No fight for crowds seen between papal visit, Sinulog

THE FAITH of Cebuanos is measurable in many ways, but mainly through their readiness to fill the streets for processions and parades, as they did in this photo taken in 2013 during the Sinulog, a festival in honor of Santo Niño. JUNJIE MENDOZA/CEBU DAILY NEWS

CEBU CITY—The Church here does not see a competition for crowds between the papal visit and Cebu’s biggest festival, the Sinulog.

Fr. Jonas Mejares, chair of Fiesta Señor 2015 that is preparing for the festival, said he even expects the number of people taking part in the Sinulog to be bigger this year.

“The crowd is increasing every year,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday. He estimated that the number of people attending the Sinulog increases by 500,000 each year.

He said in 2012 the crowd reached 2.2 million. It increased by 500,000 in 2013 to 2.7 million. In 2014, the crowd estimate shot up to 3.5 million.

“It is always full of people whenever we celebrate Mass,” he said.

The papal visit—Jan. 15-19— would coincide with activities leading to the Sinulog celebration—Jan. 16-18.

Although it is highly unlikely that the Pope would make a detour to the city, a devoutly Catholic urban community, Mejares said organizers of the Sinulog are ready to make adjustments should the impossible happen.

Mejares, quoting Mayor Michael Rama, said the city is “100 percent” prepared should Francis visit the city after all.

Senior Supt. Conrad Capa, head of the Cebu City police office, said at least 1,000 policemen would be deployed to provide security for the Sinulog.

The policemen would augment a security force of 7,000 soldiers, cadets, village guards and students.

Capa said he was not worried that the Pope would face security threats in the city, should Francis come.

“I hope and pray that the Pope will come to Cebu. I know the Cebuanos will take care of the Pope. We are prepared. Let him come,” Capa told reporters.

Mejares said, though, that even if Francis is unable to visit the city for the Sinulog, the Pope would have a glimpse of the festival through a dance troupe, the Sandiego Dance Company, that would perform a Sinulog dance.

He said that although the Pope would not be physically present for the Sinulog, Francis would be “with us in spirit.”

Mejares said Church officials in the city were still waiting for a request from Sinulog organizers to bring the image of Santo Niño from this city to Manila.

The Sinulog festivities started with a religious procession, “Walk with Jesus,” Thursday. The procession also signaled the start of a nine-day novena at Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, the home of the image of the Child Jesus.