THE Archdiocese of Cebu and the Smart Telecommunications signed a partnership and launched the 500 YoC Panaw sa Pagtuo Mobile Exhibit App and the 21 Historical Snippets on Sept. 29, 2020, at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Archdiocesan Museum.

The Smart Telecommunications provides support to the Archdiocese of Cebu in promoting connectivity to the tourism and the church through online travel guides, QR code technology and interactive tourism.

In line with the 500 YoC (years of Christianity) celebration in 2021 and the technology that Smart Telecom provides, they have formally launched the 500 YoC Panaw sa Pagtuo Mobile Exhibit App, which contains the history of the churches, the museums and important events in the past that can be accessed on mobile phones.

They have also launched the 21 Historical video series which highlights the churches, museums and cemeteries in Cebu.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in a press conference at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Archdiocesan Museum, said the faithful can expect the 500 YoC celebration to be simple but more focused on the remembrance of the first baptism.

The faithful can also expect the launching of the celebration on April 4, 2021.

Due to the pandemic, Palma said, the activities have been pushed back.

For instance, there will be no Simbang Gabi or Aguinaldo masses this year for the nine parishes in Cebu, Bantayan Island, San Nicolas, Boljoon, Dalaguete, Argao, Carcar, Barili, Cathedral and Mandaue City.

However, due to the risk of Covid-19 transmission and because social gatherings are prohibited, this plan has been moved to 2021, Palma said.

Palma said their plans for the celebration are still not definite due to Covid-19, however, it will push through once Covid-19 is in control.

Palma also shared that the climax of the celebration of the 500 YoC is supposedly in April 2021.

Since it has been pushed back, the beginning will be in April 2021 and the climax will happen in 2022.

Palma said: “The whole idea is because we could not control Covid-19 and if we could not gather people there is not much significance. How do we feel the enjoyment of Sinulog if there are no people gathering?”

Even in Rome, Palma said, spiritual activities have been pushed back such as the celebration of the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest and World Youth Day in Portugal.

Palma said Pope Francis told the cardinals to follow the policies that the government has imposed during the pandemic.

Although the 500 YoC celebrations will officially start next year, the Archdiocese of Cebu, in partnership with Smart telecommunications, has prepared various social media activities in line with the celebration every Saturday from Sept. 26, 2020 toMarch 21, 2021. (KFD)