Sto. Niño image to visit shrine of Nuestra Señora Virgen de Regla

CEBU, Philippines - For the first time, the image of the Señor Santo Niño will be taken to the shrine of the Nuestra Señora de Regla on April 28 in commemoration of the 447th anniversary of “Kaplag.”                                                         

Kaplag is an event remembering the discovery of the image of the child on April 28, 1565 in a nipa hut in Cebu where now stands the Basilica. This is also aimed at reminding the public that the Sto. Niño is protector of seafarers, mariners and the patron of marine environment and ecology.

This activity is in line with the preparation of the 450th year of the discovery of Sto. Niño and part of the Duaw Sto. Niño program of the Sto. Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation (SNAF) which brings the image of the Holy Child to different places.

According to Father Tito Soquiño, Executive Director of the (SNAF), this year’s Kaplag Festival will highlight the naval honors for the Sto. Niño as Celentisimo Capitan General de las Esfuerzas Espanolas en Filipinas or the Most Esteemed Captain General of the Spanish Forces in the Philippines.

The program will start at 6 a.m. with a mass at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu. The contingents from the Naval Forces Central (NAVFORCEN), the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police will fetch the image after the mass and will have a foot procession to the Malacañang sa Sugbo. At the pier, the Sto. Niño will be taken on board a naval vessel to Mactan channel.

Military honors will be rendered as the image is taken on a procession at the Mactan Channel with naval formation, blowing of horns and gun salutes as part of the rites.       

After docking at a private wharf in Opon, the group will then proceed through a motorcade to the Nuestra Señora de Regla Parish for a Marian mass by 8:30 a.m.

 The image will be staying four hours in the church, afterwards, it will be taken to the Naval Chapel for a concelebrated mass by military chaplains.

By 3 p.m., the image will be brought back to Cebu and is expected to arrive at 4:00 in the Basilica with a welcome by the Basilica Sinulog Dancers.

 The Kaplag Mass will then be held followed by a reenactment of the Kaplag, to be participated in by the San Diego Dancers.

 According to Supt. Clifford Gairano, the police will provide security for the activity in coordination with the Cebu City Police and the Police Regional Office 7.

The entire channel will be closed from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. as the child navigates from Malacañang Sugbo wharf to Mactan channel. Also, the roads will be closed from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. during the procession from Malacañang Sugbo to the Basilica.

In Lapu-Lapu, there will be no rerouting but there will be blocking of roads. In Cebu, there will be minor traffic changes.

This year’s affair is spearheaded by SNAF in partnership with the Naval Forces Central, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu District, Cebu Ports Authority, PNP MAitime Group, PNP Regional Office 7, Ocean Care Foundation, Cebu Yacht Club and the Nuestra Señora de Regla Parish. – (FREEMAN)