CEBU CITY -- The Fiesta Señor formally kicked off today, January 8, with the Penitential Walk for Jesus, which was scheduled to start at dawn.
At 4 a.m. today, devotees were set to start the procession on Osmeña Blvd. and end at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.
After the procession, a 5:30 a.m. mass would held at the Basilica Pilgrim Center for the first day of the nine-day novena masses. Fr. Jonas Mejares, the Basilica’s rector, will lead the first mass, which will be streamed live by Sun.Star at www.sunstar.com.ph.
During the penitential walk, devotees wake up at dawn and make a personal sacrifice to make themselves worthy to celebrate the annual feast of the Holy Child Jesus.
Candles
Organizers of this year’s Fiesta Señor also announced that they will implement a more straightforward route for the traditional Traslacion or the meeting with the Holy Family in Mandaue City on January 16.
Lawyer Pat Acabodillo, who is in charge of the Traslacion and Fluvial committee, told reporters that from the Basilica, the image will travel from MJ Cuenco Ave. to Gen. Maxilom Avenue, then cross to Barangay Mabolo and then end at the boundary between Cebu City and Mandaue City in Barangay Subangdaku.
Turnover
In Barangay Subangdaku, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will then turn over the image to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.
Cortes and Mandaue City residents will bring the image to the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Joseph the Worker in Barangay Centro.
The image will stay overnight in Mandaue City before it will be transported to the Ouano Wharf in Barangay Looc for the traditional fluvial procession on January 17.
Mejares said they hope to coordinate with Mandaue City traffic officials to address the slow movement of the procession from Subangdaku to Barangay Centro, which hounds the festivities every year. (JKV/Sun.Star Cebu)