Devotee City opens

CEBU, Philippines - At least 15 devotees have occupied the Devotee City ahead of its formal opening today.

Meriam Cabaluna, in-charge of the Devotee City, said they have allowed them to stay at the temporary shelter since Wednesday morning because they don't have any house to stay in the city.

Crisanta Dayanan, 73, from Bayugan uno, Agusan del Sur, together with her daughter-in-law started occupying last Wednesday morning in one of the vans in the devotee city.

"Kada Miyerkules sa dili pa ang Sinulog man gyud na siya moabot. Naanad na pud na siya nga modiritso lang diha," Cabaluna said.

As of yesterday noon, there were already 15 devotees occupying the area and would officially register at 8 a.m. today.

The requirement for the registration is the ticket from the airplane, bus or ferry showing that they are from distant places. In the Devotee City, there are 130 vans and each can accommodate 30 people.

Cabaluna clarified that they only accept the devotees and not those who come for business purposes.

"Modawat mi kanang mamaligya para ika-support sa plete," she explained.

Like Dayanan, she is selling brooms to support her fare going back to Mindanao. After the Sinulog, she will go to her daughters in Toledo City to look for temporary job to augment her money for fare.

She said that despite the distance she is always willing to attend Sinulog because of her belief to Señor Sto. Niño.

"Nindot gyud ang nisalig kay daghan grasya nga madawat," she said. (FREEMAN)