AROUND 80,000 devotees joined the penitential “Walk with Jesus” held on Thursday, January 11, in Cebu City. They brought with them lighted candles and images of Sto. Niño.
The penitential walk started around 4 a.m. from Fuente Osmeña to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. It was followed by the first novena mass in honor of the Child Jesus.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the estimated number of people who joined Thursday's event included those who already stayed inside the Basilica.
Most of the devotees held images of the Sto. Niño adorned with LED lights. Parents also dressed their children with Sto. Niño costumes, while some older kids already wore their school uniforms, ready to go straight to class.
Gregoria Dacalos, 57, did not miss her chance to join the penitential walk, but she and her family decided to skip the mass due to the number of people who joined the mass.
The Philippine Red Cross reported that it assisted some devotees who had fainted and had difficulty in breathing.
The mass ended around 7 a.m. (Precious Grace Gandia, AB Communications Intern/SunStar Philippines)