Quincentennial events not open to all

CEBU, Philippines —  Only a limited number of people will be allowed to attend the events lined up for the quincentennial celebration of Christianity in the Philippines due to COVID-19 pandemic.

This was agreed on during yesterday’s meeting between the Church and the Cebu City government officials.

For the reenactments of the first baptism and Mass baptism on April 14, 2021, only 250 seats will be allowed at the Basilica del Sto. Nino.

For activities slated for April 13 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, 1,100 and 200 seats at the ground and second floors, respectively, are only allowed.

Also, 784 seats at SM Seaside City’s Center stage are permitted for the series of concert and variety shows on April 11 and 12.

There will also be an art exhibit, pilgrimage, parish Jubilee celebrations, archdiocesan month jubilees and mission congress, Marian procession, and National Mission Congress before the culmination of the 500th year of Christianity on April 22, 2022.

A working committee, which is composed of Church and city officials, was formed yesterday to oversee all preparations for the commemoration of the 500 years of Christianity.

“We created a working group that composed of both the Church and the city government that will tackle the different events of the said celebration,” said City Councilor Joel Garganera, who also sits as the city’s Emergency Operations Centers’ deputy chief implementer.

He said security and safety of the attendees are their top priorities.

For all other activities, City Councilor Dave Tumulak said social distancing and other health protocols will be strictly observed.

Traffic management, medical team deployment, and peace and order, were also tackled during the meeting at the Archbishop’s Palace.

Present during the meeting were Archbishop Jose Palma, Mayor Edgardo Labella, Garganera, Tumulak and other officials.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in an earlier advisory, said the quincentennial celebration of Christianity in the Philippines will be prolonged by one year due to the health crisis.

The culminating activity was supposed to be held in April 2021, but the bishops have agreed to make it the launching date of the quincentennial celebration of Christianity until April 2022.

An article on CBCP said that the kick-off will be held on April 18, 2021, Easter Sunday, to commemorate the first East Sunday mass in the country.- KQD (FREEMAN)