THE once packed Pilgrim Center of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño is not a sight to witness in this year's Fiesta Senior celebration much as the resounding singing of the gozos and the chanting of Viva Pit Senyor.
The faith and tradition of Cebuanos around the globe was put to test as Filipinos celebrate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the image of Sto. Niño de Cebu.
The recent spike of Covid-19 infections in Cebu City has led government and church officials to decide to cancel all in-person novena masses at the Pilgrim Center on the fifth day of the nine-day novena.
But changes in the way the festivity of the holy child is being celebrated are not just happening in the Philippines but in other parts of the world as well.
In Virginia, USA, a Filipino community called Cebuano speaking Association of Tidewaters, used the zoom to pray together the novena and venerate the holy child.
In Singapore, the Señor Santo Niño de Cebu - Singapore group, goes online to pray the novena together.
Filipinos is Australia are luckier for they were able to gather to celebrate the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño.
In Orlando, Sinulog devotees also go virtual in praying and celebrating the Sto. Niño. They used to have cultural celebrations organized by the Sandiego sisters, daughters of Sinulog icon, Val Sandiego but not this year.
Coronavirus may have changed how Sto. Sto. Niño devotees pay homage to the holy child but it failed to stop the faith and tradition. (MVG)