Thursday, November 13, 2008 Lapu kicks off activities for annual feast
HUNDREDS of devotees turned up yesterday to welcome the image of the Virgen de la Regla after a two-hour fluvial procession that kicked off week-long activities to celebrate the feast of Lapu-Lapu City’s patron saint.
Devotees waved their hands as fireworks and music from the drum and bugle corps filled the air, while a yacht with the Virgen of the Rule aboard and a procession of over 60 motor bancas, jet skis and speedboats approached the Muelle Osmeña wharf.
The crowd watched solemnly as Fr. Pedro Arquilla and four guards of the Knights of Columbus took the andas—a platform where a replica of the patron saint was fixed—from the yacht’s bridge and turned it over to city officials who were waiting.
Bearers
This time, though, Mayor Arturo Radaza and Vice Mayor Mario Amores weren’t around to act as bearers. City Councilors Damian Gomez, Eduardo Cuizon, Marcial Ycong, Rodolfo Potot, Florito Pozon and Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman Reymar Dico took their place.
Bad weather slowed down last year’s fluvial parade. The rough seas and heavy rains also forced some of the motor bancas to turn back. At the same time, the Radaza administration was reeling from accusations of graft.
“We have a good political atmosphere and fair weather so we ended earlier than we expected… This time, we have more participants and we are very successful. Thanks to the Holy Mother and all the sinners who helped us pray,” said Rudy Villanobos, the overall fluvial procession coordinator.
Route
The procession covered three-fourths of Mactan Island’s coastline. It started at a resort in Barangay Suba-Basbas, passed through the waters between Lapu-Lapu City and Liloan town and went to the Muelle Osmeña.
A Huey helicopter hovered and showered the entourage with petals as soon as it left the causeway of the resort. It dropped petals again as the procession passed beneath the Marcelo Fernan bridge.
Dancers with props and replicas of the patron saint aboard boats of Barangay Poblacion and two hotel resorts kept the mood lively.
Except for an incident that victimized Chuchi Lapis, who lost P300 to a pickpocket, there were no untoward incidents as police, barangay tanods and volunteers secured the areas covered by the parade.
Order among fluvial parade participants was supervised by the Philippine Navy and the Coast Guard.
From the wharf, the “andas” was taken to the Virgen dela Regla National Shrine where Msgr. Achilles Dakay presided over the concelebrated mass.
“It is greed for power that causes our social and economic problems, and not executive privilege,” he said in his homily. He referred to the usual defense by members of the Arroyo Cabinet in shunning legislative inquiries on allegedly anomalous deals.
He said being grateful for God’s blessings is a disappearing virtue.
The motorboat from Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa bagged the most decorated contingent award. Entries from Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa and from Barangay Poblacion placed second and third, respectively.
The motorboats of Barangays Caohagan and Pajo and of the City Treasurer’s Office won consolation prizes. (AIV)
