A man pushes the wheelchair carrying his companion as they make their way to the venue of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City, the second time one of the Catholic Church’s biggest events is being held in the country. JUNJIE MENDOZA/CEBU DAILY NEWS
CEBU CITY—Unrelenting rain since Monday has disrupted some activities of the ongoing 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), one of the biggest events of the Catholic Church, in the city.
A plan to tour delegates around the city and province has been canceled because of the bad weather brought by the northeast monsoon.
One of the main events of the congress, the Pilgrim Walk by at least 5,000 youth delegates, was canceled, too. The youth delegates would have walked from Lapu-Lapu to Mandaue City passing through the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge on Thursday.
All activities of the congress’ Youth Day would be held indoors instead inside the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
The delegates were supposed to first converge at the Hoops Dome and then later hold a procession to Mandaue City through the bridge that connects Mactan Island to Cebu mainland.
The delegates would occupy about 3 hectares of the Mandani Bay project site for an overnight vigil.
Muddy venue
The Mandani Bay is a 20-hectare land located at the south point of Mandaue City, along the Mactan Channel and adjacent to Mandaue City public market. The land, owned by Taft Properties, is being developed to be a residential and mix-used waterfront area.
Roger Paller, Mandaue information officer, said a mini-stage, tents, lights, chairs, about 80 portable toilets and 20 wash-up facilities had been put in place on the land in time for the Youth Day.
The rain, however, turned the area muddy, he added.
The weather bureau is projecting the rain to continue until Thursday, forcing organizers to cancel the Mandaue leg of the activity and keep delegates in Lapu-Lapu City, he added.
Since the Pilgrim Walk would be canceled, the plan to close down half of the old Mandaue-Mactan bridge would no longer push through.
Instead, only roads leading to the Hoops Dome would be closed to all vehicles except for IEC buses that would ferry the delegates.
The bad weather inconvenienced many of the 15,000 delegates from 72 countries attending the IEC which would end on Sunday.
EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION Thousands of Catholics join a procession from the Cebu capitol building to Plaza Independencia in Cebu City on Friday, the fifth day of the International Eucharistic Congress, with 12,000 delegates from 70 countries witnesses to the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Pope Francis will address the congress, which ends on Sunday, by video message. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Canceled tour
Some delegates were forced to cancel island-hopping activities after the Coast Guard barred smaller vessels (gross tonnage of not more than 250) from sailing due to the gale warning issued by the weather bureau.
Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Agapito Bibat said some of the delegates had tour packages with the Department of Tourism that include visits to tourist spots, cultural and historical sites, among others.
Those who were supposed to use small motorboats for island hopping in Mactan Island canceled plans due to the gale warning issued by the weather bureau.
Those who were scheduled to visit tourist spots in Bohol were told to board bigger vessels.
At least 178 passengers were stranded in different ports of Cebu City and the province on Wednesday after 26 vessels and 11 boats were grounded.
Msgr. Joseph Tan, spokesperson of the Cebu Archdiocese, admitted that the bad weather made IEC organizers search for other venues for the Sunday Mass, which would be the culmination of the congress.
Pope Francis is expected to deliver a message via live satellite feed during the Mass and also announce where the next IEC in 2020 would be held.
But the 27-hectare open field inside the South Road Properties had been flooded due to the rain.
More expenses
Tan said there were plans to hold Mass at the Cebu City Sports Center but the Cebu Archdiocese would have to spend more to transfer the venue.
“Maybe we just have to do what was done in Tacloban during the papal visit. The show must go on,” he added.
Pope Francis arrived in Tacloban City on Jan. 17, 2015, at the height of Typhoon “Amang” (international name: Mekkhala) that placed Leyte under Storm Signal No. 2.
He celebrated Mass with victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) amid strong winds and rains. The storm, however, forced him to cut short his trip to Tacloban and Palo town. With a report from Ador Mayol, Inquirer Visayas
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