Journey at dawn today

Before drumbeats and merrymaking of the Sinulog start, a solemn prayer walk by devotees of the Sto. Niño opens the celebration for Cebu.

Thousands of devotees start a novena or nine-day series of prayers with the traditional “Walk with Jesus” at 4 a.m. today.

The religious procession will start at Fuente Osmeña to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

“Every annual Fiesta Señor begins with a penitential walk with Jesus, which is a sure way of starting the right way this great celebration,” said basilica priests from the Augustinian order.

“Devotees wake up early dawn and make a personal sacrifice to make themselves worthy to celebrate the annual feast of the Holy Child Jesus and thank Him for the countless graces and blessings they have received from him.”

“Jesus journeys with us in our ups and downs,” said Fr. Tito Soquiño, OSA.

A separate launch of the Sinulog festival led by the Cebu city government follows tomorrow with a Mass at the basilica and a street parade to the Cebu City Sports Complex.

A different dimension of social awareness is being added this year to the spiritual devotion to the Sto. Niño as Cebu’s patron.

This year’s theme, “Sto. Niño, the refuge of the Filipino Christian family” has as a subtheme, “The family as stewards of Creation.”

“After Typhoon Sendong, all the more the environment becomes a relevant topic . . . calling us to stewardship,” said Fr. Soquiño.

“The family is the domestic church,” said Fr. Rodolfo Bugna, basilica rector.

“We need to protect the family, which should be founded on faith and virtues.”

After the 5:30 a.m. Mass, spouses Frank and Joan Argoncillo will be installed as this year’s Hermano and Hermana Mayores or fiesta sponsors.

To keep the procession eco-friendly, people were encouraged to leave their vehicles behind and avoid releasing balloons in the air.

The novena starts on Jan. 5 until Jan. 13, Friday with 10 daily novena masses at the basilica from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. With Editorial Assistant Hannah Aranas