“Hubo” Mass open to public

CEBU, Philippines — Today’s traditional “Hubo” Mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño will be open to the public but strict security and quarantine protocols will be implemented, says Cebu City Councilor Philip Zafra.

Zafra said that quarantine passes will be required and churchgoers must observe health protocols.

“Just like what we have done in the first place pagsugod sa novena, wa man gyud ni nato gilugakan ang atong security measure nga gi-institute diri sa palibot sa Basilica,” said Zafra.

Police and force multipliers--PROBE team, Quick Response Team,

 Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (CESET)--will be deployed as early as 3:30 a.m. today.

Although physical attendance is allowed, Zafra is appealing to the devotees not to come and attend “Hubo” Mass online instead to avoid possible infection.

“Mohangyo gani ta kung mahimo di lang sa moanhi gyud considering nga steadily rising ang kaso sa COVID,” said Zafra.

“But kung moari gyud sila, istriktohon gyud nato ang basic health protocols, mangayo gihapon ta sa QPass and require gyud ta nila not just the face mask but also the face shield and most of all, the physical distancing,” he added.

Zafra said non-Cebu City residents are welcome as long as they bring with them their quarantine pass.

“But then again, di man ni ingon sa pagdiscriminate nila, ang among hangyo nga og mahimo nga live stream lang kay kuyawan mi if either silay matakdan dinhi unya inig pauli sa ilaha makatakod sila sa uban or silay makapadako dinhi,” he said.

The “Hubo” ritual or the undressing of the Sto. Niño image takes place five days every after the Fiesta Señor. The ritual starts off with the removal of the crown, followed by the orb, scepter, cape, then the inner garments and boots.

For each garment removed, the priest recites a short petition with the churchgoers respond in Latin---"Christe, exaudi nos," which means “Christ, graciously hear us”.

The image will then be bathed in holy water mixed with perfume before dressing up again with a new set of less intricate garments.

Accordingly, the less decorated garments symbolize spiritual change within a person. The "Hubo" ritual usually ends with the devotees dancing the traditional Sinulog dance.

The actual ritual starts at 5:30 a.m. while Masses will follow for the succeeding hours until the last schedule at 6:30 p.m.

The management of Basilica Minore del Santo Niño earlier decided to cancel the physical novena Masses for the Fiesta Señor due to the spike in the number of new COVID cases in the city.

Zafra said the cancellation of public Masses was only up to the Sinulog day. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, FPL (FREEMAN)