No selfies, follow rules, Santo Niño devotees asked

PREPARING THE NIÑO Devotees prepare old images of Santo Niño (Child Jesus) in stalls near the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño as Cebu City celebrates Sinulog Festival this week. —JUNJIE MENDOZA

CEBU CITY — Keep the celebration solemn.

This was the top reminder given by the Augustinian fathers of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to devotees as the 454th Fiesta Señor (Feast of Señor Santo Niño) celebration begins on Thursday with a solemn dawn procession.

The priests also asked those who would attend the religious activity to not bring backpacks and wear jewelry, and try their best to avoid taking selfies, especially during Masses.

They should also follow instructions and signages to ensure an orderly celebration.

The feast, known as Sinulog Festival, will culminate in a series of religious activities at the basilica on Jan. 20, the third Sunday of the month, as well as a mardi gras-like dance parade in Cebu City.

“We come here (basilica) to attend Mass and not to fight with one another just to get inside the churchyard. Let us discipline ourselves. If we’re told that we could no longer get inside the basilica complex, then let us obey,” said Fr. Pacifico Nohara Jr., OSA, rector of the centuries-old church.

‘Walk with Jesus’

The Fiesta Señor starts at 4 a.m. on Thursday with the annual “Walk with Jesus,” a 2-kilometer penitential procession from Fuente Osmeña to the basilica.

Nohara would lead the first novena Mass at 5:30 a.m. at the outdoor Pilgrim Center.

At least 400 policemen had been deployed along the route of the procession to secure devotees.

Another 180 policemen would be stationed at the basilica, said Senior Supt. Royina Garma, Cebu City police director.

Except on Jan. 10 and 18, when there would be dawn processions, 11 Masses would be held at the Pilgrim Center every day leading to the feast of Santo Niño.

No balloons, ’crackers

As it was in the past eight years, balloons would be prohibited at the basilica complex and during the fluvial and foot processions.

Fr. Aladdin Luzon, OSA, head of the Fiesta Señor 2019 peace and order committee, said they would enforce a ban on balloons at the church’s courtyard in response to concerns raised by environmental groups that these would end up in the sea and would harm marine animals that would mistake them for food.

The release of balloons during the feast of Santo Niño had been a popular gesture among devotees who believed that doing this would lift their prayers to heaven.

The Augustinian fathers, the caretakers of the basilica and the image of the Child Jesus, wanted the practice stopped, teaching devotees the proper way of expressing their faith.

Church officials also said that firecrackers and other pyrotechnic products, liquor, glass bottles and loud speakers would not be allowed at the basilica.

The priests said they would not stage any fireworks display on the eve of the Fiesta Señor.

Nohara said they would instead donate the money intended for the display to the poor.

They also appealed to devotees to practice self-restraint and avoid taking photographs especially during Masses. —With a report from Nestle Semilla