NAVAL, BILIRAN ,Philippines — The Diocese of Naval and other stakeholders are now in the thick of preparations for the "Duaw Sto. Niño," a historic visit of the Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu to this province and neighboring Leyte.
The people of Leyte and Biliran provinces are expected to attend the event, which will be the first time the revered icon will travel out of Cebu province since it arrived there some 400 years ago.
The "Duaw Sto. Niño" would be considered a national undertaking, with the participation of the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy, the PNP, the Philippine Army, the national offices and the different sectors.
On the 20th of this month, the Sto. Niño icon will leave Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to the Malacañang sa Sugbo port and sails on board a Phil. Navy vessel, escorted by members of the PCG, the PNP, and rescue marshals.
Five PN and PCG boats, with several other private vessels, will accompany the icon from Cebu to Naval and to Calubian town in Leyte where the St. Therese Shrine will celebrate its fiesta on October 22.
The arrival of the Sto. Niño in Naval on October 21 will be greeted with a Phil. Navy gun salute. Bishop Filomeno Bactol will then say Mass at the Naval Cathedral, followed by a program, veneration and symposium at the Naval State University.
A fluvial procession from Biliran in Calubian Bay to Calubian port in Leyte precedes a Concelebrated Mass at the St. Therese Shrine.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, through Rey Martinez and Hilongos (Leyte) Mayor Jose Emery Roble-founders of the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Shrine in Calubian-are the top men behind the Sto. Niño de Cebu visit.
Roble told The FREEMAN he already adjusted the usual schedule of his passenger vessels to accommodate the pilgrims, whose numbers are expected to swell during the visit.