Youth delegates to include prayers for quake victims, says bishop

CEBU CITY — Delegates of the National Youth Day (NYD) will include in their prayers the victims of the earthquake that struck Luzon and the Visayas.

All the prayers in the NYD will now include the tremor victims, according to Bishop Leopoldo Jaocian.

At least 6,000 young pilgrims have arrived and were billeted in different parishes in Metro Cebu.

Organizers were expecting the arrival of 6,000 more.

Jaocian, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Youth, said pilgrims from Pampanga and Zambales were already in Cebu despite the quake that hit their provinces.

“They were delayed since the Clark Airport was closed, but they were able to find ways just to get here in Cebu and join the NYD activities,” said the Bishop during the daily briefing held at the Cebu Archbishop’s Palace.

An opening program took place at Cebu City Sports Center on Wednesday afternoon, which was followed by a procession to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, where the opening Mass would be celebrated.

A traditional Sinulog festival dance also welcomed the delegates.

The public has been advised to expect heavy traffic considering the road closures along the procession route this afternoon in Cebu City.

The police are on red alert and are imposing a “no-backpack” policy on the site of the events, said Police Brig. General Debold Sinas, police director for Central Visayas, during the briefing.

Policemen and augmentation forces were already in place to secure the pilgrims.