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Sunday, January 16, 2005
6-hour Sto. Niño procession draws 700T folks
By Allan I. Varquez
CEBU CITY -- Devotees numbering about 700,000 packed the streets of Cebu City in the solemn procession and high mass that is the religious highlight of the Fiesta Señor.
A longer route than last year's, as well as some jostling by participants who wanted to get closer to the image of the Sto. Niño, marred the procession that started at 2:10 p.m. and ended at 8:06 p.m.
The procession led by Monsignor Chris Garcia halted for some minutes on Mabini St. because the crowd tried to push through the security cordon of more than 100 security guards, police recruits and student cadets.
But no major disruptions were reported. Throughout the procession, the Hail Mary was recited in Visayan, Mandarin, French, English and Bicolano, among other languages.
Bishop John Du, in his homily, said the message of the Sto. Niño is unity, sharing and peace, amid the country's crisis and the tsunamis that recently hit neighboring countries, killing over 150,000.
"With our devotion to the Sto. Niño, the Holy Child will give us strength amid our problems in our government," Du added.
Shortly after 2 p.m., Fr. Andro Batayola came out of the church carrying the image of the Holy Child and placed this in the glass case atop the carroza. The crowd shouted "Pit Señor" five times.
As the carroza began to move from the gate of the basilica compound, the bell rang for five minutes, a signal to start the solemn procession.
Six hours later, the Sto. Niño arrived back at the basilica.
Fuente Police Chief Noel Gillamac and policemen and traffic enforcers along the route estimated the crowd between 700,000 and 800,000.
A woman at the corner of General Maxilom Ave. and D. Jakosalem St. was slightly injured after a balloon near her head burst when a lighted candle touched it.
Some of those who chose to stay at the Pilgrim Center after the procession started argued with security guards after they were barred from going out.
The devotees insisted on going home because they had been at the center since noon, but the guards refused to open the exit gates on Osmeña Blvd. and on Magallanes St. until the procession ended.
"Our standing order for the safety of the Sto. Niño is to close all gates from the start of the procession to the end," said Alfred Delantar, the security chief.
After more than an hour, the guards gave in and opened the entrance gate.
"Even though we are tired and hungry after the long procession, we are here, united," Du said in his homily.
For more Sinulog stories and photos.Click here.
(January 16, 2005 issue)
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