A FEW changes are in store for this year’s fluvial and foot procession on Jan. 18, the vesperas of the Sto. Niño fiesta.
Boats will start at the wharf behind the Mandaue City District Hospital instead of the Ouano wharf which is under repair.
With this, the dawn procession from the St. Joseph Shrine in Mandaue City to the pier will also pass by another route.
The flotilla of boats will set off at exactly 6 a.m. in order to reach Pier 1 in Cebu City at 8 a.m.
The only ones to sail with the image of the Holy Child on the MV Sr. Sto. Niño are Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, some priests, Fr. Mejares, and men dressed as Spanish soldiers.
Lawyer Pat Acabodillo, head of the traslacion and reenactment committee, said no politicians or VIPs are allowed to board the galleon.
This year, the lead ship will pass by the shoreline of Pasil in Cebu City before docking in Pier 1.
Fr. Jonas Mejares, basilica rector, apologized for skipping this site last year, which disappointed many devotees in the urban barangay who crowd along the shore to greet the image of the Holy Child as its “galleon” passes.
In the afternoon, the grand solemn foot procession of the Sto. Nino will take a slightly shorter route of 5.7 kilometers passing through downtown steets and V. Rama Avenue before returning to the basilica.
The foot procession will start at 1:30 p.m.
Since the basilica’s belfry was destroyed by an earthquake, an audio recording of bells ringing will be played when the carroza of the Sto. Niño is about to exit the basilica.
This year’s route is a bit shorter than last year’s 5.9 kilometer route.
From the basilica, carrozas of St. Joseph, Our Lady of Consolation, and the Sto. Niño de Cebu will pass along Osmeña Boulevard, D. Jakosalem, Magallanes Street, A. Borromeo Street, Sanciangko St., N. Bacalso Avenue, V. Rama Avenue, B. Rodriguez St., Osmeña Blvd and back to the basilica.
A Mass and communal dancing of the traditional Sinulog will follow after the procession.
On the feast day on Sunday, Jan. 19, Archbishop Jose Palma will preside over a 6 a.m. Mass at the Pilgrim Center.
During the Mass, Augustianians will reveal the logo and theme song for next year’s 450th anniversary of the presence of the Augustinians in the Philippines and the finding of the image of the Sto. Nino as well as the 50th anniversary of the church as a basilica minore. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol