CEBU, Philippines - An estimated 300,000 people joined the Walk with Mary and the Traslacion yesterday.
In Cebu City alone, Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said early dawn yesterday, around 100,000 Marian and Santo Niño devotees gathered at the Fuente Osmeña rotunda to wait for the arrival of the Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“The walk was generally peaceful and a success, the activity remained very solemn and the public were very cooperative,” he added.
Monsignor Cristobal Garcia headed yesterday’s Traslacion mass in the Basilica del Santo Niño.
In his homily, Garcia reminded devotees of the Holy Child that He grew up to became the salvation of the world.
“Tell the Cebuanos that the Santo Niño did not remain as a child, He grew up,” Garcia quoted Blessed John Paul II who blessed the pilgrim image of the Traslacion.
Garcia said that as people grow, they also get bigger responsibilities amid the struggle of daily living.
“Life sometimes weakens us, but God gives us the chance to offer our burdens to him for us to be free,” he said.
In order to achieve this, the faithful should humble themselves in order to be one with each other and the entire society.
“What happens to an individual, affects everybody…we should practice great love,” the Monsignor said.
An estimated 200,000 people then joined in the procession from the Basilica to Mandaue City.
In Mandaue City, an estimated 20,000 devotees joined the motorcade followed by the Mass at the National Shrine of St. Joseph after the pilgrim image of the Sr. Santo Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe entered the city.
The images were brought via motorcade accompanied by Cebu City priests and Mayor Michael Rama who was met by Mayor Jonas Cortes and other city officials in the boundary barangay of Subangdaku.
Both images were then brought to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City where Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale waited.
Monsignor Adelito Abella, who celebrated yesterday’s welcome Mass of the Sacred Family, said that the traditional traslacion is significant to this year’s theme of the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Child which is “Sr. Santo Nino: Refuge of the Filipino Christian Family”.
Abella said that St. Joseph played a big role in his family, although he was silent.
He compared the Sacred Family to today’s family setup, where only the mother usually just raises the children while the father goes away or abroad to work without realizing the impact of his absence.
Abella also suggested to Sinulog organizers that if there is a Walk with Jesus and Walk with Mary, there should also be a motorcade for St. Joseph.
Except for a woman who lost her wallet containing P800 cash and a gold necklace, yesterday’s traslacion went on smoothly.
Meanwhile, only 135 sea vessels registered for today’s fluvial procession, lesser than the previous years.
According to Cebu Coastguard Commander Rolando Punzalan more than 20 vessels will be fielded by the Philippine Navy and coastguard auxiliary and marshals who will keep order during the fluvial procession. These are not part of the registered vessels.
Registration for participation for the past few years usually averaged 300 vessels.
Punzalan said the recent trend of bad weather might have lessened enthusiasm this year.
The fluvial procession will start from the Ouano Wharf in Mandaue City at 6 a.m. carrying the pilgrim image of the Sr. Santo Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe back to Cebu City. — /BRP (FREEMAN)