Friday, November 21, 2008
Fewer visitors attend Lapu fiesta
FEWER visitors went to Lapu-Lapu City yesterday to celebrate the city’s fiesta. There was less vehicular traffic than in previous years, when traffic on the M.L. Quezon Highway to the national shrine of the Virgen dela Regla started to pile up as early as 2 p.m.
Still, hundreds of devotees, mostly city residents, joined the procession in honor of the city’s patron saint, the Virgin of the Rule. The procession started at 5 p.m. after a mass officiated by Maasin, Southern Leyte Bishop Precioso Cantillas.
Authorities banned fireworks at the start and end of the procession, which took less than an hour, to prevent accidents.
Mayor Arturo Radaza said the uncertainties about the economy may be the reason some devotees of the Virgin of the Rule weren’t able to visit.
The fiesta celebration proceeded peacefully, and no single crime was reported since the other day’s Garbo sa Lapu-Lapu, a street dancing competition that also showcased products of each of the city’s 30 barangays.
Acting Lapu-Lapu City Police Director Mariano Natuel said police forces were all concentrated in Barangays Poblacion and Pajo because of their proximity to the national shrine.
“There are fewer people today. Maybe it’s because of the crisis and the fact that fares are expensive,” said City Councilor Junard Chan.
Barangay Gun-ob, which showcased hanging rice and inasal as its products, bagged the P50,000 first prize in the street dancing competition. Barangays Buaya and Marigondon placed second and third, taking the P30,000 and P15,000 cash prizes, respectively.
Barangay Punta Engaño’s float, which showcased its shellcraft industry, won the P30,000 first prize. Gun-ob and Olango Island won the second and third places, respectively.
During the mass, Bishop Cantillas, chairman of the episcopal commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), asked for unity among the
Filipino people amid the financial crisis.
He said in his homily that his commission’s focus is to unite people.
Since morning, the corner of M.L Quezon Highway near the foot of the old Mactan-Mandaue bridge was closed to passenger jeepneys (PUJs). Still, traffic on the highway and the PUJ’s alternative route, Maximo Patalinjug Ave., did not pile up even during the start of the procession.
Radaza said yesterday that police visibility in almost all intersections and the consistent mobile patrol greatly helped in securing devotees against criminals. (AIV)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (November 21, 2008 issue)
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