THE Augustinian priests at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu said they planned and conducted the religious activities for the 455th Fiesta Señor based on schedule, including the solemn foot procession on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020.

This was their reaction to the request of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, who suggested that the procession should be started as scheduled so as to prevent devotees from fainting.

Last Saturday, the state weather bureau recorded a temperature ranging from 26 degrees Celsius to 31.9 degrees Celsius.

Fr. Ric Anthony Reyes, secretariat head of the 455th Fiesta Señor, said they did not lack in coordination with different government agencies.

He said the solemn procession did not start at 1:45 p.m. After reviewing several video recordings, the priest said the religious activity started at 1:06 p.m. (The general program provided by the Basilica to the media stated that the schedule of the solemn procession was 1 p.m.)

The priest said they could not start the solemn foot procession earlier as there were other activities last Saturday, including the seaborne procession in the Mactan Channel and Mass at the Pilgrim Center.

Reyes assured that the Basilica would always open its communication line to the Cebu City Government.

He said the solemn foot procession and other religious activities in this year’s Fiesta Señor were done in a timely, peaceful and organized manner. (JCT)