
dodges crowd in brief visit to Niño
President
Arroyo visited the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
on Saturday and briefly stole the devotees' attention
away from a mass commemorating the country's first Christian
baptism.
Arroyo
was seen being whisked off to a waiting van outside
the main gate of the basilica while Msgr. Cristobal
Garcia was delivering a sermon that talked about, among
other things, the Christian way to lead and serve the
people.
"Nasayud
kita nga kon naa tay pangulo o hari nga di moaalagad
sa katawhan, mawagtang, mataktak. Isip Kristiyano ang
atong pagkahari anaa nga mag-alagaray kita diha sa kamatuoran,
sa hustisya, sa gugma," Garcia said, while Arroyo
left the basilica onboard a tinted van. (We know that
a leader who fails to serve the people will fall. As
Christians, our definition of leadership likes in serving
others in truth, justice and love.)
President
Arroyo had just emerged from a visit to the original
image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, before which
she knelt and prayed for three minutes alongside Cebu
Archbishop Ricardo Vidal and the basilica fathers.
"A
good tomorrow for the young people of the country"
was what Arroyo said she asked from the Sto. Niño.
"And
I asked Him to give me guidance on what is the right
thing to do to give that to our youth," she said
after speaking before the 12th National Supreme Congress
of the Associated Labor Unions at Cebu Plaza Hotel.
Vidal
said he would have wanted to hold a private conversation
with Arroyo, but the President seemed to have a busy
schedule.
"We
did not get to talk much, there were too many people.
She just prayed inside the basilica and I took her to
the rectory because she wanted to see the original image,"
Vidal said.
In
what was apparently a last-minute change in her itinerary,
the basilica was Arroyo's first stop after arriving
in Cebu for her fifth visit here as President.
She
entered the church through a back door, right next to
a controversial relocation site for vendors, around
9:45 a.m.
She
was met by Vidal and Fr. Jerome Mesina, rector of the
basilica.
Together
they proceeded to a small chapel at the the rectory's
second floor, where the centuries-old original image
is housed.
The
visit surprised the priests handling the basilica, as
what they were told was that the President would drop
by not earlier than 11 a.m. after her engagement at
the Cebu Plaza Hotel.
The
same schedule was what officials announced to the crowd
at the Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center earlier.
Mesina
said they were informed of Arroyo's visit last Friday
only. Later that night, they met with the presidential
security staff.
Devotees,
especially the thick crowd near the mouth of the basilica
facing the center's huge altar, had to leave Msgr. Garcia
to his sermon to watch presidential security personnel
suddenly appearing at the church grounds.
Police
and military men were seen on rooftops of surrounding
buildings. A sniper clothed in black positioned himself
at the church's belfry in full view of the crowd, aiming
his binoculars around him.
Security
guards were seen reprimanding vendors and keeping them
away from the center and into the streets outside. Policemen
said they will maintain the same strict security at
the center until the festivities are over. LPN With
JGS/LCR
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Capitol
float to join parade, but not contest
UNLIKE
last year when political maneuverings ruled the Capitol
in preparation for the elections, the Cebu Provincial
Government now has enough time to join this year's Sinulog
celebration.
Gov.
Pablo Garcia said the Province will be able to send
an entry to this year's float parade, although they
will not join the contest.
The
amount to be spent for the entry has not yet been fixed
but the governor said it would be charged to the account
for extraordinary expenses under his office.
Garcia
said the budget is foreseen to be "minimal."
It is expected to be lesser than if they compete because
they would have to shell out an amount for the registration
fee of the contest.
"Mas
dako sad ug gasto kung moapil sa contest kay kinahanglan
ninduton gyud ug maayo," said Garcia. (It's more
expensive if we join the contest because the entry would
then have to be grand.)
Staff
members under the Office of the Governor and the Office
of the Provincial Engineer will finalize this Wednesday
the budget and design for the entry.
Garcia
said he will not be participating in the parade, unlike
in 1996 when he led the Capitol contingent by playing
the role of Rajah Humabon while his wife, retired judge
Esperanza Garcia, dressed up as Queen Juana.
Provincial
Board (PB) members at that time also had their roles
to play, either as natives or as conquerors.
Last
year, political bickering between Garcia and the PB
members led to a deadlock on the annual budget, which
affected Capitol's daily operations and even celebrations.
After last May's elections, however, the new set of
officials vowed to set aside politics.
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5T
pack Sinulog opening mass
SOME
5,000 devotees attended the opening mass of the Sinulog
festivities at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, at the
Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City.
Later,
the public had a taste of the vibrant performances of
13 dance groups from different schools in the city during
the afternoon launching parade and the opening salvo
at the sports center.
More
is in store as 17 dance groups from different areas
in the Cebu province compete for the Sinulog sa Kabataan
sa Lalawigan at the Cebu City Sports Center on Saturday.
Sinulog
2002 overall chairman and Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who
spoke before the crowd after the mass, announced that
this year's grand parade will return to the carousel
format.
Bleachers
will also be built on the sidewalks for spectators to
enjoy watching the street dancing competition, he added.
Hundreds
of people lined Osmeña Blvd., Colon and D. Jakosalem
and P. del Rosario Sts. to watch the students clad in
costumes of different countries dance with Sinulog choreography.
"It's
fun. It's cool," said 47-year-old American national
Michael Verbeke, who took pictures of the contingents
in colorful costumes.
Contingents,
including last year's winners, will be competing in
the Sinulog-based, free interpretation and open categories
with a 10-minute progressive and five-minute ritual
presentations in five "judging stations" along
the parade route.
Judges
from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the
National Commission for Culture and Arts will be stationed
at the University of San Carlos main campus, Sacred
Heart School-Jesuits, Rivergate mall, Southern Islands
Nurses home along Osmeña Blvd. and the sports
complex, according to Sinulog 2002 assistant project
director Dolly Suzara.
Suzara
said P100,000 will be awarded to the contingent which
does its best in progressive dancing, to encourage the
groups to dance.
Suzara
said they have to ensure there is continuous dancing
on Jan. 20 since they received complaints that some
groups just walk along the parade route.
Last
year's winners in the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan
will also join today's competition, she confirmed.
On
Sunday, 22 groups are expected to show their best in
the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan contest.
Prizes
for this year's Sinulog youth dance contest were increased
to "motivate schools to join" and spend for
costumes, Suzara added.
The
yearly competitions are highlighted by impressive performances
from student dance groups and creative costumes, she
also noted.
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Parade,
mass to mark opening of Sinulog
THE
Sinulog 2002 festivities will formally open on Friday,
Jan. 11, with a mass and a parade this afternoon.
Students
from different schools and universities will hold a
parade from Osmeña Blvd. to the Cebu City Sports
Center after the 2:30 p.m. mass at the Basilica Minore
del Sto. Niño.
After
the parade, the students will perform the Sinulog at
the sports complex grounds.
Portions
of Osmeña Blvd., P. del Rosario, R. Landon and
Colon Sts. will be closed to vehicles in time for the
parade at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Saturday
is the start of the 10 days of activities that the City
Government has prepared before the grand parade on Jan.
20.
Sinulog
2002 overall chairman and Vice Mayor Michael Rama said
in Thursday's ABS-CBN media forum that the changes in
this year's celebration include the carousel type of
performance.
This
means there will be continuous street dancing along
the parade route, unlike in previous years when performances
ended at the sports center.
Also,
this year's parade will start at 9 a.m. instead of the
usual schedule of noon.
Rama
said they expect the carousel type of performance to
take more time.
Sinulog
2002 assistant project director Dolly Suzara said 39
contingents have registered to join the competition.
There
will be five "judging stations" along the
parade route.
So
the public could enjoy watching the grand parade, Rama
said, the Cebu Contractors' Association agreed to set
up bleachers to accommodate 5,000 spectators along the
parade route.
Rama
said Sen. Ralph Recto and Parañaque City first
lady and actress Alma Moreno confirmed their attendance
in the celebration.
A
contingent from Parañaque City will also join
the free interpretation category.
However,
the City Protocol Office said only two delegations from
abroad confirmed their attendance.
City
Protocol Officer Ray Borres said that of the 17 sister-cities
of Cebu, only the groups from Yosu in South Korea and
Salinas City in California responded.
Both
sister-cities will also bring in delegations that have
expressed willingness to join the parade, he said.
Borres
added that they expected a decrease in foreign visitors
this year because the City Government has no funds to
shoulder their air fare and hotel accommodations.
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Hotels
expect fiesta bonus
Even
in a crisis, who can resist a fiesta? The Hotels, Resorts
and Restaurants Association of Cebu has reported hotels
and pension houses are already booked for the Sinulog,
Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama confirmed on Saturday,
Jan. 5.
On
the whole, preparations for the city's fiesta are "90
percent complete," said Rama, Sinulog 2002 overall
chairman.
Crowd
control and security personnel are already prepared
for the launching parade this Friday, Jan. 11.
A
2:30 p.m. Friday mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo
Niño will kick off the activities this week.
Students
from 13 schools in the city will perform at the Cebu
City Sports Center at 3:30 p.m.
Last
year, hundreds of people, including tourists, lined
up along Osmeña Blvd. and Colon St. to watch
dancers in colorful costumes while men carrying decorated
andas or carriers marched from Plaza Indepencia to the
sports center.
Thirty-seven
contingents from different schools and universities
in Cebu Province will compete in the Sinulog youth contest
next weekend.
As
of Jan. 5, 11 groups from different elementary schools
in Cebu City and nine groups from the secondary level
have registered at the Sinulog Foundation Inc. office
to join the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo
competition next Sunday.
For
the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, eight contingents
will join the elementary level competition while nine
registered for the secondary level.
A
P62,500 cash reward awaits the first prize winners for
each category. Last year, the top bets only went home
with P50,000.
Second,
third, fourth and fifth prize winners will get P50,000,
P37,500, P25,000 and P12,500, respectively.
Winning
choreographers will also get P12,500, P10,000, P7,500,
P5,000 and P2,500.
The
foundation expects more contestants to register on Jan.
7.
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100
mediamen from Europe to witness Sinulog DOT-7
By Cherry T. Lim
CEBU
can expect a boost in its tourism promotions with the
arrival of 100 members of the media from Europe.
"We
have invited 100 international media practitioners from
Europe. They will be here on Jan. 19, 20 and 21 for
the Sinulog celebration," said Department of Tourism
(DOT)-7 Regional Director Dawnie Roa during the Kapihan
sa Turismo held last Dec. 20 at Cebu Plaza Hotel.
She
said some members of the local media from Manila had
also been invited.
To
learn more about Sinulog 2002, the public can check
out www.sinulog.com.
Celso
Dapo, Philippine Airlines (PAL) assistant vice president
for Visayas sales and services, said PAL was doing its
share by "plotting seats for tour operators"
who were packaging tours for Sinulog visitors "mostly
from the US."
He
could not predict, however, whether the seats would
be taken.
As
it is, for this Christmas season, the flag carrier was
seeing a 25 percent decline in international holiday
traffic from the same period last year. This as the
anticipated balikbayan (returning Filipinos) traffic
failed to materialize, Dapo said.
He
added that domestic traffic was also down, perhaps by
10 percent.
The
PAL official speculated that the increased airfares
due to the imposition of the insurance surcharge following
the Sept. 11 hijack-suicides in the United States might
have affected the travel plans of consumers.
Asked
whether the holidays declared by President Arroyo to
create two four-day weekends this month had spurred
travel, he said, "What we have are the regular
travelers who go home for the holidays."
The
response was not so good from those who did not use
to travel, he added.
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