MANILA (UCAN): Some 300,000 people reportedly joined the Santo Niño procession in honour of the Child Jesus on January 5 in Cebu, the Philippines. The Walk with Jesus procession started at 4.00am from the Fuente Osmeña rotunda to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in downtown Cebu City, the Visayas.
The annual procession, attended by churchgoers and clergy from all over the country, dates back to Spanish colonial days. It was in Cebu that the Spanish established their first permanent settlement.
The theme of the 458th celebration was Santo Niño: Our source of peace in the walk of faith.
The January 5 to 15 Sinulog festival, with a nine-day novena, took place after a gap of three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“May our faith in Christ grow. Despite many obstacles, we should remain faithful to God,” Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu said in a message.
Devotees brought replicas of the Child Jesus dressed in different costumes, depicting various professions in the country.
“I brought the Child Jesus dressed like a policeman to remind our police officers of the sanctity of their profession. Our police officers are often labeled corrupt because of the illegal drug campaign of the government,” Arlyn Gomez, a resident of Cebu, explained.
“When we see the Child Jesus dressed like a judge or fisherman, we are reminded of God’s presence in our work—something many Filipino Catholics often forget because of individualism and materialism,” Gomez added.
With thousands attending the procession, the government put several health protocols in place.
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“I think we are prepared. At least 600 policemen are deployed to secure the two-kilometre-long procession route,” Augustinian Father John Miranda, the festival director, had said on January 5, adding, “Everyone is excited because this is the first time in three years devotees are attending an in-person activity in His [Child Jesus] honour.”
He said that devotees would observe some social distancing norms like not kissing the images to prevent the spread of the virus.
The civic administration, however, allowed devotees to attend the procession without wearing facemasks.
“We are strict with the social distancing norm. Inside the basilica, churchgoers have to wear face masks,” Donald San Jose, health officer of Cebu, explained.
Local media reported Jerry Bearis, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, as saying there were “precautionary measures purposely crafted for this occasion. We are very happy that other agencies that we are coordinating with are well-versed in doing the tasks that are assigned to them.”
