City wants Santo Niño motorcade cancelled

CEBU, Philippines —  After deciding to do away with the fluvial and foot procession, officials are now considering to also cancel the Santo Niño motorcade that was initially planned for the Fiesta Señor next year.

Cebu City Councilor Philip Zafra, chairman of the committee on public order, disclosed this yesterday following the city officials’ meeting the priests and organizers from the Church.

Zafra admitted he was one of those who earlier agreed on having the image of the Santo Niño motorcaded in lieu of the fluvial and foot procession.

However, after observing that Cebuanos were becoming complacent again, Zafra said it is better off canceling the motorcade as well.

“Hopefully, karong buwana ma-finalize ang tanan because I, for one, although usa ko sa ni-push for motorcade, but recently as I have observed, ang mga tawo, it is as if man gud kumpyansa na kaayo. Tan-aw nako sa mga tawo,” said Zafra in an interview.

The proposed cancellation was already presented to Labella.

“Usa sa akong mga apprehensions mao nga mag-motorcade ta, unsaon nato pag-control sa crowd nga magtan-aw diha sa sidewalk sa motorcade, especially on physical distancing?” added Zafra.

Zafra said he is contemplating on suggesting to the priests to focus with the novena to be streamed online.

Religious activities may also be incorporated during the 500th years of the arrival of Christianity in April 2021, instead of holding them during the Fiesta Señor in January.

“Hopefully, during that time, naa nay tambal or naa nay vaccine. Then katong mga activity na ato untang but buhaton during sa Fiesta Señor sa January pwede nato mabuhat by April,” he said.

Even if decisions will be made soon, plans can still change, said Zafra, depending on the COVID situation.

Massgoers violators?

Thus, he is calling on the Cebuanos to continue to observe the minimum health protocols as the virus is still very much around. He said that even in regular masses in churches, he observed that some of the quarantine protocols have not been followed anymore.

“Kagahapon gani, nasinta ko sa gawas sa usa ka simbahan kay imong makita nga ang atong gipakanaog nga patakaran sa dagbayan sa atong Mayor nga makasimba ka provided nga naa kay Qpass. But then usa ra gud na ka Qpass ang gihatag nato per family/household. But nakita nato, paggawas sa simbahan, nag inagbayay naman, nagkuptanay sa kamot,” Zafra said.

“It will say that they belong to one family. In fact, naa tay nakita nga mga bata so mao ng ako kami sa gobyerno, moapilar na sad mi sa katawhan nga wa nagpasabot nga niminos atong kaso nga nawala na ang sakit (Covid-19),” he added.

On the first day of November, Cebu City had 154 active cases, including three new ones per case bulletin from the Department of Health-7. — Decemay P. Padilla ,JMD