CEBU, Philippines - The pilgrim image of San Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint and the first from the Visayas, is expected to arrive today at Pier 1 in Cebu City as the last stop of its Duaw Nasud Visayas-Mindanao leg. The arrival also signals the start of the triduum Masses leading to the National Thanksgiving Mass on Friday at South Road Properties.
From Getafe, Bohol, the pilgrim image is expected to arrive noon today and there will be welcoming rites at the port which will be followed by a motorcade passing Cebu City Hall to D. Jakosalem straight to the San Pedro Calungsod Shrine at the Archbishops’ Palace.
At 2 p.m. today, there will also be welcoming rites for San Pedro at his own Shrine now as a saint before it will be transferred to the first church for the first triduum Mass.
Triduum Masses
At 2 p.m. there will be welcome rites at the shrine and the pilgrim image will then be transferred to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the first triduum Mass at 6 p.m.
Tomorrow, from Guadalupe it will pass through V. Rama Ave., Natalio Bacalso Ave., Osmeña Blvd., D. Jakosalem St., P. Gomez St. and then to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral for the second triduum Mass at 6 p.m.
On the third day, from the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the motorcade will pass N. Bacalso Ave., Mambaling to the San Pedro Church in SRP at 3 p.m.
After the Mass to be celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, the San Pedro Church will be consecrated.
From SRP, the motorcade will go to St. Joseph’s Shrine for the last triduum Mass at 8 p.m.
There will be a farewell Mass at the St. Joseph’s Shrine on Nov. 30, 7:30 a.m. The image will then be taken to the Ouano Wharf and the fluvial procession will start at 2 p.m. with the image being taken by ship to SRP where the National Thanksgiving Mass will start at 5 p.m.
Preparations
The different committees are now in the finishing touches for their preparation for the event.
Fr. Raul Gallego, the chairman on the committee on venue, said that by Thursday everything will be ready.
“Gamay na lang kuwang, by 29th ready na tanan. The final touches and landscaping will be done on the 29th as well along with the set up of the technical facilities and sound system,” he said.
Gallego said even if it will rain on Friday there will be no more flooding in areas previously flooded by heavy rains.
The other day, all went well during the dry run of the fluvial procession from Ouano Wharf to SRP.
Earlier, Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, the overall chairman of the Cebu celebration of Calungsod’s sainthood, said that they tested the ship that will ferry the pilgrim image to the venue.
Fair weather
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that there will be fair weather on Friday based on its extended weather outlook.
“We will have a fair weather and a cloudy atmosphere kon wala ni kausaban until Friday based sa among extended weather outlook until November 30. Kung walay makasulod nga disturbances or low pressure, init gyud ang panahon kay kung basihan nato sa temperature it’s 24 to 32 degree Celsius,” PAGASA weather specialist Alice Canasa said.
Canasa added that there is an inter tropical convergence zone in Mindanao area and if it will reach Visayas, due to its shifting effect, there will be a high pressure area in the Visayas.
Heightened alert
The Police Regional Office-7 has implemented a region-wide heightened alert status which started yesterday in preparation for the Thanksgiving Mass on Nov. 30.
This was along with the implementation of the suspension of the Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence in Cebu City effective last Sunday until December 2.
PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. said that putting the region on heightened alert status was part of their sub-preparation in order to prevent lawless elements and crime groups from taking advantage of the event.
Garbo said that aside from the 1,500 policemen to be deployed, they are also tapping policemen from the Regional Training Center as well as forces from the nearby police headquarters of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, Mandaue City Police Office and the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.
As early as now, police have intensified checkpoints, security preparations and continuous coordination with the organizers.
“Pinaghahandaan naming ang attendees compose of VIPs, returning residents, devotees, at tourists,” Garbo said.
He further said the intelligence community has not reported any threat.
In line with the suspension of the PTCFOR, only the members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other law enforcement agencies who will be performing official duties and in agency prescribed uniforms will be allowed to carry firearms.
Based on the Memorandum Circular Number 2011-021 or “Policies and Procedures in the Suspension of PTCFOR from the Camp Crame that, implementation of such is part of the security preparations to ensure that the Thanksgiving Mass of San Pedro Calungsod will be free from firearm-related incidents.
This is also to ensure the safety of those who will attend the Mass.
The implementation of the memorandum is in close coordination with the government agencies and local government units. —with Ria Mae Y. Booc/BRP (FREEMAN)