Fluvial procession to start earlier

CEBU, Philippines - Tight security will be enforced for the solemn and fluvial procession on January 19, the eve of the Feast Day of Senor Santo Niño.

The fluvial procession for the image of Sto. Niño will now start an hour earlier at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m so that activities prior to the solemn procession will also be early.

Captain Rolando Punzalan, Cebu Coast Guard head, said that they will ensure tight security for the fluvial parade in the morning.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) also echoed the same assurance for the solemn procession in the afternoon of the same day as they will deploy 366 officers from the CCPO and hundreds more from the augmentation force. They will also be deploying 80 police personnel for the fluvial procession.

The fluvial parade is the reenactment of the historical arrival of Magellan’s galleon “at the mouth of the cove of Cebu called Mandaue at the noon of April 7, 1521” bringing the image of the Santo Niño to Cebu.

The fluvial parade, which is a religious-civic celebration, started in the early 1980s with performers portraying Queen Juana and King Humabon. It has become one of the highlights of the annual fiesta.

It will be preceded by the early dawn Holy Mass at 4 a.m. and the foot procession from the St. Joseph Shrine to the Ouano Wharf where the image is placed on the “galleon” together with the official participants of the reenactment in preparation for the 6 a.m. fluvial parade.

Other vessels are allowed to participate in the fluvial parade but for safety and security reasons, their owners must have their vessels registered with and accredited by the Coast Guard.

Punzalan said that the registration started last Monday and it will end on January 15. They said a maximum of 250 vessels will be allowed to join the parade.

Interested participants must secure special permits or certificate of sea worthiness for them to be registered.

The registered and accredited vessels must assemble at the designated area near the Mandaue Ouano wharf starting at 5 a.m. and their officers are enjoined to strictly abide by the Coast Guard rules and regulations from start to the arrival of the galleon at Pier Uno to avoid any sea mishap.

The Mactan Channel will be closed from 4 a.m. until 9 a.m.

Atty.  Rafael  Yap  of  CITOM said that once the procession starts, all affected roads will be closed.

Yap added that on January 19, they will start at 10 a.m. for the clearing of the roads in preparation for the solemn procession at 1 p.m.

The procession route will start at the Osmeña Boulevard until Fuente Osmeña, right turn to Gen. Maxilom Avenue, right turn to New Imus Road then left turn to MJ Cuenco Avenue and right turn to Osmeña Boulevard and back to the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

Except for the carrozas, devotees can use the exits at Plaza Independencia, Legazpi St. and Lapu-Lapu St.

The use of firecrackers is prohibited during the procession, but those at the parade routes may have fireworks display. — (FREEMAN)