“Walk with Jesus” crowd three times bigger

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the rain, hundreds of thousands of people converged yesterday for the opening salvo of the Feast Day of Señor Santo Niño with the Penitential Walk with Jesus and the first day of the nine-day masses in honor of the Miraculous Child.

As early as 3 a.m. yesterday, devotees were already gathered at the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, the starting point of the Walk with Jesus. Weather during the assembly was good but rain fell as the procession started.

The church prepared 3,000 umbrellas for the churchgoers attending the novena masses. This was the initiative of Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, the new rector and the overall chairman of the Sinulog activities of the church.

Mejares, who joined the Walk with Jesus for the first time, walked alongside Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama who told him that more devotees joined this year because not only one side of the road was occupied.

According to SPO1 Ryan Barba, this year’s crowd is thrice as big as last year’s.

During his homily, Mejares admired the umbrellas from the Basilica in red and gold that fits the color of the celebration and he was able to make the devotees laugh for them to be awake all the time.

He started the homily by letting each devotee say this line “Diha sa imung hugot nga pagtuo kang Senyor Santo Niño, magmalipayon ka” to the people next to them. (With  your  strong faith in the Sto. Niño, you will find happiness.)

Mejares pointed out the acronyms P. I. T. for the Pit Senyor! which stands for Pamalandungan, Ipahiluna and Tangtangon: “Kinahanglan atong Pamalandungan nga kinahanglan magkahugpong kita sa atong pagtuo kang Santo Niño. Ipahiluna nato ang atong kasingkasing, hunahuna ug kaugalingon ngadto Kaniya ug atong Tangtangon ang mga pama-tasan nga di haum sa kaangayan sa Ginoo,” said Mejares. (Let us reflect on our need to unite in our faith to the Sto. Niño and put our hearts and minds in Him, and let go of attitudes that do not conform with the laws of God.)

“Unta atong padayunon nga tangtangon ang pagkamaduhadu-haon. Andam kita nga mosagubang sa mga problema nga moabot ug kina-hanglang magkahiusa kita sa paghugpong sa hugot nga pagtoo ngadto sa Ginoo,” Mejares added, stressing on the theme this year, which is “Journeying Together in faith with Sto Niño”. (Let’s continue to unite in faith and let go of our doubts, and be prepared to bear our problems.)

Mejares ended his homily by singing the song “Magmalipayon Ka” (You will find happiness) composed by Manny Lapingcao and he also asked the devotees to sing the chorus with him.Fr. Dan De Los Angeles said that this was a first for the opening salvo of the Sinulog.

After the Homily was the official installation of this year’s hermano and hermana mayores, Maximo and Corazon Fulache.

The Gozos (Batobalani sa Gugma) was then sang by the devotees as they waved their hands for the Sto. Niño.

Despite the thousands of devotees attending the Mass, the giving of the host as well as the entrance and exit of the people were done in an orderly manner.

Zanaida Colipeno, 50, said that she and her family made it early at the procession. They left their house at 12 midnight and walked the length from the Mactan Bridge to the assembly area.

Edelberto Puda, a construction worker, said that he has been a devotee of Sto. Niño and has sought the intercession of the Holy Child to help him with his problems.

According to Epifanio Cañete, member of the security Group at the Sto. Niño, some fainted but the rescue units immediately attended to them. — with Julit C. Jainar, /JPM (FREEMAN)