Hundreds in Cebu watch fluvial procession of Fiesta Señor 2023

The PCG-Cebu estimated 400 sea vessels joined the fluvial procession. PCG said that they were taken aback by the number of people who joined the procession. Photo by Nestle Semilla, Inquirer Visayas

CEBU CITY — At least 300,000 people joined and waited along the piers and shorelines in the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Cebu to take a glimpse of the fluvial procession — one of the highlights of the Fiesta Señor which fully returned after a two-year limited celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A flotilla of at least 189 sea vessels accompanied the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Cabra which was chosen to transport the images of the Santo Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe down the Mactan Channel to Cebu City on Saturday.

Commander Mark Larsen Mariano of the Coast Guard Central Cebu said that there were unregistered vessels that joined the fluvial procession, but they just allowed them to participate.

“We didn’t tell them to leave. A lot joined the fluvial parade.  Although there were only 189 registered vessels, we estimated at least 400 (vessels) joined,” said Mariano.

But overall, Mariano said that the fluvial procession was peaceful and no untoward incidents were reported.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who joined the sea procession, said he was very happy that the weather improved on Saturday after days of incessant rains.

“Just consider that the sea was smooth during the fluvial procession. Let us always trust in God,” he told reporters.

After the fluvial procession, the reenactment of the first Mass, baptism, and wedding in the Philippines was done at the Basilica’s outdoor Pilgrim Center.

Men dressed as Spanish soldiers then planted beside the altar a huge, wooden cross with a white cloth to commemorate the arrival of Magellan and his men, and the birth of Catholicism in the Philippines.

READ: Pampanga town scales down St. Peter’s feast to control COVID-19 spread