Fiesta Señor next year to be more organized

CEBU – The Organizing Committee of the Fiesta Señor 2009 is expecting a more organized celebration of the day of Señor Sto. Niño next January.

A series of meetings for the past four months among the chairpersons of different sub-committees of the fiesta celebration have finalized the schedule of activities and the logistics of the fiesta.

During the fourth meeting held yesterday at the Basilica del Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center, Rector and overall chairman of Fiesta Señor 2009 Rev. Fr. Rodolfo Bugna said he hopes to make next year’s fiesta celebration a success in terms of organization, peace and order and involvement of the people religiously.

Bugna said they plan to propagate the image of Sto. Niño more on the religious side.

“Dili kay muapil ra sa prosesyon despite their ignorance of the true meaning of this tradition,” said Bugna.

He said the theme for this year’s celebration was correlated with the thrust of the basilica on its 75th year of celebration which is “Growing together in grace with Sto. Niño.”

The committee said the route for the parade will be a kilometer longer than last year. On the latest proposal, Vice Mayor Michael Rama has agreed to lengthen the route because the committee is concerned about a possible stampede.

Bugna said they are expecting about 1.2 million devotees to participate in the solemn procession on January 17.

To secure that everything will be prepared ahead, there will be a dry run for the first time, most probably on January 7.

Proper documentation will also be conducted to be used in the evaluation after the event. Bugna said he wants to know what aspects or areas may need further improvement.

Bugna said they do not want a repeat of an incident early this year in which a stampede almost occurred because the route was very short.

The schedule of activities as of yesterday’s meeting starts on January 6 which is the Huniño or the Huni Alang Kang Sto. Niño (Music for Santo Niño). January 8 will be the opening salvo through the Walk for Jesus which shall start at 4 a.m.

The opening salvo of the Sinulog Foundation and Senior Citizen’s Night will be on January 9. The next day will be the Barangay Night or Halad sa Barangay. There will also be a children’s Mass at Colegio del Sto. Niño on January 11.

January 16 shall be the 9th day of novena which will be highlighted with a Walk for Mary. On January 17, on the Vesperas, the traditional Fluvial Procession will begin at Ouano Wharf followed by the re-enactment of the first Mass and baptism. The solemn procession will start at 1:30 p.m.

The Solemnity Feast is on January 18, Sunday, and will be opened by a mañanita Mass at 4 a.m. to be followed by the pontifical Mass celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at 6 a.m. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)