Talks on Fiesta Señor 2023 events start 

CEBU, Philippines — The various agencies, institutions, as well as organizations met at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu for the first coordination meeting for the Fiesta Señor celebration in January 2023.

Councilor Phillip Zafra, chairman of the City Council’s committee on peace and order, said they discussed the preparations for the celebration, wherein among the matters discussed is the comeback of the physical activities that were stopped for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zafra said one of the things they are planning is the area where the people could light their candles but still within the vicinity of the basilica.

“Most probably anha diha sa basketan sa eskwelahan sa Basilica, we are expecting double or triple numbers of devotees to flock to Sto. Niño so ato lang gi-anticipate ang sitwasyon, although as I’ve said balik sa normal but dili gyud nato i-sacrifice ang basic health protocols,” said Zafra.

He said that there are no major changes that have been discussed for the upcoming event, and clarified the matters discussed are not yet final and are still being analyzed.

“We make some consultations with the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) and the church hierarchy kung mo-approve sila sa amoang proposal but then again mao-mao ra na siya,” he added.

Zafra said that it is better to have early preparations for the Sinulog 2023 so that if there are problems like the pandemic, adjustments can be made immediately.

He said there are options that they are also considering, but they hope that the good situation in the city now will continue even if COVID-19 is still around.

They called on the people, especially the devotees of the Holy Child, to plan on the time that they will go to church and requested the people of Cebu City that, if possible, give priority to the out-of-town devotees since city residents can just visit the basilica at any time. — GMR (FREEMAN)