STO. NIÑO Fluvial Procession: Leyte officials, families join pilgrims

CEBU CITY ,Philippines  — Joining the thousands of the faithful, who braved the early morning downpour just to participate in the annual fluvial procession of the Sto. Niño de Cebu along the Mactan Channel, were Hilongos (Leyte) Mayor Jose Emery Roble and his family and Leyte Provincial Board Member Carlo Loreto and his family.

The government officials from Leyte came to this city to be part of the annual pilgrimage of the Sto. Niño as their way of thanking and praising the Holy Child Jesus for all the blessings that they received. They said they joined the fiesta by mingling and interacting with the devotees in honor of the Sto. Niño.

Mayor Roble said he never doubted that the Holy Child will bring the miracle of a clear weather through the procession. He even stayed through the wee hours the day before to make sure that the MV Beautiful Stars, one of two vessels of his shipping company that was the communication command center of the fluvial procession. The other Roble Shipping vessel used was the MV Twinkle Little Stars.

As soon as the vessels sailed, the rain stopped, while a Mass was officiated by four priests in the cargo bay of MV Beautiful Stars as the procession started. In his homily, Father Levi said: “We, the pilgrims in the modern day are inside the MV Beautiful Stars to celebrate the feast of the Sto. Niño.”

Mayor Roble, in an interview with The Freeman, said, “Today, I am a pilgrim like anybody else. My family and I join this religious activity to thank Señor Sto. Niño for the graces showered on us and also to share these in some ways within our bounds. (Pointing to the Badjaos in small pumpboats asking for donations throughout the procession) They too are people of God and are the recepients of His blessings through the kind-hearted people aboard (our ship).” 

The mayor roamed around to greet anybody on board and personally supervised the situation on the ship, from the food and the viewing to the picture taking and Sinulog dancing on deck.

His mother, Betty Fulache Roble, told The Freeman of her happiness to see his children—Jose Emery, Jay, Jasper, Jupiter, Jhufel, Betchie, Belinda and their spouses and her grandchildren mingling with everybody. “I am blessed that they still maintain the values of sharing to others what we have,” she said.

The matriarch of the Roble family also confirmed that a regular trip of the vessel to Leyte was cancelled to accommodate the pilgrims that joined the fluvial procession.

Leyte PB Member Carlo Loreto shared the view of the Robles, saying that he had joy in meeting the pilgrims. “There are no judges, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, etc., here. We’re all equal and we interacted with all children of God who were happy to be in the procession.”