All set for Kaplag 2015

Preparations for Kaplag 2015 will start on April 24 when the Basilica del Sto. Niño of Cebu celebrates the 448th year of discovery of the oldest religious image in the Philippines.

A two-year preparation is set for the triple celebration involving the 450th year of the finding of the Sto. Niño image, the 450 years of Augustinian’s presence in the Philippines, and the 50th anniversary of church’s title as Basilica Minore.

“Kaplag,” a Cebuano term for “find,” refers to the finding of the image of the child Jesus by Juan Camus, a soldier of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. It was seen in a burnt hut where the basilica stands today.

A Mass at the Magellan’s Cross will open the event on April 24 at 5 p.m.

A solemn procession to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral shall follow where it will be welcomed by a Mass and a vigil.

On the 25th, the image will be brought from the Cathedral to San Nicholas Parish Church. After an overnight pilgrimage, it will be returned to the Basilica for the closing program.

A mini concert by the University of the Visayas Chorale and a re-enactment of the finding of the image will end Kaplag 2013 on April 27. After which, the San Diego Dancers, together with other groups and devotees will present a Sinulog offering. A fireworks display will wrap up the celebration.

The celebration was supposed to be held on April 28. But since it falls on a Sunday, the Augustinians decided to move it earlier on Saturday.

“It is hard for us to highlight the closing events given that we have 10 Masses held on a Sunday,” said Fr. Jonas Mejares, Rector of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

An art exhibit will be held at SM Cebu to showcase the works of Fr. Dominador Misares on Sunday.

Since the event is scheduled about two weeks before the May 13 polls, Mejares said they cannot stop politicians and staunch supporters alike to participate.

“They are welcome but as devotees,” he said.

Mejares said wearing of t-shirts and other campaign paraphernalia is “beyond the Church’s control.”

He also emphasized that Kaplag is still one of the biggest celebrations of the Catholic Church in the country.

“We will not have Sinulog festival without the Kaplag,” Mejares said.

Fr. Harold Rentorio added: “We are not only celebrating it within the context of Cebu province but on the national and international level. We are expecting foreigners to be present.”

The committee mentioned plans to invite Pope Francis. But due to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) pre-arranged request for a papal visit during the International Eucharistic Congress 2016, it is impossible to have the Pope in Cebu for two consecutive years.

“But we are expecting that he is going to send a (representative) on 2015,” Rentoria said.

Augustinian Cardinal Prospero Grech of Malta is almost a hundred percent sure of his attendance.

National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) chairman Felipe M. de Leon Jr. and National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairman Maria Serena Diokno were present in the Kaplag 2013 press conference held at the Aula Magna Pilgrim Center on Tuesday.

De Leon said the NCCA will extend financial aid to the event once the necessary proposals are submitted. /Silliman University intern Katrin Anne Arcala