THE scheduled visit of the image of the Nuestra Señora de Regla, commonly known as Birhen sa Regla, from Lapu-Lapu City to Olango Island was postponed due to bad weather conditions on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Nagiel Bañacia told SunStar Cebu that he had recommended the postponement of the patronal visit due to big waves caused by habagat or the southwest monsoon.
Bañacia also suggested to the priests to not push through with the trip on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
“It is for the best interest and safety of every devotee participating in the transfer of the image of Our Lady of the Virgin of Rule,” he said.
Fr. Joseph Ga, parish priest of the Nuestra Señora de Regla-Parish National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City, hoped that the weather condition would be fair by Tuesday so they can push through with the trip.
The holy image was supposed to start its patronal visits on Monday to St. Augustine Church in Barangay Sta. Rosa on Olango Island and its neighboring barangays.
It is expected to sail back to the mainland on Sept. 30, particularly at the San Roque Church in Cordova town.
The image will then visit the Our Lady of Good Voyage church at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.
From the airbase, the image will proceed to the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Barangay Pusok, then to Sto. Niño Church in Barangay Mactan, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Barangay Pajac, and St. Therese Chapel in Indiana Aerospace University.
The image’s last visit will be at the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish in Barangay Marigondon on Nov. 8.
From there, the image will be carried to the shores for the fluvial parade on Nov. 12, which will end at Muelle Osmeña.
The image will then be carried back to the Nuestra Señor de Regla-Parish National Shrine for the first day of the nine-day novena for the 287th fiesta in honor of Our Lady of the Rule.