Mandaue gears up for Traslacion

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City’s composite team is now in the thick of preparations to ensure the success of Friday’s Traslacion and Saturday’s fluvial procession as part of the Fiesta Señor activities.

Traslacion is the annual meeting of the images of the Holy Family: the Child Jesus or the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe will stay overnight at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City.

In preparation for the religious event, a composite team has been formed in Mandaue composed of the City Mayor’s Office, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Accident Control and Emergency Response Team, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, Tourism Office, and civilian volunteers.

The team, headed by Executive Secretary to the Mayor, Atty. John Eddu Ibañez, was created in order to ensure the safety and order of the events which are expected to attract hordes of devotees.

TEAM chief Florentino Nimor Jr. said that during the Traslacion at around 8 a.m. on Friday, they will temporarily close A.S. Fortuna St. in Barangay Banilad for the arrival of the images of Señor Sto. Niño and Birhen sa Guadalupe from Cebu City.

But he said the street will immediately be opened the moment the motorcade reaches to their destination – which is the National Shrine of St. Joseph.

The convoy of the images from A.S. Fortuna St. will pass through Highway Seno, then A. del Rosario St. in Barangay Guizo, all the way to the National Shrine of St. Joseph where the images will stay overnight.

According to Monsignor Antonio Medida, assistant moderator of the National Shrine of St.  Joseph, a mass will be held after the arrival of the images at the shrine.

The following day, the images of Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe will be ferried on a ship back to Pier 1 in Cebu City for the traditional fluvial procession. From the port, they will be taken back to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

Police Major Zosimo Jabas, chief of Mandaue City Police Office, said that more than 250 personnel will be deployed to secure the church premises.

Jabas also reminded the public that bringing of backpacks into the church will be strictly disallowed. Also, he said that drones will not be allowed as the area will be declared a “no flying zone.”  JMD (FREEMAN)