Lapu-Lapu marks start of fiesta

CEBU, Philippines – A fluvial procession of the Our Lady of the Rule will parade around 7 in the morning today in the coastal waters of Lapu-Lapu City to mark the beginning of a nine-day novena in relation to the upcoming city fiesta.

This is the 14th time the city is organizing the annual procession.

A 5:30 a.m., a mass will be held at Marigondon Church before the procession of the city's lady patron.

Following the mass is a short send-off motorcade with the  assistance of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office personnel and enforcers of City Traffic Management System. The motorcade will travel to Pacific Cebu Resort in Barangay Suba-basbas.

The City Tourism Commission Office is spearheading the yearly activity with the leadership of Tourism Commissioner Donatila Amores who also heads the fluvial committee.

The statue of the Lady of the Rule will ferried on a yacht adorned with flowers arranged by anonymous devotees of the Virgin Mary.

The sea-borne activity starts from Barangay Suba-basbas, Marigondon, Agus, Maribago, Mactan, Punta Engaño going to the tip of the Mangal Point and passing through the waters of Barangay Ibo, Pusok, Pajo and docking off around 9 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion where the Muelle Osmeña landmark is placed.

Flowers will be showered near the Marcelo Fernan Bridge by the Air Force personnel and with the cooperation of the para-sailers in the middle of the ongoing fluvial procession.

The icon of the lady patroness will then be picked up from Muelle Osmeña.

City Mayor Paz Radaza and the half of the city councilors are the andas bearers marching to the Virgen Dela Regla Parish. The other half of the city officials will wait for the arrival of the holy icon at the VDR parish.

Another mass is scheduled around 11 a.m. for the devotees of the city's patron.

The feast of Our Lady of the Rule will fall on November 20-21.