Devotee City opens on Friday

CEBU, Philippines - Around 4,000 devotees are expected to flock the Devotee City this week, in time for the solemn procession on Saturday and the Grand Sinulog parade the following day.

With this, the Cebu City government said that while the Devotee City will officially open on Friday, they will start accepting “early check-ins” on Thursday to accommodate the devotees coming from cities and towns far from Cebu City.

This is the 28th year that the city government is providing free sleeping quarters for devotees of Sto. Niño who come to Cebu to join in Sinulog festivities. 

Like in the previous years, Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, chairman of the devotee city, said that only those qualified, meaning those who can present necessary requirements, can stay at the devotee city.

 Devotees coming from areas beyond Danao City in the north of Cebu, Carcar City in the south and Toledo City in the southwest, should present their bus tickets while those that will be traveling to Cebu from other provinces in the country can present their boat tickets.

 Cabarrubias further said that the city government will not be providing food for the devotees.

“Walay libreng kaon. We are not assuring nga ang city mohatag og food,” Cabarrubias stressed, although he added that there have been a lot of good Samaritans in the past who have provided food for those living at the Devotee City wherein they also have partner companies like the Cebu Customs which reportedly will organize a feeding program and other sponsors like Jollibee, Julies bakeshop and more. 

The container vans that will be used as the sleeping quarters has been provided by 2GO while the Visayan Electric Company and the Metropolitan Cebu Water District will supply the electricity and water supply, respectively.

Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, co-chairman of the devotee city, said they are anticipating 4,000 to 5,000 devotees, almost twice compared to last year’s 2,500.

Delos Santos explained that the influx of devotees from the neighboring provinces and cities is expected considering the recent calamities that were experienced, particularly in the Visayas region.

With this, an additional 20 container vans were put in place beside the Campaña Maritima. Last year, there were 110 container vans in the Devotee City. 

Female and male devotees will be housed separately, except for children and teenagers who shall stay with their mothers.

Delos Santos said they aim to provide “comfortable and descent” quarters for the devotees.

Meanwhile, Waterfront Police Station Chief Insp. Wildemar Tiu said 12 police personnel will be deployed 24 hours to secure the Devotee City and that police mobile patrol cars will be roving around the vicinity. — (FREEMAN)