Divided fest, united faith

CEBU, Philippines —  Although local leaders are divided on the Sinulog 2023 venue, yesterday’s fluvial parade and solemn procession for the Fiesta Señor showed that some things remain whole, such as the Cebuanos’ unbending faith and devotion.

Against the backdrop of cloudy but rain-free skies, an estimated three million devotees joined the foot procession traversing a 5.7-kilometer route from the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño to Osmeña Boulevard to Gen. Maxilom Avenue to Imus Road to M.J. Cuenco Avenue and back to the basilica.

The sea of devotees was diverse. It included the young and the old, the abled and the disabled, those from different professions, and even pets such as dogs and cats.

Fortunata Gerobias, 77, from Sitio Kalubihan in Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City shared with The FREEMAN what she described was a “little miracle” that he attributed to Baby Jesus --  her son survived dengue.

“Nagluwa na siya og dugo ug gisunggo. Nag-ampo ra gyud kong Señor (Sto. Niño) nga maluwas unta siya kay abunohanan siya’g dugo pero kaluoy sa Ginoo, wala gyud tawn naabunohi. Naulian ra iyang dugo,” said Gerobias.

Gerobias, a devotee of Sto. Niño for about 48 years, now wishes that the miraculous child would grant her one more miracle and heal her high blood pressure and aching knees.

Marites Lazarte, 39, from Sitio Panagdait, Barangay Kasambagan in Cebu City, also manifested her devotion despite having difficulty walking due to a health condition.

She prayed that the Child Jesus would make her even stronger so she could be there for her also differently-abled brother and bedridden father.

For Cano Danilo, 70, from Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, joining the procession is a vow, especially since Sto. Niño has answered his prayer for his son to finish school.

“Dugay na kaayo kong deboto Niya (Sto. Niño), mga sobra na’s baynte ka tuig.Gaampo ko Niya nga pahumanon niyag eskwela akung anak. Nakahuman gyud taw'g skwela ug karon seaman na,” said Danilo.

Danilo’s prayer was for him to have longer life to spend more time with his family, particularly his wife, who is also a Sto Niño devotee.

The carroza carrying the image of the Holy Child left basilica for the procession around 1 p.m. yesterday led by Archbishop Jose Palma, along with Rev. Fr. Nelson Zerda, the Augustinian friars and brothers, as well as the Hermana Mayor and Mayores—Engr. Venerando Olandria and Dr. Donna Lei Olandria.

An Instrument of Peace

In his homily during the Pontifical Mass that followed the procession, Auxiliary Bishop Ruben Labajo recounted how the Sto. Niño became an instrument of peace between the Spaniards and natives following the discovery and procession of its image sometime in 1565.

“From these short clips of history, we can see, brothers and sisters, how the image of Sto. Niño became instrumental in forging unity and peace among peoples. We see that a common devotion helps bring individuals to join the community in its journey of faith,” Labajo told the faithful.

Though he said it is hard to speculate on the true motives behind the established unity and peace between the Spaniards and natives back then, there was peace, nonetheless.

Fast forward to the present times, Labajo then said that Christians should know that genuine peace can only be found in Christ and his peace is not the same as this world’s peace.

Thus, he urged the faithful to “clarify” their stand as devotees.

 “The Sto. Niño is not just the source of peace but the source of true peace in our walk of faith. Just as the Spaniards and the natives were united in peace through the magnet of the Sto. Niño, all of us here are also united tonight in the same magnet of love,” he said.

“But I hope and pray that what differs us from history is that our unity and peace cannot be reduced into a sheer political peace or any other external peace defined by this world. Our unity in peace is borne out of our full and confident trust in Christ through the Sto. Niño.”

Turnout

The Cebu City Police Office said close to three million devotees graced the solemn foot procession but no untoward incidents or major crimes were reported.

CCPO chief Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog said they anticipated the large crowd as the traditional activities in line with the fiesta had been suspended for two years due to the ongoing pandemic.

This year’s crowd surpassed that in 2020, which drew about 2.3 million spectators.

Dalogdog said the event was peaceful and orderly, though some devotees were brought to medical booths after complaining of dizziness. They were immediately assisted by medical teams on standby, he added.

Authorities also reported minor traffic interruptions due to re-routing and road closures but were managed accordingly.

Police Regional Office-7 director Police Brigadier General Jerry Fornaleza Bearis lauded deployed police personnel for helping ensure peace and order throughout the proceedings.

He commended the entire Task Force Sinulog, consisting of more than a thousand police, army, and other law enforcement personnel, for successfully implementing the security measures prepared for each Sinulog and Fiesta Señor activity.

“The security preparation collectively introduced by the members of the Task Force was generally implemented, resulting in the safe, secured and solemn procession,” said Bearis.

This is Bearis’ first experience of the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog as PRO-7 director.

Aside from the police, about 10,000 force multipliers such as criminology intern volunteers from different universities and personnel from the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), among others, were also fielded in.

PRO-7 conducted an aerial survey along the procession route and monitored congested parts to avoid possible stampede incidents.

Additionally, the CCPO’s Mobile Patrol Unit was also on standby for any incident outside the procession to ensure peace and order in the city.

Fluvial

Earlier in the day, devotees dotted both sides of the Mactan Channel and the Cebu harbor to witness the fluvial parade, which also returned after a two-year hiatus.

The official galleon, the BRP CABRA (MRRV-4409) of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), arrived at exactly 7:30 a.m. at Pier 1 in Cebu City from Lapu-Lapu City carrying the blessed images of Senior Sto. Niño and the Our Lady of Guadalupe.

More than a hundred vessels trailed the official galleon in the entire stretch of the fluvial procession route, which saw the iconic Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) for the first time.  – Caecent N. Magsumbol and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, JMD (FREEMAN)