80,000 join first Sto. Niño procession despite rain

A cold drizzle at dawn didn’t deter 25-year-old Mark Jason Saraw and his 83-year-old wheelchair-bound grandmother from joining yesterday’s novena procession.

“This is an annual tradition that Lola Rose handed down to us,” Saraw said.

The foot procession stretched 2.5 kilometers from Fuente Osmeña to the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

Lola Rose, a retired public school teacher, smiled as she held a Sto. Niño image in her arms. (see related story, page 6).

She and her grandson weree among an estimated 80,000 people who joined the annual “Walk With Jesus” that marked the opening of the 446th religious feast of Cebu’s patron, the Sto. Niño.

Devotees walked with lighted candles starting 4 a.m. down Osmeña Boulevard to the basilica in downtown Cebu City.

Police said the 80,000 turnout was bigger than last year’s 20,000.

A replica of the Sto. Niño de Cebu image was placed on a l carroza decked with white orchids, anthuriums, lilies and mums.

Devotees prayed the rosary as they walked behind the lighted carriage for about one hour.

The “Walk with Jesus” is the first of a nine-day series of religious activities in the Fiesta Señor which peaks with a larger solemn foot procession on Jan. 14, Saturday, and the feast day itself of the Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu on Jan. 15, Sunday.

People from all walks of life flocked to the Basilica del Santo Niño in downtown Cebu City, the center of the four-century-old devotion.

Some devotees brought their house images of the Child Jesus during the one-hour prayer walk.

Church bells pealed amid shouts of “Viva Señor” when the carroza of the Holy Child etered the basilica.

The outdoor Mass was held in the 3,500-capacity Pilgrim Center while devotees overlowed the basilica grounds.

Rain poured down as the Holy Mass began at 5:35 am.

First teachers

In his homily, Fr. Rodolfo Bugna, OSA, basilica rector , emphasized the role of families.

Hetalked about the sanctity of marriage and the protection of life of the unborn.

“The family is the first and essential teacher of peace. To parents, please be reminded that you are your children’s first teachers. Whatever you do will be imitated by your children,” said the rector.

This year’s Fiesta Señor carries the theme “Señor Sto. Niño: Refuge of the Filipino Christian Family.”

“Pope Benedcit XVI I said the family should be given attention especially in the modern time. In the family, we see the importance of love,” Bugna said in Cebuano.

Churchgoers laughed several times at humorous points of his message.

“Marriage is sacred. During the weddings in the past, the hymn is ‘Here comes the bride, all dressed in white. Now, the lyrics have changed to ‘Here comes the bride, three months inside,” Bugna said.

He said spouses should practice “responsible parenthood” by planning the number of children while taking into consideration economic resources and moral norms of the church, which frowns on abortion or artificial contraception..

“The life of a child should be protected from the moment of conception until death,” he said.

Bugna also advised parents to be careful about media exposure of their children. .

“Do not allow too much exposure to the media. Pornography is free in the Internet,” he said.

Peaceful

Devotees raised their hands and waved it in the air in prayer as a special hyymn for the Sto. Niño “Bato-Balani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love)” was ssung..

The Sto. Niño image was first given as a baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu’s Queen Juana in 1521.

Elsewhere, Cebu City police said the annual procession and Mass was peaceful. .

About 100 police personnel secured the procession route from Fuente Osmeña to the Basilica which was closed to traffic starting 4:30 a.m.

Police and social workers rounded up about 15 street children who spent the night in police precints.

A 14-year old boy was arrested for trying to snatch a bracelet from a woman. He was later turned over to his parents. Cebu City police expect to install more checkpoints in the runup to the Sinulog grand parade.