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Saturday, January 07, 2006
President declares Sinulog 2006 open
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
President Arroyo became part of the Sinulog’s history yesterday when she officially declared the Sinulog 2006 open, the first time a Philippine president did so in the festival’s 26 years.
But she also had to listen to a sermon on self-renewal, the need for reconciliation in addressing the country’s problems and a call to revere what a priest called the “Pinoy Small Brother.”
Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama said that since the President was present during the mass, the Sinulog Foundation officials decided to give her the opportunity to declare the start of the Sinulog festivities for this year, at the Basilica del Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center.
The Sinulog Foundation chairman, in this case Rama, declares the official opening of the festivities every year, if protocol is to be followed.
“It is not only the first time that the president of the Philippines attended the opening ceremonies, it is also the first time that a president declared the event open,” Rama told Sun.Star Cebu.
Arroyo, dressed in blue pants and black Sinulog shirt, greeted the cheering crowd who waved images of the Sto. Niño to be blessed with holy water by the priests.
“I now declare Sinulog 2006 open!” she said.
Healing
In his homily, Fr. Kipling Agravante urged devotees to greet the new year with the resolve to change one’s evil ways and to renew their faith and love for the Sto. Niño.
It is the people’s strong faith in the patron that will lead the country towards healing and reconciliation, he said.
“After a year of turmoil, especially in the area of politics, what we need now is reconciliation. We have to join hands and be united in uplifting the state of our country because it is only when we are united that we can rise above the turmoil,” Agravante told the hundreds of devotees who attended the opening salvo.
Although the country is already seeing signs of recovery from the political and economic problems, genuine change could only be achieved if it starts with every individual, he added.
“The value of the peso has already gone up, but change must start inside each of us. Let’s start the new year by renewing ourselves... We need to strengthen our faith in the Sto. Niño because our future and our lives are in His hands,” he said.
If Cebuanos were able to catch the Pinoy Big Brother fever so fast, Agravante said Cebuanos should also grow in their devotion to the Sto. Niño at the same pace, whom he called the “Pinoy Small Brother”.
Parade
After the mass, Sinulog Foundation officials and trustees greeted the candle vendors at the basilica and gave them P100 each.
“It’s just a small gift to them from us so they will also pray for us and for the success of the Sinulog 2006,” said Sinulog Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros.
President Arroyo, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, Government Media Group Head Cerge Remonde, Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district) and Gov. Gwen Garcia joined the Sinulog officials in watching Sinulog dance presentations after the mass, before proceeding to the wake of the late RTC Judge Henrick Gingoyon at the Sacred Heart Parish.
A parade with the Sinulog officials and the dance troupes of various universities from the basilica to the Cebu City Sports Center followed the mass. |
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